Bears Could Lock Down Darnell Wright Before Training Camp After All-Pro Jump

The Chicago Bears have a decision to make on Darnell Wright, and it sounds like they want to make it soon.

Wright is entering the final year of his rookie deal after the Bears picked up his fifth-year option, which keeps him under contract through 2027 at $19.07 million. But the team isn’t content to just let that play out. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Chicago would like to get an extension done with the 2023 first-round pick before training camp starts.

That timeline lines up with how the Bears have handled similar situations in the past. They inked Cole Kmet to a new deal before camp in 2023 and did the same with DJ Moore in 2024. So there’s a pattern here, and Wright looks like the next name on the list.

What makes this interesting is that Wright posted the best season of his career in 2025 despite playing most of it with a torn UCL. He still earned second-team All-Pro honors. That kind of production while banged up tends to get front offices’ attention.

Wright’s game is built for what Ben Johnson wants to do

Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t hold back when talking about Wright’s fit in the offense. He told Cronin that Chicago’s attack leans to the right side specifically because of what Wright brings.

“He just continues to get better,” Johnson said. “When you watch us on offense, we’re certainly a little bit more right-handed than left-handed, 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.”

That’s a pretty direct endorsement. And it explains why the Bears want to get something done sooner rather than later. Locking up a homegrown right tackle who fits your scheme and already has All-Pro recognition is the kind of move that keeps a playoff window open.

Will Wright reset the tackle market?

Maybe not all the way. One ESPN insider noted that Joe Alt of the Chargers is expected to land a bigger deal, largely because he plays left tackle and that position typically commands a premium. But Wright should still get paid well. The tackle market keeps climbing, and he’s got the tape to back it up.

The Bears made the playoffs in Johnson’s first year. They want to go deeper in Year 2. Keeping the offensive line intact, and specifically building it around Wright, feels like a smart place to start.