As the top center on the free agent market, Drew Dalman had plenty of options.
The 26-year-old ultimately decided to sign a three-year contract with the Bears because they provided exactly what he was seeking in his next employer.
"The things that are most important to me with football [are] about the culture that I'm playing in and the people I'm playing next to, the vision for the team as a whole," Dalman said Thursday during his introductory press conference at Halas Hall. "All those things were top of mind for me as far as finding the next home."
Discovering that the Bears checked all those boxes, Dalman said, "gave me a lot of confidence in the decision and made this place really appealing."
"On top of that, the Bears are a historic team, and this is an awesome town," he added. "That's something I think everyone wants to be a part of. It's made the whole thing really, really enticing for me."
Dalman joins the Bears after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Falcons. Selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of Stanford, he became a regular starter in his second season and has developed into one of the league's best centers.
Dalman's signing came one day after the Bears had traded for Pro Bowl guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, completing a total reconstruction of their interior offensive line.
"I'm excited about [Dalman]," said general manager Ryan Poles, "just his ability to reach, cut off, work in the outside zone scheme, get to the second level as well as be a really good partner inside to the guards in pass pro. His addition, along with Joe and Jonah, is really going to make the interior of our offensive line strong, so we're excited about that."
Poles had been eyeing Dalman since last season, when the center was in the final year of his rookie contract.
"As our pro staff puts our free agent board together, I often throughout the season take a peek at it as I forecast forward," Poles said. "His name popped up. I put tape on. And he was definitely who was at the very, very top of our list."
New Bears coach Ben Johnson feels that Dalman's intelligence helps make the Stanford product a perfect fit as the team's center.
"At that spot, that's critical," Johnson said. "He is going to be the quarterback of our offensive line. He'll be setting the protections in the run game for us, something he has done in the past. And I think we can put even more on his plate than what he has been exposed to previously. I'm excited about that. He is still learning. He's still growing as a player. He has not hit his ceiling either. He has already asked me several times, 'What did you see on tape that I can get better at?' That's the type of person we're getting."
Dalman is confident that he'll flourish in Johnson's offense.
"The strengths in my game—when I watch the little bit of Detroit film that I have watched—I think they'll be emphasized," Dalman said. "And that's what I want to do most, is add value to this team. If I'm doing the things that I really thrive doing, that'll be best for the team. Then there's more areas in my game where I can grow and do different things. That will be interesting to explore as well."
Check out new Bears offensive lineman Drew Dalman in action. (Photos via AP)
Asked to describe himself as a player, Dalman said: "I'd start with 'prepared.' I feel like I do the work on the front end so I can play fast and react rather than having to do a ton of thinking. And someone who plays with great effort and controls the things I can control in my approach and my style.
"And someone who plays aggressive. I want to play the game on my terms as much as possible. I think this is a great offense to do that in. We'll be exciting, similar to what I've done in the past: emphasize athletic linemen that move and do all that, so that all excites me as well."
Dalman is eager to begin working with promising young quarterback Caleb Williams. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft texted Dalman after he agreed to terms with the Bears, but the two have yet to meet.
"It's exciting to be able to work with a player like that," Dalman said. "And I'm really excited to learn from him as well as doing everything I can to help him and take things off his plate so that he can do the things that he does best."
The partnership between Williams and Dalman will be vital to the Bears' success.
"Those two guys need to see the game the same way," Johnson said. "Much like I was talking about the quarterback needs to see the game through the play caller's eyes, same thing with the quarterback and the center position, between the run game, making sure the perimeter unit is locked in with what the core is doing, and then in pass pro, everyone needs to know where our issues are so that we're not getting stuck in some bad situations.
"This day in age, I think the hardest problems defenses give us is schematically in the pass-rush game, blitz pickup and those things, particularly on third down. I feel strongly that Drew is going to have the acumen to help us out and problem solve. There's unscouted looks each and every week that, as long as you understand the rules of protection, we can figure it out, but everything's happening quickly. It's a fun challenge, and I know Drew and Caleb are looking to grow together that way."
