For years, the Chicago Bears struggled to find their footing in the offensive line. However, long before their overhaul, Darnell Wright was already earning his stripes. The No. 10 pick in 2023, he emerged as a game-changing right tackle in the Windy City.
He's done more than enough to earn a very lucrative contract extension. And, like his fellow 2023 classmates, he's finally eligible to get one. That's why it's been somewhat surprising to see that it still hasn't been done.
Nevertheless, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes it's just a matter of time before that happens. In a recent mailbag Q&A, he predicted the Bears would get him a new deal before the start of the season:
"An extension before training camp begins is possible, but that might be a little early. If I were looking at a timeline for a potential deal, I’d probably target Week 1 and not late July. Sure, both sides would like to get a deal done, but these things take time and I have to imagine Wright is hunting a massive contract," Biggs wrote.
The Bears need to lock in Darnell Wright for years to come
While he doesn't get nearly enough credit as he deserves, Wright is definitely in the upper echelon of right tackles. He got the ball rolling as an elite run-blocker, but he's also made significant strides in pass-protection, especially last season.
As expected, the Bears picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season. He's now slated to make $19.07 million fully guaranteed, but he could be in for at least $5 more per season with a new four-year extension.
Bears is coming off the best season of his young career, playing 16 regular-season contests for Ben Johnson's team. He was a true ironman, playing 1,074 offensive snaps and only giving up three sacks, three QB hits, and 19 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF gave him an 81.4 overall grade, the 14th highest among 89 eligible tackles, though his run-blocking grade (85.6) was the sixth-highest. He was instrumental in helping D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai anchor the league's third-best rushing team (2,456 yards on 4.9 yards per carry).
The Bears have clearly transitioned toward an offensive mindset, and dominating in the trenches will be absolutely crucial for Ben Johnson's scheme. As such, they have to compensate one of their unsung heroes with the type of deal he's earned.
This is as easy a decision as general manager Ryan Poles will ever have to make in his days in Chicago. The Bears already saw what it was like to have Caleb Williams running for his life on every dropback, so it only makes sense that they want to keep his bodyguards in town and take care of them before too long.
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