Bears Labeled Potential Destination for Free Agent Who Would Be Perfect Offensive Fit

The Chicago Bears have a need at left tackle and one of head coach Ben Johnson's old friends would be a perfect fit.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. | David Banks-Imagn Images

The playoff injury suffered by left tackle Ozzy Trapilo has thrown a wrench into the Chicago Bears' plans along the offensive line for 2026.

Trapilo suffered a torn Achilles in the postseason victory over the Green Bay Packers and it remains to be seen when he'll be back. There's no doubt a chance Trapilo doesn't play at all this year.

While down the NFL Annual League Meeting this week, Bears head coach Ben Johnson called Trapilo's issue a "pretty serious injury" and stated all options are on the table at left tackle.

As far as in-house options are concerned, the Bears are starting at a competition between Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills and Theo Benedet.

The issues with those three are Jones was benched last season, Wills is injury-prone, hasn't played a snap since 2024 and wasn't effective when on the field in previous years, and Benedet is not someone we'd peg as a starting-caliber player.

Bears coach Ben Johnson says essentially all options are on the table at left tackle after a “pretty serious injury” to Ozzy Trapilo. Could go short-term solution or long term. Johnson says it’s tough to predict how that position looks this season or over the next 5 years.

— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) March 30, 2026

With the left tackle spot wide open right now, it's possible the Bears could dip into free agency for a player Johnson is very familiar with.

Bears named landing spot for Taylor Decker

Former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In an article naming aging free agents who could make a big impact in 2026, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport connected Chicago to former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker.

"Numerous teams could use a left tackle, whether it's a contender like the Chicago Bears or a return to Ohio (where Decker was born and played collegiately) with the Cleveland Browns," he wrote.

Decker was cut loose by the Lions earlier this offseason after he and the team couldn't agree on a reworked deal. Detroit wanted Decker to take a pay cut and the veteran didn't oblige.

And things didn't end well, either, with Decker revealing his frustration with the lack of communication.

“It’s been radio silence,” he said, per Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. “It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. It feels like a high school breakup, where you can’t even make eye contact when passing each other in the hall.”

"After giving everything he had to the franchise for a decade, Decker expected more," Rogers added in the article. "He wanted to hear from his coach, from the general manager.”

While 2025 was considered a down year for Decker, he still gave up just two sacks and 33 pressures in 894 offensive snaps. It's worth mentioning Decker was battling a shoulder injury, so he could very well bounce back in 2026 with better health.

Decker would be a seamless fit in Johnson's offense considering his experience playing in it from their days together with the Lions, where Johnson was the offensive coordinator for three seasons.

Ben Johnson has called Taylor Decker

Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

We know from Rogers' report that Johnson has reached out to Decker since the Lions split, and it's very possible the topic of Decker joining the Bears was discussed.

The biggest roadblock to a Bears-Decker pairing is Chicago's cap space, which sits at a $243,078.

However, where there's a will, there's a way when it comes to the salary cap in the NFL and if general manager Ryan Poles can make it work, it would be well worth investing in someone who could be an upgrade for Caleb Williams' blindside.