The Chicago Bears appeared to have one of the strongest NFL Draft classes the franchise has had in a long time after making four selections in the first two rounds.
They picked up top offensive pass catchers in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III with two of those picks. One of their other second-round picks, offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo, is now being paid a high compliment as he is being compared to a recent Bears legend on the offensive line.
FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang selected one current rookie from each team and compared them to a star franchise player from the past or present. Trapilo's comparison was to former Bears lineman Kyle Long.
"While top pick Colston Loveland warrants a shoutout, most realize that if Caleb Williams is really going to take a leap in Year 2, it will have more to do with an improved Bears’ offensive line rather than Chicago’s pass-catchers or playcaller. I’m not convinced that Trapilo will be a star in the NFL, but Chicago doesn’t need him to be. The Bears could just use some consistency. And a star tackle wouldn’t be a bad thing, either. Long is the only tackle in the modern era from Chicago to be named to the Pro Bowl."
Bears need Trapilo to live up to Long's name
Chicago selected Trapilo in the second round of the NFL Draft in the hopes that he would eventually be able to step into the starting lineup. He is currently projected to be behind Braxton Jones at left tackle.
Jones is facing some tough times in 2025 as he is in a contract season and is still recovering from his ankle injury he suffered last year. Trapilo is starting to look more and more like his eventual replacement either this year or next year.
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Bears fans can only hope that Trapilo can get off to as fast of a start to his career that Long did when he earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections in his first three seasons. The backhalf of Long's career ended in disappointment with injuries costing him 35 games in his last four years in Chicago. Long played from 2013 through 2019 and a 2021 run with the Kansas City Chiefs, but never stepped on the field.
Trapilo is an important piece to this draft as the Bears focused on building the offensive line up to protect Williams better than the 68 sacks they allowed in 2024. While it may not happen this year, Trapilo is apart of the future plans for the franchise at left tackle.