The Chicago Bears offense had immediate success under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, where quarterback Caleb Williams had a breakout year behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. While All-Pro Joe Thuney was the focal point of that revamped group, Darnell Wright continued to establish himself as one of the best right tackles in the league.
Wright, selected 10th overall by the Bears in 2023, had the best year of his young career earning second-team All-Pro honors while being part of an offensive line that paved the way for the league’s third-best rushing attack and allowed the second-fewest sacks in the regular season.
Naturally, Chicago is expected to lock him down to a long-term contract extension, but it’s all a matter of when as Wright heads into the final year of his rookie deal. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin provided an update on an expected contract extension for Wright, and she believes a deal will get done before training camp kicks off July 28.
The Bears would like to get an extension done with the former first-rounder before training camp, which is typically when they’ve struck new deals in the past (Cole Kmet in 2023, DJ Moore in 2024). Despite playing most of last season with a torn UCL, Wright put together the best season of his career and earned second-team All-Pro honors.
Wright has been an anchor on the offensive line since his rookie season, and he’s also earned respect from his head coach. Johnson had nothing but praise for Wright, who has directly impacted how the offense operates.
“He just continues to get better,” Johnson said. “When you watch us on offense, we’re certainly a little bit more righthanded than lefthanded, and that is with him in mind. I think he’s one of those tackles that’s a powerful player and can displace guys off the line of scrimmage.”
Wright has been one of the most important players on the Bears offense since 2023, and he’s in the long-term plans as Chicago looks to establish their offense as consistently one of the best in the NFL.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: What’s the latest on Bears RT Darnell Wright’s contract extension?
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
