Chicago Bears select offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo in second round of NFL draft

LAKE FOREST – The Bears showed a commitment to revamping their offensive line earlier this offseason when they brought in three new starters through trades and signings. That overhaul continued Friday night

Chicago added another new piece to the offensive line in the second round of the NFL draft when they drafted Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo with the No. 56 overall pick.

“It’s really amazing,” Trapilo told reporters virtually Friday night. “This has been my dream for as long as I can remember.”

Trapilo brings in plenty of versatile experience. He first earned action as a redshirt freshman when he stepped in to play guard because of an injury. Trapilo went on to start at left tackle for two seasons before switching over to the right side in the last two years.

Since the end of the season, Trapilo told reporters that he’s been working out at every position on the offensive line except center. Trapilo said he didn’t have a preference where he played on the line.

He just wanted to earn game time as quick as possible like he did at Boston College.

“Get on the field as soon as possible,” Trapilo said. “That’s how I focused my training.”

Bears general manager Ryan Poles previously was enticed by that sort of versatility in one of his previous draft picks. Right tackle Darnell Wright played at both left and right tackle at Tennessee before Poles selected him in the first round of the 2023 draft.

At 6-foot-8, 316 pounds, Trapilo has a large frame to be a tackle in the NFL. But he’s also disciplined. Trapilo didn’t commit a penalty in his final season with Boston College.

“For a big man, he moves well, he’s a very smart football player, very technically sound,” Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol said. “I think the dependability piece, especially for an offensive lineman, can’t be overrated.”

With the selection, Poles continued his revamp of the offensive line. Poles traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signed center Drew Dalman earlier this offseason.

Koziol said that Trapilo had a good chance to compete for a starting spot on the offensive line. He also mentioned that the Bears’ plan is to head to offseason training activities and see which five linemen will prove to be the best.

Although he doesn’t have a position yet, Trapilo will likely compete for the left tackle spot. He’ll go against returning starter Braxton Jones, who had ankle surgery toward the end of last season and could be limited at the start of training camp.

Last year’s third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie will also likely compete for the spot.

The Bears now could have four new starters on the offensive line. Wright might be the lone starter returning from an offensive line that allowed quarterback Caleb Williams to be sacked 68 times last year, tied for the third-most times in NFL history.

Trapilo was the second of three second-round picks Friday night. The Bears started the night by drafting Luther Burden III at No. 39.

Chicago originally had the No. 41 pick, too, but made a trade with the Bills. Chicago traded No. 41, 72 (third round) and 240 (seventh) to the Bills for 56 (second round), 62 (second round) and 109 (fourth round).

The Bears drafted Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner at No. 62.