​The Chicago Bears are in the middle of a tough negotiation with former first-round right tackle Darnell Wright when it comes to ironing out the details of his second contract with the team.No offseason storyline for the Chicago Bears should be bigger heading into training camp than the upcoming extension the front office is currently working on with second-team All Pro right tackle and former first-round pick Darnell Wright.ESPN’s Courtney Cronin noted that the expectation is that Wright’s new deal will be finalized ahead of training camp, which is set to open in just a few weeks. The deal is also expected to be a massive one for the first draft pick under general manager Ryan Poles.Given the expected price and the caliber of player Wright is set to become in Chicago, this will be a hefty deal. To explain both sides, I joined forces with A to Z Sports NFL expert Kyle Crabbs to run through the negotiations for both sides of the table.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWright will eventually become the first draft pick selected by Poles that he will extend to a second contract once this deal is all said and done. General managers always take pride in that and those players hold a special place in their hearts.Wright has a strong argument to earn a top-of-the-market deal, something Crabbs will break down later. For the Bears side of things though, Wright hasn’t consistently played to the elite level say Penei Sewell played at after his first three seasons. At the same time, head coach Ben Johnson went to bat for Wright’s team earlier this offseason when describing how integral Wright is to his offensive scheme plus how irreplaceable and unique he is as a player.Wright can be a foundational pillar for this offense and the Bears need long-term foundational players up-front. Joe Thuney isn’t getting any younger and only under contract through 2027, which is also when Jonah Jackson’s deal runs out. The only long-term foundational players on Chicago’s offensive front signed through 2027 are left tackle Ozzy Trapilo (who’s rehabbing from a severe knee injury) and rookie center Logan Jones. Signing Wright now gives the Bears that long-term anchor to build around.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWright’s continued ascension through the ranks of the NFL’s top offensive tackles has been a steady climb. He’s played nearly 3,400 snaps in his first three seasons in the league while cutting his pressures and sacks allowed rate consecutively from year to year. He finished tied for fourth in the NFL in pass blocking efficiency (PFF) in 2025 while blocking nearly 700 times.He’ll be just 25 years of age this season, pushing him into just the start of his prime as a player, too. This is, regardless of right versus left tackle, a conversation that starts in the upper echelon of the offensive tackle market. Most of the top of market tackle deals were signed in 2023 and 2024, which leaves the top of the tackle market sorely due for an up