The Chicago Bears are about to cut their roster from 90 to 53 over the next several days. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles are focused on that. Any thoughts of the 2027 NFL draft are way down the priority list. Still, NFL teams always must keep one eye on the future. They already have a pretty good idea of where this roster is weak and what they may have to do come next spring. So do fans. The question is always how they’ll go about addressing it.
According to ESPN, the Bears will finally address one of their most problematic positions in the 1st round. However, it may not be the one many people want.
16. Chicago Bears
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU*
Ozzy Trapilo has recovered remarkably quickly from a torn patellar tendon, but there will still be questions about how long that injury will linger and his overall upside at left tackle. Until we know how well Trapilo will play, left tackle should be viewed as a huge question mark in Chicago. Seaton is an easy-moving pass protector who plays with excellent balance. He still needs to work on his hand placement, but his raw tools could eventually make him the top offensive tackle in next year’s class if he performs well against an SEC schedule.
Left tackle has consistently been an issue for this team for years. Even during the somewhat steady era of Charles Leno Jr., it was never really a strength. Having endured two years of training camp battles, ESPN thinks Johnson will finally say enough is enough and grab his guy in this draft. No more Braxton Jones or Theo Benedet. No more health uncertainty with Ozzy Trapilo.
The Chicago Bears are playing with fire if they do this.
Yes, the left tackle position is hugely important on any football team. Finding a good one to protect your quarterback is so important. The problem is that such a decision would further a growing problem for the Bears—namely, their lack of a difference-making defensive lineman. The Bears have not drafted a defensive line prospect in the 1st round since 2016. A decade ago. If you want to get technical, you could argue Leonard Floyd and Shea McClellin were both linebackers. That means you’d have to go back to 2004 with Tommie Harris.
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If you’re wondering why this team always seems to struggle rushing the passer, it starts there. It is incredibly difficult to build a good defensive line if you don’t invest 1st-round picks in it. The Chicago Bears have tried to get by on a mix of later picks, free agents, and a big trade. While Montez Sweat has worked out well, the rest of their moves have, for the most part, disappointed. Gervon Dexter was a solid 2nd round selection, but he hasn’t been good enough to consider a second contract. Zacch Pickens? Grady Jarrett? Dayo Odeyingbo? All have underachieved.
You can’t win Super Bowls with offense alone.
Ben Johnson has said he aims to build a dynasty. Well, the last two had the same thing in common. They were able to pair great offense with good-to-great defense. Right now, the Bears have neither. They’re very close to a great offense. The defense? Not so much. They have holes in too many key spots, especially up front. Until they get serious about investing top draft resources into that side of the ball, they can’t expect to get past the NFC’s elite come January.
With all that being said, if the Bears were to land a true franchise tackle with that pick, it’d be difficult to argue against the decision. The best offenses in history tend to have great left tackles. Chicago proved that in the 1980s with Jimbo Covert. The search for his heir has been an ongoing process for almost 40 years. If that is the direction they decide to go, maybe this time will be different.
