When the Chicago Bears selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, it was clear he’d have a chance to compete for a starting job.
But with Trapilo playing right tackle at Boston College, and the Bears having bigger questions on the left side, his role wasn’t immediately obvious.
Darnell Wright played left tackle for much of his college career and has the traits to succeed there. However, his draft stock soared after moving to the right side, and that’s where he’s started since entering the NFL. While head coach Ben Johnson acknowledged that nothing is set in stone, all signs point to Wright staying at right tackle.
Darnell Wright remains entrenched as the Bears' right tackle
That decision makes sense. This is a pivotal year for Wright, a former top-ten pick now entering his third season. The Bears will need to decide on his fifth-year option after 2025, and given the potential cost, a long-term extension may be the better move. For that to happen, they need a full season of evaluation, and it would be unfair to complicate that by moving him to the left side.
On the other hand, while Trapilo hasn’t played left tackle, he also hasn’t played a snap in the NFL. If he’s going to develop into a starter, it makes more sense to do so on the left side now, rather than delay the transition. He was unlikely to step in and dominate on the right anyway, so the growing pains will come either way.
That brings us to the upcoming training camp. The key question: Can Braxton Jones hold onto his job, or will the Bears trust Trapilo to start at left tackle as early as Week 1? Johnson hasn’t confirmed anything outright, but based on how OTAs unfolded, it's hard to envision another direction.
