Darnell Wright has served as the Chicago Bears starting right tackle since 2023, and has done a more than just admirable job at that. However, Wright might be on the move following the additions Chicago made in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Wright won’t be leaving the Bears anytime soon, he’s arguably their best offensive lineman. However, he could move over to left tackle for the 2025 season. The position change is something general manager Ryan Poles has discussed as a possibility. Ultimately, Chicago is looking for their strongest unit possible after allowing a league-high 68 sacks in 2024.
Having Wright anywhere across the line bolsters the Bears blocking scheme. But as Johnson figures out his 2025 roster, there continues to be growing speculation of Wright moving over to left tackle, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.
“After flipping the interior of their offensive line in free agency, the Bears went back to the trenches in the second round and drafted Boston College offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo,” Cronin wrote. “The 6-foot-8 tackle projects best as a right tackle even though Darnell Wright has held down that spot the past two seasons. Chicago says Wright has the ability to play on both sides of the line and is open to moving him to left tackle this offseason.”
“If Wright supplants Braxton Jones at left tackle and Trapilo wins a job as a rookie, the Bears will have five new starters along the O-line entering Caleb Williams’ second season at quarterback,” Cronin concluded.
Chicago Bears’ left tackle problem
The Bears traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson before signing center Drew Dalman in free agency. With Wright penciled in at right tackle, four out of five of Chicago’s offensive line positions are locked in. However, there are major question marks hovering over the Bears left tackle situation.
Braxton Jones is expected to enter 2025 as the starter. However, he has dealt with serious injury concerns over his career. He appeared in just 12 games in 2024 after suffering a season-ending ankle injury. And that was after injuries limited Jones to just 11 games in 2023. He has looked strong when healthy, earning a 77.4 grade, which ranked 20/140 tackles, from Pro Football Focus in 2024. However, Jones must stay on the field consistently to retain his starting role.
Behind him is former third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie, who also dealt with injuries during the 2024 season. With his rookie season consisting of just six games, the tackle is a bit of a mystery. While the Bears are him on him, it’s fair to wonder if they’d trust Amegadjie starting out of the gate.
To help rectify the issue completely, the Bears could move Wright over to the left side. It may open up some questions at his former position, but Chicago would at least know they have a sturdy blocker on Williams’ blindside.
Ozzy Trapilo enters the fray
While their first two draft picks were skill position players, the Bears made sure to address their offensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft. That came in the form of Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who was selected with the No. 56 overall pick.
Trapilo began his career at Boston College as a left tackle, but settled in on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons. That’s where the Wright position change buzz has originated from. If the Bears keep Trapilo in his natural position, then Wright would be forced to move. Of course, with Wright dominating on the right side, perhaps Chicago instead decides to revert Trapilo back to the left.
That’ll be a decision Ben Johnson and company will have to make throughout training camp. For now, the Bears are thrilled to have a building block in Trapilo to work with.
Standing 6-foot-8, 316 pounds, the tackle is already a mammoth entering the NFL. Furthermore, he only improved during his time with the Golden Eagles, earning Second-team All-ACC status in 2023 and a First-team All-SEC nod in 2024. Before he was selected by the Bears, Trapilo earned a comparison to current San Francisco 49ers lineman Colton McKivitz by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
“Tall tackle prospect with NFL bloodlines and a noticeable improvement in play strength last season. The run-blocking tape falls below the protection tape due to leverage and adjustment limitations we frequently see with taller tackles,” Zierlein wrote. “Trapilo won’t generate much movement in the run game, but good upper-body power helps him neutralize the edge.”
“He operates with sound pass sets, active hands and excellent arm extension. He has a good feel for pocket depth with an ability to ride rushers over the top, but he will get beat by inside counters and speed-to-power rushers at times,” Zierlein concluded. “Trapilo could operate as a swing tackle early on but his potential in pass protection gives him a good chance to become a starter.”
There’s no doubting that the Bears offensive line is much stronger than it was during Williams’ rookie season. But Johnson and company must still figure out the perfect starting mix to begin the 2025 season with.
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