30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Darnell Wright (No. 9)
Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.
Next up at No. 9 is right tackle Darnell Wright, who will be key to the offensive line's success and protecting quarterback Caleb Williams.
Background
Position: Right tackle
Age: 23
Experience: 3rd season
2025 cap hit: $5.7 million
2024 recap
Wright is a rising star at right tackle, and he's coming off an impressive second season with Chicago where he started in 16 games and missed just one. He was a lone bright spot along an offensive line that allowed a league-high and franchise-record 68 sacks on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams (six of those were allowed by Wright). Wright was the fifth-highest graded right tackle, per Pro Football Focus, at 79.3 -- and that was on one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. He thrived both as a pass blocker and run blocker, but he was better in the run game (82.2) than pass protection (75.4).
2025 outlook
Wright is the only starting offensive lineman guaranteed to start under this new regime in 2025. He's entering his third year as the starting right tackle, and this is easily the best supporting cast he's had since being drafted by Chicago. The Bears overhauled the entire interior with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman. Now, Wright will anchor the right side with Jackson, where protecting quarterback Caleb Williams is the most important thing. While there was a brief moment where it appeared the Bears might consider moving Wright to left tackle, with Braxton Jones sidelined by injury, Wright is too valuable at right tackle and there's now an open competition on the left side. Wright has consistently been a solid pass protector and run blocker, and this could be the year where he takes a massive step in what could be a key year for his future in Chicago.
Big question: Will Wright play his way into a contract extension?
General manager Ryan Poles has rewarded players for their productive play, and it seems like Wright could very well be in line for a contract extension as early as next offseason. Wright has quietly been one of the Bears' most dependable offensive linemen -- along some pretty bad lines -- and he's come as one heck of a bargain. While most starting right tackles make between $10-15 million per year, Wright will cost $5.7 million against the cap in 2025 and $6.6 million in 2026. But Chicago will have to pay him at some point, as they've paid other cornerstones on offense and defense. So, if the Bears are wise, they'll strike while the iron is hot -- during the 2026 offseason -- and lock Wright down to an affordable long-term extension to keep a core member of the offensive line in place for the foreseeable future. Given Wright's performance in his first two seasons -- with some struggling lines -- the stage is set for him to be even more productive in Year 3 and play his way into an extension.
30 Most Important Bears of 2025
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