Tag: Drew Dalman

Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman (67) following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Reports: Bears, C Drew Dalman agree to $42M contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New head coach Ben Johnson was dead serious about swapping out four or more offensive line starters before his first season with the Chicago Bears.

According to multiple reports, the Bears landed their top target at center within the first hour of the NFL negotiating window on Monday, hammering out a three-year, $42 million pact with Falcons free agent Drew Dalman.

The 26-year-old can officially sign with the Bears when the league year begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET and would join a revamped interior that includes high-priced guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Thuney and Jackson were acquired via trades and count a combined $33 million against the 2025 salary cap, barring renegotiated deals or contract extensions with Chicago.

Dalman’s annual average salary of $14 million makes him the NFL’s second-highest-paid center behind Thuney’s former Chiefs teammate, Creed Humphrey.

Johnson, offensive coordinator of the Lions before he was hired by GM Ryan Poles in January, said his priority before the NFL draft was to improve blocking ahead of quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams was sacked 68 times as a rookie.

With the Falcons, Dalman allowed only two sacks in 2024 but missed a total of 11 games the past two seasons due to ankle injuries.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman (67) leaves the field with an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons C Drew Dalman (ankle) lands on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons placed center Drew Dalman on injured reserve on Tuesday due to an ankle injury that he sustained in the second quarter of Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

In other moves, the Falcons signed veteran offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson from the practice squad to the active roster in addition to signing offensive lineman Matt Hennessy to the practice squad.

Dalman was replaced after 19 offensive snaps by Ryan Neuzil, who played the remaining 42 snaps in the loss to the Chiefs. Neuzil is slated to start on Sunday against the visiting New Orleans Saints.

ESPN reported that Dalman has a high left ankle sprain. Dalman, 25, has played in 51 games for the Falcons since 2021, making 34 starts. Atlanta selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of Stanford.

Wilkinson, 29, has played in 77 games (45 starts) with the Denver Broncos (2017-20), Chicago Bears (2021), Falcons (2022) and Arizona Cardinals (2023). He made nine starts for Atlanta in 2022 before going on IR.

Hennessy, 26, was drafted by the Falcons out of Temple in the third round of the 2020 draft. He played in 41 games (22 starts) for Atlanta from 2020-22.

–Field Level Media