​Darnell Wright, the Chicago Bears’ right tackle and a former first-round pick, is poised to receive his first extension before training camp opens, and he arrives at the negotiation table with even more leverage. Wright is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract at a time when his trajectory has never looked brighter. After being selected 10th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, he is eligible for an extension, and the Bears and Wright’s camp are expected to finalize a deal prior to the start of camp later this week, following the typical timeline GM Ryan Poles has used for in-house extensions.
Wright closed the 2023 season with a standout performance, delivering a second-team All-Pro caliber year in his first season under head coach Ben Johnson. He served as a cornerstone on the Bears’ offensive line, paving the way for one of the league’s premier rushing attacks while also elevating his pass protection — all while playing through a torn UCL in his shoulder for part of the season. His resilience and versatility underscore why he earns every penny and why his leverage is growing as negotiations begin.
Recently, ESPN’s Top-10 offensive tackle rankings, compiled by Jeremy Fowler, highlighted Wright as the sixth-best tackle in the NFL and the highest-rated right tackle, according to NFL executives, coaches, and scouts surveyed. One voter even placed him as high as No. 2, though another left him unranked. A league insider described him as a player whose “power and brute strength” enable him to dominate on the field, suggesting he can dictate terms in any matchup.
That ranking helps frame Wright’s market value for a new contract. Excluding Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions, who is moving from right tackle to left tackle, the highest-paid right tackle currently earns about $25 million per year (Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles). In this context, Wright’s annual value should be at least in that neighborhood, if not higher. The economics of the tackle market have evolved over the years: the top left tackle, Laremy Tunsil, earns around $30.1 million annually, while younger left tackles like Paris Johnson Jr. are beginning to command $40 million or more. In 2026, the balance of value between left and right tackles has shifted, and Wright’s performance and potential position him to help redefine that dynamic. Wright could be the anchor who helps tilt the conversation in favor of significant right-tackle compensation.
Several peers—Sewell, Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, Jordan Mailata, and Tunsil—already sit in the $25 million-plus annual range, with Mailata as the notable exception due to his earlier extension in 2024. With each passing day, Wright’s stock continues to rise, strengthening his position in contract talks with the Bears. The Bears would be prudent to accelerate negotiations, as his leverage grows as time goes on. The path ahead suggests a deal could be reached quickly, aligning Wright’s early-career dominance with the club’s long-term plans and ensuring the team’s offensive line remains anchor solid. The potential for a market-setting extension could redefine the value of the right tackle position in today’s evolving NFL landscape.