If you think the Chicago Bears’ left tackle battle is some boring camp subplot, you’re missing the point. This isn’t just about two dudes fighting over who gets to stand in front of Caleb Williams. This is about the Bears deciding whether to roll with the known quantity in Braxton Jones or bet big on a mountain of a rookie named Ozzy Trapilo. And if they get it wrong? Well, let’s just say nothing tanks a QB faster than a free pass rusher blowing up his back.
After digging into the tape, numbers, and a little bit of training camp gossip, one thing’s clear — this race is way too close to call just yet. There’s a slight edge showing for one of them, but the gap’s tight enough that a single bad snap in preseason could swing it the other way.
Braxton Jones — The Devil You Know
Let’s start with the incumbent.
The Resume
Jones has been Chicago’s left tackle for three seasons, logging 40 career starts. In 2024, he posted a 77.4 overall PFF grade with an 80.8 pass-blocking grade — good for 20th out of 141 qualifying tackles and 17th in pass protection. That’s not elite, but it’s solid enough to keep your QB alive.
He gave up 5 sacks and 26 pressures on 471 pass-blocking snaps last season. Those are starter-level numbers. Not “buy his jersey” numbers, but you’re not cursing his name every Sunday either.
The Strengths
- Experience: He’s seen every type of rusher in the league and lived to tell the tale.
- NFL-ready skills: Handles both speed and power rushers, adapts to system changes without imploding.
- System familiarity: He’s already been through coaching transitions and knows how to absorb a new playbook.
The Weaknesses
- Injury baggage: Fractured fibula in December 2024. He’s recovering well, but the Bears have kept him on a pitch count.
- Light for the position: At 6'5", 303 lbs, he’s giving up bulk to elite edge rushers. Ben Johnson flat-out said he needs to “gain a little more weight” to hold up in pass pro.
- Shaky preseason start: Against Miami, he earned a rough 57.9 PFF grade with an ugly 44.3 in pass protection. Even gave up a nasty pressure on a TD throw.
Ozzy Trapilo — The New Blood
On the other side, we’ve got a rookie with more mass than a refrigerator and the raw tools to make O-line coaches drool.
The Profile
At 6'8", 316 lbs with 33.5-inch arms, Trapilo looks like he was built in a tackle factory. He’s fresh off a First-Team All-ACC season at Boston College where he allowed just 2 sacks in 24 starts and — get this — zero penalties on 772 snaps his senior year. That’s absurd discipline for a college lineman.
The Strengths
- Elite size: He’s got the length and frame to swallow up edge rushers.
- College dominance: He owned the ACC and didn’t shoot himself in the foot with flags.
- Scheme fit: Played in a run-heavy offense, which syncs with Ben Johnson’s balanced approach.
- Steady preseason debut: PFF dinged him at 54.2 overall vs. Miami, but he looked more consistent than Jones snap-to-snap.
The Weaknesses
- Rookie learning curve: Jumping from ACC to NFL speed is like upgrading from a go-kart to a jet fighter.
- Stiffness: His lateral agility isn’t elite. Quick counter moves could eat him alive early.
- Technique tweaks: Plays too high at times, and that leverage loss will get punished in the pros.
What the Coaches Want
Head coach Ben Johnson made it simple: “Tackles have to be able to pass-protect one-on-one and win those matchups regularly.” Translation: if you’re getting your QB murdered, you’re off the field.
OC Declan Doyle called the race “wide open” but admitted there’s been “separation” after the first preseason game. The fact Jones started that game and got first-team reps in joint practices shows the staff still leans toward the vet.
Why Jones Probably Gets the Call
Here’s why I’m betting Jones trots out with the starters Week 1:
- Incumbent advantage: 40 starts matter when you’re protecting the franchise QB.
- Recovery on track: Reports say he’ll be full-go by the regular season.
- Bears’ risk management: They’re not eager to throw Trapilo into the fire if he’s not fully ready.
- Super Bowl window thinking: With big expectations and a rookie QB, they’ll pick stability over upside.
But this isn’t over. If Jones faceplants in the next preseason game or Trapilo strings together dominant showings, the Bears could flip this in an instant.
The Long Game
Let’s be real — Trapilo has the higher ceiling. If he cleans up the stiffness and proves he can handle speed rushers, he’ll take this job sooner rather than later. Jones is good enough to start now, but he’s also the type of guy who could get Wally Pipp’d if the rookie catches fire.
The Bears’ approach feels week-to-week. Every preseason snap is an audition. And every missed block is a chance for the other guy to steal your lunch.
Final Verdict: Week 1 Starter — Braxton Jones
But don’t get used to it. This is one of the most legit position battles in the NFL this summer, and the leash is short.
