The Chicago Bears made it a top offseason priority to completely revamp their offensive line. With the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears brought in Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson for the interior offensive line and used a second-round pick on Ozzy Trapilo in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, the Bears are deeper, more versatile, and more talented in the OL than ever before.
Yet, questions about the offensive line alignment remain. Bears GM Ryan Poles was on ESPN 1000 on Thursday to talk about the vision the team has for the offensive line. Poles revealed that they are hoping to have rookie Trapilo at left tackle, per Bears insider Aaron Leming.
Bears News: Ryan Poles Hints at a Rookie Starter in OL
Poles certainly made it seem like they will be trying things during the offseason workouts and have a more established plan once it's time for training camp. What makes these comments interesting, however, is the fact that they open the door for Trapilo to begin the season as the starter at left tackle.
Despite playing at right tackle for most of his career, Trapilo's playing time is clearer as an LT in Chicago. Barring a major surprise, Darnell Wright will continue to start on the right.
On the left side, however, there is more uncertainty. Braxton Jones is recovering from ankle surgery, and Kiran Amegadjie did nothing in his rookie season to prove that he is anywhere near being a starting-caliber offensive lineman.
Amidst this uncertainty, Trapilo could emerge as a surprise starter. He is known as a disciplined offensive lineman who rarely makes mistakes, ranking near the bottom in the FBS in penalties during his three seasons as a starter. As a long-time starter in college, he could potentially have enough experience to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Whether that will be as a left or right tackle, however, remains to be seen.