The Chicago Bears have put plenty of work into fixing their offensive line throughout the offseason. However, head coach Ben Johnson and company aren’t finished tinkering with the unit as they look to find the perfect starting five.
With three new additions on the interior and Darnell Wright standing firm at right tackle, the biggest question mark for Chicago remains at left tackle. Braxton Jones is the presumed starter, but injuries have put a serious strain on their career. Both Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie have potential, but neither have proven themselves at the NFL level.
Training camp will give Johnson and the Bears a firm understanding of where they stand at left tackle. And once they’ve come to a starting decision, perhaps one of their lineman becomes expendable. If the Bears considered trading Jones, Brent Sobleski argues the franchise could receive a fourth and seventh-round pick in return.
“The Chicago Bears are already preparing for life without left tackle Braxton Jones,” Sobleski wrote. “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.”
“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,” Sobleski concluded. “The Bears can complete their offensive line overhaul by flipping Jones and getting something in return for him.”
Chicago Bears left tackle scenario
If Trapilo or Amegadjie were to win the starting left tackle spot, Jones would seemingly become a movable piece. With him a free agent at the end of the season, the Bears would want to get something in return rather than watch him walk for free. But at least to start the 2025 campaign, Chicago needs as much depth as they can handle.
Amegadjie was a third-round pick in 2024. However, injuries limited him to just six games as a rookie. He was taking first-team reps at left tackle in OTAs, but Amegadjie seems a bit raw to trust as the full-time starter.
As a second-round pick, the Bears have high hopes for Trapilo. However, he made a name for himself at Boston College at right tackle. He has been committed to developing his game, but perhaps Trapilo needs more time to fully develop at left tackle.
Jones has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, showing why he is both the presumed starter and a potential trade candidate. During the 2024 season, the tackle earned a 77.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 20/140 tackles. He excelled in pass blocking, ranking 17/140 tackles with an 80.8 grade.
Because of that, Johnson will at least want to see what he has in Jones. The head coach is wiping the slate clean upon his arrival and giving each player an opportunity to prove himself. He’ll need to wait on Jones, who is still rehabbing his season-ending ankle injury. But when he does return to the field, Jones will be fending off combatants for his starting spot.
Maybe the Bears get an offer they can’t refuse and decided to move on from Jones. If he isn’t starting by midseason, that option seems more likely. But if that’s the case either he is injured, or his value is way down. For now, Chicago is just hoping to get Jones back on the field and work him into Johnson’s new scheme.
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