Former Vikings 1st-Rounder Could Lose His Job

Jones over Bradbury?

The Bears used a 2nd-Round pick on Friday night to get Jones. Second-round centers play; that’s actually quite early to draft a man from the position.

SI.com‘s Jerry Markarian wrote Sunday, “Virtually everyone expected the Chicago Bears to be in the market for a developmental center in the 2026 NFL Draft. Veteran trade acquisition Garrett Bradbury, whom they shipped a fifth-round pick for shortly after Drew Dalman’s abrupt retirement, only has one year remaining on his contract, after all. With that said, very few expected them to prioritize the position in the second round.”

“They felt the value of Iowa center Logan Jones, who was widely considered the best center in this year’s class, was too good to pass up at pick 57. They completely changed the shape of the center room in the process. Unlike some of the other options that would’ve come into play later in the draft, he has a legitimate shot to start from day one.”

And just like that, there’s a center camp battle on the horizon.

The Jones Scouting Report

Because the Vikings will eventually see Jones twice annually, it’s vital to know what he’s made of.

The rookie lineman’s age, 24, might’ve made him less appealing to some teams, as front offices typically prefer more time to develop prospects. Jones’s accelerated timeline means he’ll be expected to contribute early and consistently from Day One. Teams simply won’t draft an older rookie center to stash him for development; his value hinges entirely on his immediate readiness to play. That’s why Bradbury should be concerned.

This need for immediate impact aligns well with his playing style. Having started 50 games in college, Jones was very comfortable in a zone-based system, which effectively highlights his movement skills. He demonstrates the ability to execute reach blocks, get to the second level, and handle himself effectively in open space — all traits that seamlessly fit offenses running frequent outside zone schemes. If Bears skipper Ben Johnson wanted Jones in Round 2, he’s probably the right guy. Johnson isn’t known for poor offensive thinking.

Despite his overall frame, Jones’s 300-pound weight is considered on the lighter side for a center. Some evaluators have even compared him to a lighter version of Tyler Linderbaum.

Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) looks on from the sideline before kickoff at Kinnick Stadium, with Sep. 13, 2025 marking the pregame moment against the Massachusetts Minutemen. Jones surveys the field while preparing for action, offering a glimpse of his presence ahead of another start on Iowa’s offensive front. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler on Jones: “Jones is an undersized, sawed-off blocker with aggressive technique and athletic ability, although his sustain struggles might be tough to overcome. A center-only prospect, he is a mid-round version of Linderbaum. He gave up only one sack over his junior and senior seasons and had a prolific 2025 season, taking home the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center.”

“He was a significant factor in the Hawkeyes winning the 2025 Joe Moore Award as college football’s best offensive line. Jones is lightning quick in his snap-to-step process and has an instinctive feel for leverage and blocking angles. With his vise-grip hands, he can latch, drive his feet and torque defenders to create running room.”

Most expected Jones to be drafted in Round 3, but the Bears pushed the envelope a round early.

Brugler added, “Though he has terrific range and recovery quickness, his lack of length stands out on reach blocks and when attempting to combat powerful defensive tackles in a phone booth. His competitive temperament and toughness are unquestioned — he taught himself to snap with his left hand while managing a right-hand injury in 2024.”

Dalman’s Retirement

Why are the Bears in this situation? Simple — their 2025 keynote free-agent acquisition retired. At age 27, Dalman called it quits out of nowhere in early March. Chicago responded by trading for Bradbury, a decent deal for a 5th-Round pick.

Dalman was actually a Vikings free-agent target in March 2025, according to some popular consensus, but the Bears won the sweepstakes, and Minnesota pivoted to Ryan Kelly, who also retired in March.

Without Dalman and his fancy 77.5 grade last season from Pro Football Focus, Chicago needed a replacement center. Now, it has Bradbury and Jones.

Bradbury as a Sideways Trade Option for MIN?

Bradbury doesn’t have 100% support in Minnesota because of his suspect pass protection, but there is a world where the Bears nominate Jones as their Week 1 starter in August or September and trade Bradbury. While Bradbury isn’t elite, he should start on one of the NFL’s 32 teams.

New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury (65) heads toward the practice fields during training camp at Gillette Stadium, with Jul. 28, 2025 capturing the early preparation period in Foxborough. Bradbury walks with purpose as the Patriots begin installing schemes and evaluating personnel ahead of the upcoming season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images.

The Vikings, meanwhile, tentatively have Blake Brandel lined up as the starting center for 2026, with a side dish of youngsters Michael Jurgens and rookie Gavin Gerhardt. Chicago and Minnesota rarely do trade business, but there’s a remote chance that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski could trade a 6th-Rounder or so to the Bears for Bradbury if the Vikings coaching staff determines Brandel, Jurgens, or Gerhardt aren’t best for the 2026 roster.

Bradbury will turn 31 in June.