Will Wright be the lone returning starter on Bears’ offensive line?
The Bears made a lot of the headlines in the NFL this offseason. It started when general manager Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson to be the new head coach and continued when Poles revamped his offensive line and boosted the defensive line.
There’s plenty to watch once training camp starts in July, including some under-the-radar players who could become contributors in 2025. These could be Bears who are waiting for an opportunity to take on a bigger role, rookies looking to make an impact or simply a player who Bears fans aren’t talking enough about.
Here’s a look at No. 4 on the list of under-the-radar Bears players. Check back each day this week for the next installment.
No. 4 Darnell Wright
Position: Right tackle
Experience: Third season
Looking back: Poles selected Darnell Wright with 10th overall draft pick in 2023. The Bears originally held the No. 9 overall pick but traded it to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 10 and a fourth-round pick. The Eagles used the pick to take defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who earned All-Pro honors last season and helped Philadelphia win the Super Bowl.
Wright jumped into the starting right tackle spot at the start of his rookie season. Over two years, he’s started 33 games, missing just one game. He’s also played the position at a consistent level.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wright ranked as the 16th tackle in the NFL last season with a score of 79.3. The group ranked Wright as the seventh-best tackle when it came to run blocking with a 82.2 grade. Wright finished 35th among tackles in pass blocking with a grade of 75.4.
Wright has played in a disciplined manner over his two seasons. He was called for six penalties last season, five of which were accepted, according to Pro Football Reference. Three of the penalties were for false starts.
Looking ahead: Poles traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signed center Drew Dalman. There will also be a competition for the starting left tackle spot among Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie.
But Wright has sort of fallen under the radar. He could be the lone returning starter from last season’s offensive line if Jones doesn’t win the left tackle spot. The third-year lineman has become an anchor on the right side of the line.
Poles, before the draft in April, opened the possibility that Wright could be in contention at left tackle. Wright had previously played left tackle at the University of Tennessee. But Johnson told reporters over the spring that Wright will stay at right tackle for the time being.
While Wright has played at a consistent level, he can still reach another level after being taken in the top-10. Wright could improve his pass protection after allowing six sacks last season. Improvements in the interior of the Bears’ line should help Wright take his game to another level after a strong start to his career.