The Chicago Bears prioritized the offensive line this offseason with the additions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson via trade and the signing of center Drew Dalman in free agency. And while the offensive line is all but set, it sounds like there’s a three-man race brewing at left tackle.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles made an appearance on ESPN 1000, where he discussed second-round rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and how they plan on seeing what they have in him at left tackle. The Bears know Trapilo can play right tackle, so they’re going to give him reps at left tackle starting in OTAs and minicamp to see if that’s a potential fit.
Trapilo started 24 games at right tackle for Boston College over the last two seasons, but he also has played left tackle.
If Trapilo is a good fit at left tackle, he’ll battle with three-year starter Braxton Jones and last year’s third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie for the starting job opposite right tackle Darnell Wright. Jones, entering the final year of his rookie contract, suffered a fractured fibula last December, and he’ll be limited to start training camp.
That will give Trapilo and Amegadjie a head start when it comes to competing for a starting job at left tackle. Poles said the goal is to have the offensive line settled before training camp so they won’t have to shuffle guys around.
“Whatever we settle on, especially when going into training camp, it’s going to be really important to stick with that,” Poles said.
Right now, left tackle is the only pressing question as the interior is set with left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson, and it doesn’t sound like they plan on moving right tackle Darnell Wright. So that left tackle battle is one to watch between Jones, Trapilo and Amegadjie.
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