The Chicago Bears hinted for months that they intended to grab some competition at left tackle at some point this offseason. They were true to their word. Continuing an offensive surge in the draft, they collected mammoth Boston College left tackle Ozzy Trapilo with the 56th overall pick. The thing that comes to mind immediately is his pass protection. It improved substantially last season thanks to his polished fundamentals and good athleticism. This falls in line with the type of player Dan Roushar likes to get.
He prefers athletic linemen who are established pass protectors, believing that it is much easier to teach run-blocking than vice versa. There is no question that Trapilo has the physical capability to be a quality starting tackle in the NFL. Prominent offensive line expert Brandon Thorn compared him to Rob Havenstein, the ever-reliable right tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. If Trapilo follows the same trajectory, the Bears just got themselves a really good football player.
Caleb Williams should be safeguarded now and in the future.
Trapilo won't play this season. The Bears clearly drafted him with depth and development in mind. They will move forward with Braxton Jones as the starter in 2025. Then in 2026, it feels more likely than ever they plan to let him hit free agency with Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie likely to battle for the vacant left tackle spot from there. That isn't a bad plan since both players have more than enough talent to start in the league. It comes down to who develops faster. Either way, Caleb Williams is the main beneficiary. This is easily the most talented offense the organization has put together in many years. If Trapilo reaches his full potential, this will be seen as a great pickup. Roushar deserves trust here.
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