Darnell Wright is widely expected to retain his role as the Chicago Bears’ starting right tackle.
However, a recent remark from general manager Ryan Poles on an episode of “1920 Football Drive” may hint at a different possibility.
The show, named after the Bears’ headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s operations, including draft strategies, training camp developments, and roster moves.
In the May 27 episode, Poles talked about drafting offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo in the second round and appeared to imply that the rookie could be in line to start on either side of the offensive line.
“We knew he was reliable, intelligent, and tough — a guy who’s going to compete for a starting tackle spot, whether it’s on the right or left,” the Bears GM said about Trapilo.
Let’s be clear from the start — a major shake-up seems unlikely given how the Bears have approached things this offseason. Darnell Wright has been working solely at right tackle, and head coach Ben Johnson has confirmed that’s the current plan. With Braxton Jones recovering from an injury, Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie have been filling in at left tackle during his absence.
“Everything’s on the table, and we’re going to stick with the current plan of keeping him [Wright] at right tackle for now,” Johnson said, according to Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network. “We’ll let the other guys compete on the left side. If we need to adjust later, we will. But right now, we’re pretty confident with Darnell staying on the right. The left side will be a bit of a rotation until Braxton returns.”
Selected 10th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, Darnell Wright started all 17 games in his rookie year and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team.
Wright built on that strong first season with an even more impressive 2024 campaign, firmly establishing himself as a dependable right tackle. He logged 1,021 snaps, placing him 20th among qualifying tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an overall grade of 79.3, ranking 16th out of 140 tackles, with a standout run-blocking grade of 82.2—good for 7th overall.
Despite his strong performance at right tackle, there has been ongoing speculation about the possibility of Wright moving to left tackle, particularly with Braxton Jones still sidelined following ankle surgery.
It’s evident that Poles and the Bears’ staff are high on Trapilo. The 6-foot-8, 316-pound rookie has an outstanding physical build and brings versatility, having made 36 starts at Boston College while playing both left and right tackle during his college career.
Trapilo’s ability in pass protection stands out—he’s solid in his pass sets, uses active hands, and has great arm extension, all of which could serve him well in the NFL.
However, despite his physical upside, he’s still an untested rookie at the professional level, and adapting to the NFL usually takes time. Ultimately, a lot will hinge on how Braxton Jones looks once he returns to action.
If Trapilo can stay healthy and perform well against the Bears’ defensive line once full-contact practices begin, he’ll likely secure a starting role. As a second-round pick, the team clearly has high expectations for him and wouldn’t have selected him that early without plans to get him on the field. Just don’t count on him starting at right tackle over Wright—unless injuries force a change.
