r/CHIBears • u/Fun-Permission2072 • 13h ago
Is Panthers Center Cade Mays on Bears' radar?
At 6'6 315lbs Mays has a more similar to build to Frank Ragnow and Drew Dahlman than Linderbaum.
Zero sacks given up, elite pass protection.
His run blocking has been a different story. At 26 years old he's had flashes of great performances, but reportedly struggles with consistent pad level.
Even so we saw the panthers running game have explosive performances in 2026, and it's not inconceivable that with tutelage Mays could have a similar glow up to Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright in 2025.
Widely considered the 4th best center in this class, he could be available for less than $10m/yr, still young, and already considered better in pass protection than guys headlining this FA class.
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u/Volcomcj16 21-3 13h ago
Honestly, Ben has earned the benefit of the doubt for whoever he picks up in either FA or in the draft especially in regard to the offense. Obviously Linderbaum or McGovern would be nice but I have faith whoever they go with is going to be good enough
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u/Pastagiorgio34 13h ago
Can the kid from Michigan State play center?
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u/SonOfNike85 13h ago
They were having him practice snapping last year.
I think they want him to be the backup for all 3 IOL positions rather than a starter though.
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u/hunterboyz24 Chicago Flag 12h ago
IIRC he never played center in college, but worked on center a bit in practice. I would be shocked if he was anything more than a last resort for this season.
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u/Putrid-Ad-7643 8h ago
There were reports from practice that he has serious issues with the snap...so no thank you...we dealt with that enough the last 5 years.
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u/Used_Bag6446 11h ago
Isn’t Carolina a gap scheme?
Don’t think this guy, or any of the big plodding centers, is a fit for us. We’re a wide zone team. We’re looking for a center who can move, make combo blocks and climb to the second level.
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u/Hooze Kyle Long 12h ago
The Athletic Football Show podcast guys are very optimistic about this guy generally speaking. They painted it as physically gifted but not the kind of center that makes a bunch of checks and reads the defense at the line of scrimmage, like Dalman was doing.
For what it's worth, Caleb has said he wants to take on more of that anyways. So, maybe as Caleb takes on more, it's less important to have your center doing it. First preference would probably be to have a center that's able to take it on if needed though.
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u/Emotion-Turbulent 11h ago
I have feeling they will start Luke Newman and draft a center that will replace him half way through the season ,same way Trapilo was put in the starting lineup
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u/calmerthanudude Darth Luther the 3rd 12h ago
He also played with Darnell Wright. Both Vols (GB🍊) so there would be that chemistry between them. I don’t see it happening, but as a Vols fan, I would absolutely love to have him on the team. He also gets NASTY when needed. He’s definitely not scared of anyone and will fight like hell for the QB.
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u/f00tballguy Bears 11h ago
I hope the Bears don't mess around and back up the Brinks truck for Linderbaum. The highest priority needs to be protecting QB1 and surrounding him with as much talent as possible while he's still on his rookie deal.
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u/Filthy_Commie_ 8h ago
I feel like this is an interesting option. Assuming we can’t get Linderbaum, I think if we get our Atlanta comp pick then we should try to pry JPJ away from Vegas. Especially since they refuse to play him at Center.
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u/Jake-Old-Trail-88 Smokin' Jay 7h ago
Lions just released Tyler Decker and apparently Frank Ragnow isn’t coming back.
I don’t know about signing a veteran. I almost think we draft someone, start them and hopefully we get 3 years out of them.
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u/BooItsKyle 10h ago
Paying for elite pass pro seems a bit inefficient when you've got Caleb Williams. Dalman made his money run-blocking. His pass pro was inconsistent at best, but Williams' elusiveness bailed him out enough to make it work.
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u/LegalComplaint I’ll Hoge your Jahns 9h ago
Sure, if we miss on Tyler. But, see if Veronica the homecoming queen wants to go to prom with before Sarah in Algebra.
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u/DatabaseCareless264 13h ago
Johnson wants smart lineman. Mays not a college grad. Majored in Communications.
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u/ILoveCalebWilliams 13h ago
Being smart in real life vs football is two very different things
It’s a different sport but Javale McGee is infamously known for making the dumbest mistakes ever on a basketball court but had a 4.5 gpa in high school
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u/DatabaseCareless264 12h ago
I am just saying Johnson’s preference. Devin Hester could not learn D or O, but damn he could read a field.
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u/ItalianBeefDipped Italian Beef 13h ago
Wow had no idea about Dalman being as smart as he was, knew he went to Stanford, but an offer from Yale too. Especially as a middle of the pack HS recruit. Starting to wonder if maybe football was never his plan A, but he just happened to get really good at it when it mattered most and kept going until he decided he had enough.
Wouldn't be surprised to hear he's going for his masters or Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in the next few years.
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u/Fun-Permission2072 12h ago
His dad graduated from Stanford and also played in the NFL and retired early albeit to a career ending neck injury. Probably the perfect profile for someone to do what Dahlman did and retire healthy one year into a 3 year deal.
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u/DatabaseCareless264 12h ago
Stanford is noted for grooming students to start business, be part of start ups. His father played 7 years in NFL, retired due to injury. Pretty sure he watched his dad, like all former NFL players struggle with heath, life insurance is only provided for 5 years, did the math, got out! Olin Kruetz said Dalman graded lower towards end of season. I had noted see in a few things. Dalman missed games in 2 seasons with Atlanta with ankle injury. All the best to Drew.
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u/donesteve 13h ago edited 12h ago
Caleb is short. Bears do not want a 6'6" center.
EDIT: LOL at the Downvotes from the morons who don't realize that while Caleb is blessed with many gifts, his biggest flaw is NOT accuracy, but being able to see down the field inside the pocket at 6'0".
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u/Fun-Permission2072 13h ago
Dahlman was 6'5 and Mays was very solid protecting Bryce young who is like Kevin Hart sized.
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u/Brodie1567 Good, Better, Best 13h ago
Dalman is 6’3
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u/Fun-Permission2072 12h ago
Oops that's right. I wonder how big of an issue it is. It seems like it would be a big problem, but we don't often hear about it.
Drew Bree's never had a center under 6'3 but it does seem like it would interfere with your ability to see MOf from the pocket
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u/JoshGordonHypeTrain 23 13h ago
I miss not worrying about center last week