Major NFC North retirement news helps the Packers, yet it creates an unexpected ripple effect that makes solving a big problem more difficult
Rivals might compete in the center market.
The Chicago Bears will have a major problem to solve over the next few days. Center Drew Dalman, a big free agent addition from a year ago, decided to abruptly retire. Now, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson will have to scour the market to find his replacement.
That’s great news for the Green Bay Packers on the surface — making a divisional rival weaker is always a positive. But the first development from that isn’t as good for Green Bay’s plans.
Bears is now a contender for centers
Center is probably the biggest immediate need on the Packers roster. It’s the only position where there isn’t even a reasonable answer to start — presuming Elgton Jenkins will get cut and with Sean Rhyan hitting free agency, the starting center for the Packers would now be Jacob Monk.
And the Bears are entering the market as another contender for starting-caliber centers. The proof is there, as they will host free agent center Tyler Biadasz, recently released from the Washington Commanders, on a visit.
It’s not the only NFC North team competing with the Packers for centers either, as the Lions haven’t recovered from Frank Ragnow’s own retirement decision a year ago.
Tyler Linderbaum is the best center in free agency, but Green Bay doesn’t have the cap space to make such a big investment. Outside of Biadasz, who can already sign a new deal because he was released, the other solid options in free agency are Buffalo Bills’ Connor McGovern and Carolina Panthers’ Cade Mays.
With more competition, the Packers can still study internal solutions — first, checking to see if Elgton Jenkins would accept a significant paycut, or second, trying to re-sign Sean Rhyan to keep some flexibility ahead of the draft.
For the Packers, it’s good to see the Bears lose such a solid player at an impactful position for Ben Johnson’s scheme. But it doesn’t come without consequences.
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