The Chicago Bears may have found their future at left tackle in Ozzie Trapilo, but that future is now on pause. Trapilo’s late-season surge gave the team hope that they’d finally nailed down one of the most critical - and notoriously difficult - positions to fill on the offensive line.
But a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in the Wild Card win over Green Bay has changed the equation. Trapilo is expected to miss a significant portion of next season, and suddenly, left tackle has jumped to the top of the Bears’ offseason needs list.
With the draft still months away and Trapilo’s timeline uncertain, free agency becomes the most immediate - and realistic - path to shore up the blind side. But let’s be honest: the free agent market at left tackle isn’t exactly loaded. That’s par for the course at a premium position where teams rarely let top-tier talent walk.
One name that’s surfaced as a potential fit is veteran Cam Robinson. The 30-year-old tackle came in at No. 85 on a recent ranking of the top 100 free agents, and he brings with him a hefty résumé - 114 career starts and experience across multiple teams. That kind of mileage can be valuable, especially for a team like the Bears that needs a plug-and-play option while Trapilo rehabs.
But Robinson’s recent play raises some serious red flags. He’s bounced around the league lately, suiting up for four different teams over the last two seasons, including a stint in Cleveland to end 2025.
And while experience matters, production matters more - and Robinson’s tape from this past season doesn’t inspire much confidence. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the 83rd-best tackle out of 89 qualifiers.
That’s near the bottom of the league. He also racked up 14 penalties in 2025 alone, part of a two-year stretch that’s seen him flagged 27 times.
Yes, learning new systems and adjusting to new teammates can lead to some hiccups. But that’s a lot of yellow laundry for a veteran who’s supposed to bring stability.
If the Bears are looking for a stopgap, Robinson technically fits the mold. But there’s a strong case to be made for turning inward instead - specifically, re-signing Braxton Jones.
While Jones dealt with his own share of injuries and inconsistency this past season, his performance across his first three years in Chicago outpaced anything Robinson has put on film in nearly a decade. His PFF grades were consistently stronger, and the eye test backs that up.
He’s younger, more familiar with the system, and arguably a better all-around option - even if he’s not a long-term answer either.
The Bears got an up-close look at Robinson in Week 15 when he was with the Browns, and that performance may have already told them everything they need to know. With Trapilo on the mend, Chicago needs a steady hand at left tackle - but they also need someone who can hold up in pass protection without becoming a penalty magnet. Robinson’s recent track record suggests he may not be that guy.
Bottom line: the Bears need help at left tackle, but they don’t need to settle. There are better short-term options than Robinson - and perhaps better long-term ones already in the building.