The Chicago Bears no longer have the massive financial flexibility they had in the previous few years. That is the nature of a rebuild. Around the third or fourth year, the larger contracts start piling up. Now GM Ryan Poles must start navigating the salary cap with more caution. His biggest priority by far is deciding what to do with Darnell Wright. The team’s 10th overall pick from 2023 has blossomed into one of the NFL’s best right tackles. Through 10 games, he has allowed just 10 pressures. He’s also the 7th-highest-rated run-blocker among all offensive tackles.
Given how excellent the offensive line has been this season, it makes perfect sense for the Bears to get him locked down to a new contract. What isn’t certain is when that will happen and how much it will cost. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune offered a small update on that. The way things are headed, the likely outcome is that the Bears will exercise Wright’s 5th-year option in his rookie contract. That would be a formality, buying them time to hammer out an extension that will have a floor of at least $20 million per year.
Based on how he’s playing, the likeliest scenario for Wright is the team exercising the fifth-year option in his contract and then looking to hammer out a multiyear extension that could be finalized in the spring or over the summer. There won’t be any rush to strike a new deal, but the team can save a little money by doing a deal before the season starts, and Wright can lock up security.
You’re probably looking at a big deal too. It’s premature to speculate on numbers with seven games remaining, but just know there are six right tackles with an average annual salary of $20 million or more.
Wright’s contract situation will be the biggest piece of business for general manager Ryan Poles. After that, I’m not sure there is another player the team will want to pay.
Darnell Wright will be a costly investment, but well worth it.
Good-to-great offensive tackles are hard to find. He is proving to be one of them. Right now, the highest-paid right tackle in football is Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs at $28.125 million per year. As things stand, the likeliest outcome is that Darnell Wright will be sandwiched somewhere between Lane Johnson ($25 million) and Zach Tom ($22 million). Factoring in his lack of Pro Bowl nods and injury history, that feels like a good spot. He will still be a top-five tackle in money while the Bears don’t have to truly break the bank.
Once Wright is secure, the last remaining piece of business is finding a left tackle. Theo Benedet has been a quality run blocker for the Bears, but has clear weaknesses in pass protection. If the team doesn’t feel he can overcome them, then hunting for a replacement is a top priority this coming spring.
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Poles’ fifth 5 5 5 5 5 year re-rebuild will be his last. The last remaining positions needed will likely be filled, and greater stability as normalcy should become the generic goal.
Well, unfortunately Braxton got hurt, and the saying is “you don’t lose your job due to injury”, blah, blah, blah. I never wanted to set my ceiling with him at LT, so at least we’re moving on, and might get a comp pick. I have no problem setting my ceiling with Wright at LT for the next 2-3 years. Trapilo at RT with Theo as the swing getting more seasoning. Me personally, I’m dumping the contracts of DJ, JJ, and Kmet within the next calendar year. Some insiders on here wanted to move Wright to guard so I don’t mind… Read more »
TGena, you are correct that Poles has swung and whiffed at LT (Braxton was serviceable for when he was drafted, but you can’t scrimp at that position). I would hope they would take their OL coach Dan Roushar to the Senior Bowl and the combine to decide who he would like for that position. Poles has done a great job with the interior, which has allowed Caleb to develop much more this year without the jailbreak plays of last season. Bear Down.
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So GM Ryan Poles has now drafted four “Left Tackles”…
■ Zachary Thomas
■ Braxton Jones
■ Kiran Amegadjie, and
■ Ozzy Trapilo
…probably with input from Ted Phillips.
How else can you explain those results?