LATEST NEWS: RAMS have completely bring him in, and he will do better for the team……

Bears Introduce Competition at Center Position with Signing of Coleman Shelton

In a move to diversify their center options, the Bears have secured the services of Coleman Shelton, formerly of the Rams, on a two-year contract. Shelton, who served as the starting center for the Rams in both 2022 and 2023, brings experience that aligns well with the offensive scheme favored by coordinator Shane Waldron.

Shelton’s arrival sets the stage for a competition with newly acquired center Ryan Bates, obtained from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Unlike Bates, who primarily played guard during his tenure with the Bills, Shelton boasts considerable experience as a center, having started 30 games over the past two seasons.

While Shelton’s strength lies in run blocking, where he ranked 12th overall among starting centers according to Pro Football Focus, his pass-blocking performance was less impressive, placing 28th out of 36 graded centers last season. Despite his proficiency in run blocking, Shelton allowed two sacks and committed six penalties during the previous campaign.

Throughout his career, Shelton has accumulated significant playing time at various positions along the offensive line, including right guard and left guard, in addition to center. He assumed the starting center role from Brian Allen after the 2021 season.

In contrast, Bates has showcased versatility across all offensive line positions, with experience at center and guard, logging 203 snaps at center and 1,057 snaps at guard.