The Chicago Bears‘ biggest investment of the upcoming offseason involving a player already on the roster is liable to involve third-year right tackle Darnell Wright.
Wright is a three-year starter and has missed just two of a possible 50 games late into his third NFL season. Wright has not only been reliable from a health standpoint, he has developed into one of the better right tackles in the entire league.
Thus, Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron projected on December 24 that the Bears will extend him on a three-year deal worth $66.5 million when he become eligible next offseason.
“They will presumably pick up his fifth-year option, but considering he’s arguably their most valuable long-term asset along the offensive line, it’s smart to extend him before he gets even more expensive,” Infante wrote.
“This contract would make Wright the third-highest paid right tackle in the NFL behind Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson, which is a completely fair assessment of where he stands in the league,” Infante added. “There’s also a certain amount of cap space that would be saved by signing him to a contract extension.”
Wright is a former first-round pick and has one year remaining on his rookie deal after this season. Because he was a first-rounder (No. 10 overall in the 2023 draft), Chicago can exercise a fifth-year team option next spring and keep him under contract through 2027.
As such, the extension Infante noted wouldn’t kick in until 2028 and would guarantee the Bears Wright’s playing rights through the 2030 campaign.
Darnell Wright Anchors Right Side of NFL’s Second-Best Offensive Line
GettyChicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright.
Chicago’s offensive line has taken a massive leap since 2024, in large part due to the improvements of Wright and three new additions across the interior of the unit — left guard Joe Thuney and center Drew Dalman, both of whom earned Pro Bowl honors this season, and right guard Jonah Jackson.
Coming into Week 17, Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ line as the No. 2 group in the entire league behind only the Denver Broncos.
“Chicago’s offensive line held up well against a depleted Packers pass rush, surrendering 10 pressures on 38 pass plays, with no sacks,” Zoltan Buday wrote December 24. “The unit’s 86.8 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating tied for 10th best in Week 16.”
Bears Improving at Left Tackle With Rookie Ozzy Trapilo Assuming Full-Time Starting Role
GettyQuarterback Caleb Williams (left) of the Chicago Bears celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (right).
Left tackle is the one spot the Bears have lacked some consistency this year. Braxton Jones began the year there, but the team removed him from the starting lineup before placing him on the injured reserve list (IR) with a knee issue, where he remains.
Theo Benedet has also started seven games for the Bears in his first NFL season and has played at left tackle. Ozzy Trapilo, a second-round rookie out of Boston College, is the third player to line up at the left tackle spot for Chicago in 2025, and he is beginning to come into his own.
“Rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo continues to improve since being named a starter,” Buday continued. “He earned a 79.5 PFF overall grade in the win against the [Green Bay] Packers, which was his highest mark since he joined the lineup full time.”
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