Bears picking up Darnell Wright’s option for 2027

As expected, the Bears will pick up right tackle Darnell Wright’s fifth-year option for 2027, a source confirmed Monday.

Because Wright was a first-round pick, the Bears had until May 1 to decide whether to extend a fifth-year option to him for the 2027 season. Wright is expected to make $19.07 million that year before becoming a free agent — unless he and the Bears negotiate a long-term deal. That is one of the items on general manager Ryan Poles’ agenda before the first game of the 2026 season.

Poles is scheduled to conduct his annual pre-draft media session Tuesday.

Keeping Wright was a no-brainer. Since Poles made him the 10th overall pick in 2023, Wright has played all but two games at right tackle, starting in all of them. He was a second-team all-pro last year. The Bears have not been tempted to move him to the left side, though — Poles said during the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bears preferred he play next to right guard Jonah Jackson.

The Bears view Wright as an integral cog in an offensive line that went from one of the NFL’s worst in 2024 to one of its best last year, with guard Joe Thuney and since-retired center Drew Dalman each earning Pro Bowl nods. Pro Football Focus graded Wright as the NFL’s 15th-best tackle last year. Only six NFL tackles played more snaps in 2025.

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