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Wow down to a single weak link on the Oline. I hope that’s all we’re dealing with because it will be a massive change from the jail breaks we’ve seen the last few years. FWIW our new center has the exact same issue as Braxton with bull rushes so time will tell. Hopefully the new Oline coach can help both of them fix it.

no, when she is giving opinions, she uses words like "I think" etc - she absolutely has many sources inside many NFL teams. She is a reporter, and when she says things as facts, she has definitely heard that information from a credible source. She named Jeff King, director of player personel for the Bears as one of them, who confirmed a bunch of this.

He has a lot of work to do just to get his original strength back before surgery. Regardless of who starts at LT, defenses will see that as a weak link to attack the QB. Until the Bears show they can protect that, teams will try to exploit that gap.

She doesn't have inside information, just guesses like anyone else. They have rated him higher but doesn't a trade was out there.

At this point, Braxton is an average starting LT in the NFL. They need more out of him. They added competition in case he doesn't. If they seriously thought they had to replace him, it would have done at 10. With a bad LT class they felt no one was still there that was that much better. He's the starter if not available, Kiran A will be the guy. Then the rookie gets his chance.

It's true about Braxton getting dog walked. More weight, better coaching and effort in the weight room can clean it up. There was a lot of talk about the last staff not holding players accountable in the weight room. The bigs sometimes need a little kick in the pants, especially when it comes to working out.

I doubt Braxton because he isnt sturdy or large in his base. He moves well laterally, and can ride rushers out, but when they bullrush him, he doesnt get his butt down, and he's not strong in his base, dropping anchor. One point for hope for Braxton is that Roushar had a similar LT in New Orleans, Armistead I think his name was? ANyway he was a similar player, and Roushar taught him to drop anchor better, et his butt down, and he became an All Pro player. Hopefully if Braxton is the choice at LT, he can teach him that. As to Braxton being a '3 year starter' it's true, but on a terrible offensive line, and he did get ridden back in the QB a lot. I just dont think hes up to the level of the others. But if he plays well, and wins the spot, then GREAT. But there's a reason they picked Amagadje in the 3rd round last year, and Trapilo again in the 2nd round this year. They wouldn't have done that if they were all in on Braxton Jones.

totally agree with you. and I do expect more trickery and fun stuff for sure.

For sure, all we know, from other teams, is that Poles was inquiring about the price to trade up. We can't know who he was thinking of taking had the price been right. Probably Banks at 3 LOL or Jeanty We did hear from Courtney Cronin, that the Bears has Jeanty above either OT and Loveland though, so it's not that hard to put together.

Every GM checks out all scenarios but Twitter has us moving up to get Jeanty like Poles posted it in the tribune.

Braxton is pretty good as a run blocker. I'd say for the running game we're likely to be among the best in the league this year.

I agree with all of that. Braxton is the starter unless problem with an injury. Kiran A will be the depth. With Tripoli changing positions, doubt he plays the first part of the year. There's no one behind Wright so maybe Ozzy stays at RT.Only if Braxton is out for any reason, Ozzy gets his shot. Personally I think Kiran has the most upside but Braxton is in a contract year. That seems to motivate players. I doubt Braxton plays well enough to get a 20 million dollars contract.

I'm not sure why you think a three year starter isn't good enough to start. Braxton hasn't entered his prime being only 26. With adding weight and getting better coaching, he may hold up better against the bull rush. Kiran is a third round pick with prototypical measurables. He would have been drafted higher if it wasn't for injury. We don't what we have due him never having a training camp. Next, we are as far away from a cluster F since the 85 SB team on OL. We literally have four "plus" on our OL. How many teams can say that? Add to that Braxton was average. Lastly, Braxton should be ready by training camp. I broke my tibial plateau last year and was full go on six months. That was at 58. Aiden Hutchinson almost came back much faster than that. IMO - the only thing this OL has to do is gel. This OL has finally achieved solid status. Next year = deep. I'm not concerned at all.

I am just thinking outside the box. Johnson has had Sewell throwing passes, OL catching passes, and other formation trickery. Yet, he has never had the versatility that he will have in 2025.

Also, while those kids of runs can replace yardage, they dont make the defense come down into the box in the same way, because those runs are generally to the sides and not up the middle. So you dont replace everything a HB gives you with those yards?

I definitely think leaving Wright where he is is best for him. I definitely think Trapilo is better as a RT than a LT. I definitely think Jones and Amagadje wont be good enough to start at LT. I definitely think the Bears drafted Trapilo in the 2nd round to project as a starter. All that tells me if Trapilo plays well at LT, then he will start there, and if not, theyre gonna move Wright. Im pretty sure theyre hoping Trapilo can play LT, but if he cant do it well, then what? You switch sides with even less time to get them acclimated? This is a bit of a cluster f*ck. Hopefully it sorts out. My GUESS is that Wright ends up at LT, and if he can do it, he might be very good there. But I hate moving guys around. I really do. Wish we'd taken Ersery instead of Trapilo and Stewart. But if the switch works, then we end up a DT ahead.

We will also have a battle between 11 and 12 personal. 11 having the edge if Loveland can't get into practice early. If Burden comes to OTAs and Camp and is blowing it up, Loveland and the 12 personal may take a back seat. Loveland needs to be ready to fight because if he played equally as well of the bat, maybe the bears run more 12.

I highly doubt it. Moore and Burden may get 15 each on average. We also also have Duvernay that should get a few. As a reference Sam Laporta has one career rushing attempt, so Loveland is probably out.

I'm glad they are leaving Wright alone. It's hard enough gelling an OL the way it is. It's such a luxury to have Thuney next to whoever plays LT. Another boost to the trenches is that they just hired Mark Philippi to the strength and conditioning team. He's a former, seven time, World's Strongest Man competitor. The fatties have someone to push the right buttons in the weight room.

This is going to be the hot topic all off-season and maybe into the season. Bears are starting it off correctly by keeping Darnell Wright at RT. That leaves us with a 3 way battle at LT. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2025/05/01/bears-ozzy-trapilo-will-play-left-tackle/83388491007/

I still have the vision of Ben Johnson in the draft room hearing about trading up for a RB and like a little boy at Christmas being excited for his new toy. Then being disappointed when it didn’t happen. Then the box opens up later and inside is “stud” Luther Burden.

good analysis - I think you've got it right.

It is possible that Moore, Burden, and Loveland will have over 50 combined carries this year. Deebo Samuel had a career high of 59 a few years ago and averages over 40 per season. Moore had 14 last year, I could see him having over 20-25 this year. If they get 50 carries from WR/TE, then adding another RB would not be as big of a need.

That could be the case. I did watch some videos this morning on Tripilo. He will need some work to fix some of his issues which I think we have a great coach to help him. His main issue is getting more fluid in his hips for run blocking. His 33 to 33-1/2 arms could become an issue in pass pro, but he has good slide with his feet and holds defenders well. I think in camp, Kiran and him rotate at LT until Jones returns. Wright is a last resort to shift and he may see a couple plays here and there at LT so he's ready for the last resort. The Bears need 10 good players on oline because as we see, guys get banged up. It will happen year in and year out. We have 4 guys capable of playing LT, 5 counting Thuney, so we should see our best line in decades for once.

I do think there are sometimes concerns with lineman being too tall for guard because of your center of gravity and how it plays into leverage inside, so that could be a hindrance conceptually for Trapilo inside.