Nahshon Wright was one of the standout performers in the Chicago Bears' secondary last season. Many fans around the Windy City assumed that amassing 11 broken-up passes, five interceptions, and five fumbles (three recovered, two forced), would result in a major contract.
Instead, Wright was forced to settle for a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the desperate New York Jets — a team that had zero INTs last season.
The value is solid if Wright can replicate his latest performance. At the same time, all signs point to the former Bear being a massive letdown for Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and his team.
Nahshon Wright's Time with Jets Won't Go Well
Landing a player coming off posting career bests and his first Pro Bowl selection for that type of money is a great deal. Wright is just 27, so he's entering his prime and could be one of the biggest free-agency bargains of the offseason. That, however, is highly unlikely.
Wright had never been a starter in this league until last season. He had started just three of 33 games before arriving in the Windy City. In fact, he spent the 2024 season on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, playing just one game, before he got an opportunity in Chicago. That chance came because of Jaylon Johnson's and Kyler Gordon's availability issues.
The former third-round pick started 16 of 17 games, logging 80 total tackles (54 solo), three tackles for loss, one QB hit, 11 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and five interceptions for 118 interception yards. Now, he's going to be Brandon Stephens' backup in Gotham, so those numbers could regress if the starting opportunities aren't there.
Wright was another byproduct of defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator Al Harris' coaching. The 51-year-old coach has excelled at turning defensive backs into turnover machines; he did it in Dallas with DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, and he did it last season with Kevin Byard III and Wright, who combined for 12 of the team's 16 picks.
Bland and Diggs both fell from grace after they stopped working with Harris, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Wright go through the same struggles.
Also, it's not like Wright was elite in coverage. His overall Pro Football Focus grade (65.1) ranked 48th among 114 eligible cornerbacks. His coverage grade (63.4, 54th) was slightly worse, as he allowed 53 receptions for 13.7 yards per catch and an opposing passer rating of 94.7 when targeted, even being flagged for seven penalties.
It's not like Wright will be unplayable or a disaster; it's just that playing in Harris' unit masked a lot of his shortcomings that will be exposed in a less-talented Jets defense. There's a good chance that he won't be the disruptive turnover machine he was last season, making it in the New York fans' best interest to listen to the Chicago faithful's warnings before disappointment strikes.