Chicago Bears position battles to look for: Center

Strengths and challenges

Both Patrick and Whitehair bring a set of unique strengths and face specific challenges in their quest to secure the starting center position.

Patrick’s versatility and agility give him an advantage in terms of his ability to execute combination blocks and handle quick interior defensive linemen. His experience at guard also provides him with a broader perspective on overall line play. However, the coaches have to monitor him to make sure he is over his injuries.

On the other hand, Whitehair’s established chemistry with the quarterbacks and offensive line will aid in building cohesion and communication within the unit. His leadership qualities and familiarity with the playbook will be invaluable assets during the competition.

Salary is another thing to look at when comparing the two players. Whitehair carries a $14.1 million cap hit. Should the Bears part ways with him they save $9.9 million.

Patrick on the other hand, has a cap hit of about $5.4 million. The Bears only save $3.9 million if he is gone. Remember, Poles still has work to do to strengthen the roster. While he still has about $27.8 million in effective cap space, saving almost $10 million more helps him attract some big names who might be able to help in other areas. Additionally, some of that money rolls over to 2024 and the Bears could be among the NFL leaders in cap space once again.

The battle at center will be an intense one. Both players want to be a part of the rebuild that Poles is executing. Each player could be a valuable leader in helping the Chicago Bears transition into a winning franchise again.