Revisiting The Bears 2025 Draft: Second Round Pick 56

We all know it takes more than a single season to accurately assess the success of any draft class. Our own Josh Sunderbruch does a phenomenal job of explaining why this is and looking back at a more reasonable benchmark. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a moment to look back and see how the early returns are looking and if any selection would have been better spent elsewhere. What better class to assess than one of the more impactful ones we have seen in Chicago for some time? In this series, I will go through each pick in each round and assign what I believe to be the best pick, worst pick and players that could have been selected instead.

Round 2 – Pick 56

Ozzy Trapilo, OT

After missing out on their reported target in RB TreVeyon Henderson at the top of the second round, the Bears pivoted with Luther Burden III. A pick that 90% of fans agree was the right call according to a recent poll. But when they traded back with Buffalo to acquire two additional second-round picks, I assumed one of the other stud RBs would be coming to Chicago. Well, not with the 56th pick as Ryan Poles and the Bears pulled the trigger on the former Right Tackle from Boston College. Many questioned the decision as Left Tackle was a huge need and our youngest and arguably best OL on the current roster, Darnell Wright, was already cemented on the depth chart as the team’s starting RT.

After a battle for the starting LT job in training camp resulted in Ozzy moving back to the right side of the line to stay, or so we thought, it appeared once again this may have been a bad pick. Then he got in some game action. Not just on the right side for an injured Darnell Wright, but at Left Tackle for 6 of the final 7 games of the season, where he got to see some one-on-one action against some of the league’s best pass rushers while only giving up 2 sacks. Guys like TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, Nolan Carter and Jaelan Phillips, Micah Parsons and even new sack champ Myles Garrett. To say the 6’8”, 320lb rookie was a pleasant surprise would be an understatement. Shout out to OL coach Dan Roushar for his work with the athletic big man. His injury at the end of the season leaves his future in murky waters, but that doesn’t change the fact that plenty of other options were available when Trapilo was selected. Was he the right choice? I have always been a big fan of RB RJ Harvey, but preferred we wait until the 3rd or 4th round in such a deep class, and I am happy with Trapilo being the selection here. Hat tip to the scouting department for seeing the skills to be a legit starting LT in this league.

Other Potential Options:

Tate Ratledge, OL – Detroit Lions pick 57

• 17 starts, 2 sacks allowed with 7 penalties in 1,088 snaps (648 passing)

Mike Green, EDGE – Baltimore Ravens pick 59

• 2 starts, 3.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 7 TFL and 14 QBH

RJ Harvey, RB – Denver Broncos pick 60

• 7 starts, 540 rush yards and 7 TDs, 356 receiving yards and 5 TDs

Trey Amos, CB – Washington Commanders pick 61

• 8 starts, 32 tackles, 1 TFL and 6 PD

What about you? Was Ozzy the best pick at 56 in your opinion? Sound off in the comments!