A proven veteran's proven playoff success at tackle offers the Bears a cost-effective, immediate solution, bypassing costly free agency.
The Chicago Bears will have their hands full this offseason.
The Bears will have to decide which players to bring back after the market value for most of their key departures has now changed. Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker will demand plenty of money in free agency, and Nahshon Wright's value has gone through the roof after his breakout season.
Then the franchise will have to figure out how to navigate its left tackle position in the 2026 season.
Ozzy Trapilo secured the starting left tackle job after the Bears' 31-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. He remained there through the playoffs, but then had his season cut short after suffering a patellar injury in the 31-27 win over the Green Bay Packers.
It looks like Trapilo is going to be out for most of the 2026 season, so Chicago will need to find a temporary fix at left tackle. The Bears have already re-signed Theo Benedet, who started several games there after Braxton Jones was benched.
Jones is set to become a free agent unless the Bears offer him a new contract.
However, there is another option the Bears haven't considered that's been right there the whole time. We actually saw them use this strategy during the playoffs, and it worked well.
After Trapilo went down with his injury, the Bears had to figure out something quick before their Divisional Round game with the Los Angeles Rams. The Bears opted to move Joe Thuney over to left tackle and have Jordan McFadden start at left guard instead.
Although the Bears lost 20-17 in overtime, the move still paid off, as Caleb Williams wasn't sacked once throughout the game.
Playing left tackle is something Thuney has experience with, as he played there for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 playoffs as they reached the Super Bowl.
This move could also save the Bears some money, since it would be much cheaper to sign a free-agent guard than to go and pay a free-agent tackle to protect Williams' blindside. The Bears could also choose not to sign a free agent at left guard and use McFadden as well.
Chicago is in a tricky situation with Trapilo's recent injury, but there are many better options than trying to find a replacement in free agency or in the 2026 NFL Draft. Using a veteran like Thuney at left tackle temporarily may be the best option after all.