NFL players in potentially losing their starting positions among the bears before the 2025 season kickoff
Chicago Bears' 2025 Offensive Line Shake-up: A Closer Look
The Chicago Bears have been making waves in the NFL offseason, with a number of key changes to their roster. One of the most intriguing developments is the competition for the starting left tackle position, as undrafted free agent Theo Benedet challenges incumbent starter Braxton Jones.
Braxton Jones, who started all 12 of his games at left tackle in 2024 and received a career-high 77.4 player grade from Pro Football Focus, has been a mainstay on the Bears' offensive line. However, recent training camp reports suggest that Benedet has earned a spot among the starters, pushing rookie Kiran Amegadjie out of contention, while Ozzy Trapilo is primarily playing right tackle with the second team.
Jones' position is further threatened by the arrival of rookie tight end Colston Loveland, whom the Bears drafted in the first round. Loveland, who was widely viewed as one of the top tight end prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, could potentially threaten four-year starter Cole Kmet's starting role.
Kmet, who regressed in 2024 with 474 receiving yards and four touchdowns, has also faced challenges off the field. His chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams was rocky, and injuries have been a recurring issue for Jones since entering the league in 2022.
These developments come as the Bears underwent significant changes over the offseason, making their 2025 depth chart almost unrecognizable. The team traded for star offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in March, and added an eight-man class of incoming prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Luther Burden III, Ozzy Trapilo, Shemar Turner, and Ruben Hyppolite II are expected to be immediate contributors, while the Bears listed Braxton Jones and Kmet as their starting left tackle and tight end on their unofficial 2025 opening depth chart respectively.
As the preseason progresses, the competition for starting roles will continue to heat up. Head coach Matt Eberflus has discussed bringing his rookies along slowly, but may unleash them when the time is right, suggesting Kmet could be traded before the end of the season.
Bears fans have enjoyed Loveland's performances in training camp more than they did Kmet's, and the rookie's strong preseason could quickly make him the starter over Kmet. The Bears' 2025 season promises to be an exciting one, with many storylines to follow.
- Theo Benedet's performance in training camp has forced rookie Kiran Amegadjie out of the competition for the starting left tackle position in American football, despite Braxton Jones' solid performance in the 2024 season and his career-high player grade from Pro Football Focus.
- The Chicago Bears' 2025 offensive line faces threats not only from internal competition but also from their own draft pick, Colston Loveland, who could potentially threaten four-year starter Cole Kmet's starting role at tight end, as Kmet has faced challenges on and off the field, including injuries and chemistry issues with quarterback Caleb Williams.
- In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears made significant changes to their roster, adding eight new prospects, some of whom, such as Luther Burden III, Ozzy Trapilo, Shemar Turner, and Ruben Hyppolite II, are expected to be immediate contributors in the sports of football, further increasing the competition for starting roles on the Chicago Bears' team.
