The Chicago Bears are paying a premium to help keep Caleb Williams upright.
The Bears and right tackle Darnell Wright agreed to a four-year, $116 million contract extension with an offensive-line record $93 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday.
In addition to his record-setting guarantees, the average annual value of $29 million on Wright's new deal makes him the highest-paid right tackle in the league, just ahead of stalwarts Tristan Wirfs of the Buccaneers ($28.125M AAV) and the Lions' Penei Sewell ($28M AAV).
"As we continue to build our team and develop our culture, we are excited that Darnell will remain a cornerstone of our franchise as we work toward creating sustained success," said general manager Ryan Poles in a statement. "Darnell has consistently elevated his play and the performance of his teammates since joining our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and leadership for years to come."
Wright, a first-round pick taken 10th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal. Over his first three seasons, he has missed just two games and started all 49 games he's been available for. After the 2025 season, he was named second-team All-Pro, the first such honour of his career.
Locking Wright up long-term is crucial for not only Williams and a young, improving Bears offence, but also for an offensive line with question marks elsewhere. On the opposite side of the line, there's a wide-open competition at left tackle, including former first-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr. and Canadian Theo Benedet, while Drew Dalman's unexpected retirement has left a question mark at centre.
While Chicago will let training camp, and those position battles, play out, it doesn’t need to worry about right tackle, with Wright set to man the position for the foreseeable future.
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