Trade Package: 2026 fourth- and seventh-round picks
The Chicago Bears are already preparing for life without left tackle Braxton Jones. They drafted Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo with a second-round pick in this year’s draft despite already having Jones and Darnell Wright on the roster.
“He’s exactly what we thought he was going to be. He’s super smart,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters at rookie minicamp. “He’s able to apply those concepts to the field immediately, so he’s very advanced in that regard. Technique, fundamentals, he takes those seriously. … It’s really impressive for a young guy.”
Trapilo’s first 12 starts at Boston College came at left tackle before he shifted to the right side and started 24 straight games. He may find himself back on the blind side relatively soon.
“I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to play in the NFL, and I’ve had great coaches that told me I had to be versatile, so throughout my career I’ve tried to make sure that both sides are sharp,” Trapilo told the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Jason Lieser. “Playing right tackle in college the last two years, obviously I’ve practiced more there as far as live reps, but after practice I got extra work in at left, just in case.”
Jones started all 40 games in which he’s played since Chicago selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. However, the Bears made massive changes to their offensive line this offseason.
Jones is now entering the final year of his rookie deal and coming off a fractured fibula that he suffered in December. The Bears can complete their offensive line overhaul by flipping Jones and getting something in return for him.
