The Chicago Bears are coming off a 2025 season that felt like a long-awaited breakthrough. A division title and a playoff win brought a fresh wave of optimism to a franchise that’s spent years searching for stability.
But just as the momentum was building, the Bears were dealt a blow: left tackle Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar tendon late in that playoff win. Now, with Trapilo expected to miss a significant chunk of the 2026 season, Chicago has a pressing need to protect Caleb Williams’ blindside.
Let’s be clear-Trapilo is still the long-term answer at left tackle. The Bears believe in him, and they should.
But in the short term, they need a reliable stopgap. Theo Benedet is in the mix, but relying solely on him without bringing in a veteran to compete would be a risky bet, especially with a young quarterback under center.
The problem? Quality left tackles don’t exactly grow on trees, and they rarely hit free agency.
That’s true again this offseason. The Bears aren’t looking for a franchise cornerstone-they just need someone who can hold down the fort for a year.
And in that search, one name keeps surfacing: Braxton Jones.
Jones, who spent the first part of his career in Chicago, is being highlighted by Pro Football Focus as one of the most underrated free agents at offensive tackle. And it’s easy to see why. While his 2025 season ended on a sour note-he struggled, got benched, and then injured-it’s important not to let one down year overshadow the body of work that came before it.
From 2022 to 2024, Jones quietly put together three solid seasons. He earned an 80.2 overall grade from PFF during that stretch, ranking 15th among 37 qualifying offensive tackles.
His pass-blocking grade of 76.1 was tied for 19th among left tackles. Those aren’t elite numbers, but they reflect a dependable starter-especially valuable in today’s market.
Yes, 2025 was rough. Jones allowed pressure on 12.5% of his pass-blocking snaps, the second-worst rate among 51 qualifying left tackles.
But context matters. He was coming off an ankle injury that cut short his 2024 season, and then suffered a knee injury during practice in October.
That combination of setbacks clearly impacted his performance. Still, one injury-marred season doesn’t erase three years of steady play.
Unfortunately for Jones, 2025 was also his contract year. That timing couldn’t have been worse.
His market value has likely taken a hit, but that could work in the Bears’ favor. Bringing him back on a short-term, prove-it deal could be a win-win: Chicago gets a familiar face with starting experience, and Jones gets a chance to reset his value in a system he already knows.
Some fans might roll their eyes at the thought of Jones returning to the starting lineup. That’s understandable-recency bias is real, and his 2025 struggles were hard to miss.
But take a step back, and the picture looks different. Before last season, Jones was a solid, if unspectacular, option at one of the game’s most important positions.
And when you scan the current free agent market, it’s clear: there aren’t many better options out there.
If the Bears want to keep Caleb Williams upright while Trapilo recovers, they’ll need someone they can trust. And while Braxton Jones might not be the long-term solution, he could be the right short-term answer.