The Chicago Bears have so much work to do on defense this offseason. They already have four safeties coming out of contract, and their defensive line needs tons of work, too. Now, Tremaine Edmund could be traded or cut in the near future. That leaves several start jobs unaccounted for and not many resources to fill them all. Meanwhile, people seem to have forgotten that another significant issue at left tackle remains unresolved. That is what makes the recent comments from Dan Roushar so important.
Ozzy Trapilo was shaping up to become the long-term fixture at that spot before he injured his knee. Now it’s believed he could miss all of 2026 recovering from it. Roushar appeared on Terron Armstead’s podcast, where he was asked about the left tackle situation. The Bears’ offensive line coach didn’t mince words. He stated that he doesn’t think the team’s best option for the position is currently on the roster. Guys like Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie, and Braxton Jones all have certain good traits.
None of them has shown enough to justify getting the job next season.
Dan Roushar sure makes it sound like left tackle is a priority.
Therein lay the problem. If he’s not sold on any of the current guys the Bears have, then it means the team will go hunting for an outsider. Free agency is the first option, and not a great one. Rasheed Walker and Cam Robinson are the only two noteworthy names available, and neither is what you’d call above-average. Forget the trade market. Other teams never trade good left tackles. That leaves the draft. While the defense needs so much work, head coach Ben Johnson may have to prioritize grabbing a left tackle in the 1st round. That is because waiting drastically reduces the team’s odds of finding someone credible.
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| Round of the draft | Hit Rate (%) since 2000 |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 83% |
| Round 2 | 70% |
| Round 3 | 40% |
| Round 4 | 29% |
| Round 5 | 16% |
| Round 6 | 16% |
| Round 7 | 9% |
Then again, Dan Roushar is no stranger to finding hidden gems in the draft. Armstead, the very man interviewing him, was a 3rd-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. He became an All-Pro. Two-time Pro Bowl center Eric McCoy went in the 2nd round. Roushar has shown he can help find good players outside the 1st, but it is challenging. It might come down to how much head coach Ben Johnson trusts his own eye for talent and whether the Bears feel they can get somebody who can start immediately in the 2nd or 3rd.
The Bears will have some interesting options.
Initial predictions believe the 1st round will be heavy on defense. Naturally, there will be a mix of offensive names across all positions, but it’s possible there might not be a huge run on tackles. Names like Monroe Freeling of Georgia or Caleb Lomu of Utah could be an option with that 25th pick. Both fit what Dan Roushar prefers in his linemen: a good foundation in pass protection. That will be an obvious priority for any tackle the Bears pick. Much depends on how the first 24 selections unfold.
If there is a run on the position at some point, it could force the team to wait until later rounds. Johnson has said that they are focused on taking good football players. They won’t be married to specific positions. Still, what they do in March will send a clear signal about their intentions in April. Unless they bring back Jones or sign a notable free agent, you can bank on left tackle being circled for that 25th pick.
