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Bears Push to Extend Darnell Wright Before Training Camp

Locking Wright into a long-term contract raises the team's near-term salary commitments.

Overview

  • Reporting on Wednesday said the Bears want to complete a long-term extension with right tackle Darnell Wright before 2026 training camp begins.
  • Chicago exercised Wright’s fifth-year option, giving the team control and a $19.07 million salary floor for the 2027 season.
  • Wright earned second-team All-Pro honors after the 2025 season despite playing much of the year with a torn UCL, strengthening his case for a sizeable new deal.
  • Analysts project Wright will command roughly $20 million to $25 million per year on a long-term contract, a range that would require careful cap planning by the Bears.
  • The team’s recent habit of striking pre-camp extensions and coach Ben Johnson’s public praise for Wright frame this negotiation as a priority for preserving Chicago’s young core and playoff window.