Darnell Wright wasn’t worried about getting a contract extension done during training camp.
Turns out, he had little reason to. The Bears and their standout right tackle agreed to a four-year extension worth $116 million, with $93 million guaranteed Tuesday, a source confirmed. The deal represents the most guaranteed money for a tackle in league history. His average salary of $29 million makes him the second-highest paid ever, behind Laremy Tunsil, per Spotrac.com.
The move crosses a major item off the Bears’ offseason to-do list. Wright was entering the fourth year of his rookie contract. The team had picked up his fifth-year option for 2027 with a $19 million price tag.
Wright was inconsistent at the start of last season and dealt with a shoulder injury but still was named a second-team all-pro. He finished as the 15th-ranked tackle in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus. ESPN ranked him fourth in pass-block win rate.
The Bears drafted Wright No. 10 overall in 2023 after trading down one spot. The Eagles moved up to tackle defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who got his own extension last week.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles said one week ago that it took two sides to work out a deal, but Wright painted a more optimistic picture Friday.
“The reason you have representatives is because you let those guys go in and they handle some of those things for you,” Wright said. “My job is to play football and handle that part of it. Their job is to talk and so, I’m just trying to handle my piece and those things handle themselves.”
He said he wasn’t worried about getting a deal done because he planned on staying with the Bears for a long time.
“Hopefully my whole career,” he said.
