The Chicago Bears entered the offseason with significant pressure to revamp their offensive line. Now that they’ve addressed it, the focus shifts from the front office to the players on the field. With All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and 2021 Pro Bowler Jonah Jackson arriving via trade, along with center Drew Dalman signing a three-year, $42 million deal, the foundation is set for the Bears’ offensive line to become an elite unit.
One name that hasn’t received enough attention is 2023 first-round pick Darnell Wright. Despite dealing with instability at right guard and an underwhelming coaching staff, Wright has continued to progress each season. Now, with a strong supporting cast and improved coaching, he has a legitimate chance to earn All-Pro honors.
Bears Right Tackle Darnell Wright Due for an All-Pro Season
It’s easy to claim that Wright has improved since his rookie year, but the stats prove it.
In 2023, his rookie year, Wright logged 1,082 snaps while allowing 35 total blown blocks, committing six holding penalties, and drawing five false starts. This was while playing alongside Nate Davis and Ja’Tyre Carter at right guard and protecting Justin Fields at quarterback.
By 2024, Wright showed clear development. In 945 snaps, he cut his blown blocks down to 20, eliminated holding penalties, and reduced false starts to four—all while adjusting to a new right guard rotation of Nate Davis and Matt Pryor and blocking for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Despite the struggles Chicago endured last season, Wright emerged as the Bears’ highest-graded player with a 79.3 PFF grade. Yet, his performance has largely gone underappreciated.
I’ve been studying some of the younger OTs in the NFL, and #Bears RT Darnell Wright has really stood out. He was put into a ton of true 1 vs 1 situations without a TE/RB chip, and his ability to handle power, mirror guys, and drop the anchor is really impressive. pic.twitter.com/YLBdOYPNze
— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) February 22, 2025
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New Additions Could Unlock Wright’s All-Pro Potential
The Bears’ offensive line has been subpar the past few seasons, but it wasn’t all on the players. When a coach is supposed to bring out the best in players, Bears former offensive line coach Chris Morgan seemed to do the opposite. Now that Dan Roushar has been hired as the Bears’ o-line coach, it’s hard not to get excited about Darnell Wright’s potential. In 10 seasons as the New Orleans Saints offensive line coach, Roushar accomplished the following:
- Coaching three linemen (Andrus Peat, Larry Warford, Max Unger) to a combined 10 Pro Bowl appearances
- Finished top-five in sack preventions four times
Now with a group consisting of Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson, Wright is slated to have an excellent season. He’ll have the mentorship from a four-time Super Bowl champion in Thuney and play alongside someone who the Bears hope will bounce back in Jackson. Plus don’t rule out the possibility of the Bears drafting an offensive lineman early during the draft.
Can the Same Be Said About Braxton Jones?
While optimism surrounds Wright’s development, left tackle Braxton Jones remains a question mark. On one hand, he’s exceeded expectations for a former fifth-round pick. On the other, his inconsistency, particularly with penalties and handling bull rushes, has raised some concerns. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Jones faces a pivotal season. He must prove he deserves to stay as the starting left tackle, and having an elite veteran like Thuney beside him could provide the boost he needs.
As the Bears look to take a major step forward in 2025, the offensive line’s performance will be a defining factor. For Wright, all the pieces are in place for an All-Pro-caliber season. For Jones, the stakes are high, and it’s time to prove he should stay. That’s if the Bears don’t draft a left tackle early this year.
Main Image: Jeff Hanisch – USA Today Sports
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