Chicago Bears 20 Most Important Players: #8 Cody Whitehair

We continue our series profiling the 20 most important Chicago Bears players in 2023. We are down to number eight, center Cody Whitehair.

As we wait for the Chicago Bears to begin training camp we continue to profile the 20 most important players for 2023. You can see the other players profiled here.

We are down to number eight. At that position is center Cody Whitehair.

The center/quarterback relationship is among the most important on a football team. The quarterback needs to feel comfortable with how the center gives him the ball. The more comfortable the quarterback is, the better he performs.

Additionally, the center is the quarterback of the offensive line. He calls the signals for the blocking on every play. The play gets blown up if the center gets the assignments or scheme wrong.

Whitehair is the epitome of a team player. He started his first three seasons solely at center. Then he split time between center and guard in the next two seasons. He played the last two seasons solely at guard.

Now the teams asked Whitehair to return to center. The last time he was the full-time starter there he made the Pro Bowl. His steadiness helped then-starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky also make the Pro Bowl.

Now Whitehair will help in Justin Fields‘ development. He can be a calming influence on the young quarterback. Whatever Fields needs Whitehair can help him with it.

Also, at 31, he is the oldest offensive lineman on the unit. With the rebuild, the Bears are getting younger. Three of the four starting linemen have just two years or less of experience, Whitehair will be an important asset. His seven years of experience will allow him to help the other linemen. He knows where everyone should be and what they should do so he can explain it to them.

Whether he is at center or at guard, the one thing we know about Whitehair is that he is solid. He’s been the most dependable lineman during his tenure in Chicago. That is seen by how he is still on the team. He has a $14.1 million salary cap hit in 2023. With general manager Ryan Poles slashing salaries last season, it shows how highly he thinks of Whitehair. The Bears hope his dependability continues with the latest switch.

Whitehair at center gives the Chicago Bears a huge upgrade at the position. Last season’s starter there, Sam Mustipher, really struggled. At times he was overwhelmed. Too much pressure came from the middle and that forced Fields to run for his life too many times. Mustipher also had trouble calling the correct blocking signals.

Having 60 games under his belt at center and actually making the Pro Bowl playing that position gives the Bears the upgrade they want without having to go through the free agency route.

There is some concern about injuries. Whitehair suffered a knee injury that forced him to the injured reserve list for four weeks last season. He also missed the Week 16 game as well. So far, though, Whitehair has shown that he is healthy. Even if he does miss some time, the Bears also have Lucas Patrick, a veteran player who gives the Bears quality backup.

We don’t know what will happen after the 2023 season. Whitehair has a $13.25 million cap hit. With the team in the midst of a youth movement, Poles could save up to $10.25 million by letting him go.

In the meantime, however, the Chicago Bears feel Whitehair is an important piece in the development of Fields and the offense.