Chicago Bears Draft Logan Jones at No. 57: Instant Grade and Analysis

The Chicago Bears used the first of their two second-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on Iowa center Logan Jones at No. 57 overall, addressing one of the roster’s most urgent needs.

Jones enters the NFL with elite credentials. He capped the 2025 season as a First-Team All-American and won the Rimington Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top center. For a Bears team suddenly searching for stability in the middle after Drew Dalman’s unexpected offseason retirement, Jones offers an immediate and long-term answer.

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Jones is expected to compete right away. As NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah noted during the draft broadcast, he’ll battle veteran Garrett Bradbury for the starting center job in 2026. That kind of opportunity isn’t handed out lightly, but Jones’ résumé supports it.

Logan Jones brings experience, too. He has 50 career starts at Iowa, along with team captain honors in 2025. That background matters for a position that demands communication, leadership, and consistency on every snap.

Still, his evaluation isn’t flawless.

“Logan Jones is an athletic, center-only prospect with adept run blocking skills who will compete for a role in a zone-oriented system,” Bleacher Report offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn wrote. “Jones’ short arms and middling play strength will make it difficult to consistently hold the point or move NFL defensive tackles, shrinking the margin for error.”

That scouting report highlights the primary concern: whether Jones can anchor against NFL power on the interior. But in the right scheme—one that emphasizes movement, angles, and athleticism—his strengths should translate.

And that’s the bet Chicago is making.

The Bears needed a center. They got the best one in the class at No. 57. Even with some limitations, that’s strong value in Round 2.

GRADE: B+