Bears predicted to shop veteran starter in possible trade

With training camp quickly approaching for all 32 teams, the annual summer war of attrition will soon kick in. And with it will come an inevitable and unfortunate rash of injuries that could give a team like the Chicago Bears a chance to take advantage of their depth at an extremely valuable position.

While some analysts would say the Bears have a potential problem at left tackle, the reality is that GM Ryan Poles has set this roster up with three talented options to protect Caleb Williams’ blindside.

Incumbent starter Braxton Jones is the unofficial LT1 right now, mostly because he’s held that spot for the last three seasons and has been, at worst, a competent performer. Behind him are two promising young players in 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie.

Trapilo is my bet to win the left tackle job this summer, especially if Jones takes longer than expected to recover from a fractured ankle that ended his season last December.

READ: Did the Bears overpay for one of their biggest 2025 free-agent signings?

And if Trapilo does win that gig, and Jones does get healthy in time for Week 1, the veteran could be an extremely valuable trade chip for Poles to shop in August.

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Heavy.com’s Beth Mishler-Elmore recently broke down three Bears players who are the team’s top trade candidates, and Jones led the way.

“His health will be a factor,” Mishler-Elmore wrote. “Jones is still recovering from ankle surgery, and second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year OL Kiran Amegadjie have been taking snaps at LT in his absence. If Trapilo beats him out, it’s possible Jones could be dangled in front of O-line needy teams as a trade chip.”

I think it’s more than just possible, it’s likely.

Sure, it’s a slippery slope to hand off left tackle duties to an untested rookie, but Trapilo has all of the traits needed to be a long-term starter on the edge. Ben Johnson and the Bears coaching staff have already praised his size, above-average athletic ability, and extremely high football IQ. And once the pads go on in training camp, there may be no looking back for the former Boston College star.

It could also leave Jones as the odd man out. There’s no way he’ll be okay with sitting the bench in his contract year, he’d demand a trade, and he’d be within his rights to do so.

Poles tends to do right by his players, and if there’s a changing of the guard at left tackle this summer, you can expect Jones to be sent packing.

Even a banged-up Jones would have trade value in a league desperate for quality starting offensive linemen. He’d fetch no worse than a third-round pick, which, if the Bears got it right with Trapilo, would be a fantastic return on a guy who’s likely to walk in free agency next offseason.

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