The Chicago Bears keep getting linked to Taylor Decker, but the more this offseason plays out, the more that idea looks like a tough fit.
Decker has been floated as a possible answer at left tackle for a while, and the connection to Ben Johnson keeps his name in the conversation. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report even pointed to Chicago as his best landing spot, writing, "The Chicago Bears would also be a solid landing spot for Decker, and not just because of his connection to Ben Johnson. The Bears have late-2025 starter Ozzy Trapilo coming off a torn patellar tendon and no clear leader in their camp competition at left tackle."
On paper, it makes sense. In practice, the Bears appear to be leaning toward what they already have.
A big reason is the return of Ozzy Trapilo. He is still working his way back, and the expectation remains that he will land on IR and miss the first four weeks.
Even so, his activation changed the picture. It shows he is likely closer than initially thought, which makes Decker feel more like a temporary fix than a long-term move.
The longer Chicago waits, the less value that signing would bring.
The Bears also haven’t been acting like a team with no answers at the spot. They’ve had four players working there, and the competition has stayed open. Braxton Jones appears to be the clear front-runner, with the team still trying to see whether anyone can overtake him.
Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills have already gotten looks. Now Theo Benedet is in the mix. That gives Chicago four options who have been in the offense, lined up next to Joe Thuney, and learned Caleb Williams’ protection calls.
Signing Decker would not come without complications. He would need time to get up to speed, and there’s no guarantee he would even be the best choice by Week 1.
He could start for a short stretch, work off the rust, and then eventually lose the job once Trapilo is ready. That’s not exactly a clean path for a team trying to settle the position.
Williams already knows the current group better, and he has started behind Jones in both of his two NFL seasons so far. Last year, Chicago opened with Jones and finished with Trapilo, and that was enough for them then. It may be enough again now.
The Bears could still add Decker, but at this point, it’s beginning to look unlikely.
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