The Chicago Bears made Ozzy Trapilo the No. 56 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the 6-foot-8 offensive lineman said he is willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field.
He will get his opportunity, perhaps in a different way than expected.
Ryan Poles Expects Bears to Try Ozzy Trapilo at LT
Bears Rookie Ozzy Trapilo to Get Shot at LT
During an appearance on ESPN 1000, Bears general manager Ryan Poles was asked about how the offensive line might look in 2025, including the possibility that Darnell Wright could move from right to left tackle.
Poles said that he expects Trapilo to get some run at left tackle during the early portion of the offseason program.
Starter Braxton Jones is still rehabbing from an ankle injury.
“It goes back to alignment with our coaching staff. That’s a conversation we’ve been having, obviously, before uh the draft. And recently, after the draft, we’ve had some really good conversations about that, and we’re still working through it, Poles said on “Kap & J. Hood” on May 1. “We want to see what we have in the young rookie, with Ozzy, in terms of what that looks like at left. We still want to see Braxton returning from his injury as well as Kiran [Amegadjie]. So there’s a lot of options.”
Amegadjie, a third-round pick in 2024, played in six games as a rookie, drawing one start. He was projected as more of a guard to many, so he and Trapilo could secure the swing spots in training camp.
Poles called it a “huge benefit” and “huge improvement” over previous years’ depth along the offensive line.
‘That’s really valuable.” Poles said.
“I think the one thing that we came away from our recent conversations, is whatever we settle on, especially when we’re going into training camp, it’s going to be really important to stick with that and be as consistent as possible, Poles said. “Things come up that could change that. But our mindset is wherever we end up settling going into training camp, we’d like for it to be as stable as possible so we’re not flipping guys left and right.”
Poles said that the Bears players would need to cross-train. But that is something they have always done. The hope is they have better quality when it matters the most: in games during the regular season.
Ozzy Trapilo Ready to Help
Trapilo was asked about being used as a tight end a la Dan Skipper. Bears head coach Ben Johnson coached Skipper on the Detroit Lions, frequently lining him up at tight end.
Trapilo was all for it.
“I was a thinner guy growing up. Until my junior year of high school, I was a tight end and a D-end, so I do have experience catching the ball,” Skipper told Clocker Sports on April 25. “I made the switch back at junior year. I didn’t think I would ever come back.
“I’m trying to get on the field as soon as possible. Whatever it might be, I’d be happy to go out there and do it. So any situation, I’d be more than happy to go out there.”
That could come at left tackle for Trapilo with the Bears, where he already got some experience in college.