Braxton Jones Signing Ozzy Trapilo Bears Left Tackle Bears News
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
The Chicago Bears seem to have decided on the future of their left tackle position on the opening day of legal-tampering negotiations for 2026 NFL free agency.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bears are signing veteran left tackle Braxton Jones to a one-year, $5 million contract extension that includes another $5 million in incentives. The move secures a familiar and experienced bridge option for Chicago as the team awaits the return of 2025 starter Ozzy Trapilo from his injury.
Jones started 44 games at left tackle over his first four seasons in Chicago, but he broke his ankle toward the end of the 2024 season and did not perform like the same player when he returned in 2025. The Bears kept him at left tackle for six games before they opted to bench him. He also spent a few months on injured reserve with a knee injury.
While Jones might present like an uninspired solution to the Bears’ looming question mark at left tackle for the 2026 season, his familiarity and affordability should help to keep the Bears’ offensive line in relatively stable condition despite two notable losses.
The Bears have not formally announced Jones’ extension, but they do not need to wait until the start of the league year at 4 p.m. ET on March 11 to do so, as Jones is their own free agent and can re-sign with them whenever they are ready to submit the paperwork.
Braxton Jones Deal is Good News for Ozzy Trapilo
The mystery of what the Bears plan to do at left tackle is (mostly) solved now that they have agreed to terms on an extension with Jones for the 2026 season. And while the move suggests Jones will start at left tackle in Week 1, it is also good news for Trapilo.
The Bears could have more aggressively pursued solutions at left tackle that would have made Trapilo’s future much more uncertain. The San Francisco 49ers remain at odds with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams about his contract cost and are, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, open to trading him if they do not resolve the situation soon.
The Bears could have also kicked the tires on a deal for recently released Detroit Lions veteran Taylor Decker, who worked with head coach Ben Johnson in his previous role.
Instead, the Bears made a move with Jones that suggests they believe Trapilo could be their future at left tackle and are eager to find out when he returns to full strength.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in February at the 2026 NFL Combine that the team is expecting Trapilo to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season as he recovers from injury. A severe knee injury also ups the chances that he won’t bounce back the same.
Even still, Trapilo must have shown the Bears enough in his half-season run as their starting left tackle to inspire confidence that he can be “the guy” when healthy again.