- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,253,821
- Reaction score
- 59
The Chicago Bears signed right tackle Darnell Wright to a massive four-year, $116 million contract extension with $93 million guaranteed, locking down their franchise player through 2030, and solidifying a core piece in the early stages of the Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams era.
Being an elite tackle on either side of the line is very important for a team so focused on offense, and Wright is just that. When he's fully healthy, it's hard to name three better at that position. With most quarterbacks, including Williams, operating in a shotgun formation on most plays, right tackle has become almost as important as left tackle.
Chicago selected Wright with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The selection was part of the blockbuster trade that the Bears made with the Carolina Panthers, where they landed a massive haul that included Wright, Williams and a slew of other contributors.
Wright broke a mold the Bears have been trying to break for over a decade -- drafting guys worth extending beyond their entry-level contract in the first round. Wright was the first first-round pick since cornerback Kyle Fuller in 2014 to be signed to a contract extension.
Chicago parted ways with a lot of those first-round picks in attempts to get better. But receiver Kevin White, edge rusher Leonard Floyd, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, linebacker Roquan Smith, and quarterback Justin Fields are among the players recently taken in the first round who never received that second deal from the Bears.
That trend is likely to be broken for the foreseeable future as quarterback Caleb Williams, receiver Rome Odunze, tight end Colston Loveland, and safety Dillon Thieneman all hope to be with Chicago for a very long time.
When the Bears selected Wright, they were much earlier in their rebuilding process. They didn't have their coach or quarterback. But he put his head down, went to work, and became one of the best in the NFL. Now, he's a very rich and successful man because of it. In addition, he started a trend that the organization must see continue if they want to have any sustained success under their current regime.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Darnell Wright did something not many first round picks do with Bears
Continue reading...
Being an elite tackle on either side of the line is very important for a team so focused on offense, and Wright is just that. When he's fully healthy, it's hard to name three better at that position. With most quarterbacks, including Williams, operating in a shotgun formation on most plays, right tackle has become almost as important as left tackle.
Chicago selected Wright with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The selection was part of the blockbuster trade that the Bears made with the Carolina Panthers, where they landed a massive haul that included Wright, Williams and a slew of other contributors.
Wright broke a mold the Bears have been trying to break for over a decade -- drafting guys worth extending beyond their entry-level contract in the first round. Wright was the first first-round pick since cornerback Kyle Fuller in 2014 to be signed to a contract extension.
Chicago parted ways with a lot of those first-round picks in attempts to get better. But receiver Kevin White, edge rusher Leonard Floyd, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, linebacker Roquan Smith, and quarterback Justin Fields are among the players recently taken in the first round who never received that second deal from the Bears.
That trend is likely to be broken for the foreseeable future as quarterback Caleb Williams, receiver Rome Odunze, tight end Colston Loveland, and safety Dillon Thieneman all hope to be with Chicago for a very long time.
When the Bears selected Wright, they were much earlier in their rebuilding process. They didn't have their coach or quarterback. But he put his head down, went to work, and became one of the best in the NFL. Now, he's a very rich and successful man because of it. In addition, he started a trend that the organization must see continue if they want to have any sustained success under their current regime.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Darnell Wright did something not many first round picks do with Bears
Continue reading...
