Bears avoid offseason headache with Chicago’s top two rookie draft picks going into mandatory minicamp next week
The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on the rookie contracts for first-round safety Dillon Thieneman and second-round center Logan Jones, avoiding potential contract issues other teams have dealt with in the past.
Amid all of the news surrounding the Chicago Bears this week between OTAs and quarterback Caleb Williams being named the cover of Madden NFL 27, the team also avoided a massive offseason headache on Friday to end what turned out to be a busy week.
The Bears have signed first-round safety Dillon Thieneman and second-round center Logan Jones to their rookie contracts ahead of the start of mandatory minicamp. Both players attended rookie minicamp and both weeks of OTAs. The last remaining rookie of Chicago’s draft class yet to sign his rookie contract is third-round tight end Sam Roush.
So, it might not seem like that big of a deal, but it certainly is based on how negotiations and holdouts went for other teams the last few years involving first and second-round draft picks, some lasting well into training camp.
Chicago Bears rookies Dillon Thieneman and Logan Jones can now focus on competing at minicamp
Dillon Thieneman finally started to earn first-team looks this week at OTAs
Thieneman’s contract, according to Bears insider Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, is expected to come in at $18.7 million on a four-year deal that’s fully guaranteed with a fifth-year option, which is expected for a first-round pick. By comparison, fellow first-round safety Caleb Downs signed a four-year, $28.9 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys as the 11th overall pick.
With the off the field negotiation handled, Thieneman can now turn his focus on the field. This week at OTAs, Thieneman finally started working in with the first-team defense after working with the second-team defense last week.
We’ll see if that becomes a permanent move during mandatory minicamp next week so he can further build that on-field chemistry with fellow safety Coby Bryant and the rest of the starting secondary.
Logan Jones is in contention for the starting center role, but it’s looking like an uphill climb
We have not yet learned the details of Jones’ contract, but we will update this story as soon as they become available. It’s worth noting that last year’s 57th overall pick, Detroit Lions’ guard Tate Ratledge, signed a deal that guaranteed 66 percent of his salary in the third year of the deal. It’s likely Jones’ deal will include a higher percentage of guaranteed money the way the things have been trending with second-round picks.
What Jones is more concerned about is competing for the starting center job. At rookie minicamp, head coach Ben Johnson noted Jones is a seasoned player despite being a rookie and that the ball is in his court to challenge veteran center Garrett Bradbury. Johnson, along with quarterback Caleb Williams and right guard Jonah Jackson, have since said positive things about Bradbury during OTAs.
So, it’s sounding like an up-hill battle for Jones. However, it’s worth factoring in this quote Johnson shared on Wednesday when speaking with reporters about evaluating trench players during the spring.
“We’ll know everything when the pads come on,” Johnson said. “Right now, to evaluate offensive line and defensive line play is fool’s gold. You always fall in love with some guys in the spring time and that always changes.”