As expected, the Bears will pick up right tackle Darnell Wright’s fifth-year option for 2027, a source confirmed Monday.
Because Wright was a first-round pick, the Bears had until May 1 to decide whether to extend a fifth-year option to him for the 2027 season. Wright is expected to make $19.07 million that year before becoming a free agent — unless he and the Bears negotiate a long-term deal. That is one of the items on general manager Ryan Poles’ agenda before the first game of the 2026 season.
Poles is scheduled to conduct his annual pre-draft media session Tuesday.
Keeping Wright is a no-brainer. Since Poles made him the 10th overall pick in 2023, Wright has played all but two games at right tackle, starting in all of them. He was a second-team all-pro last year. The Bears have not been tempted to move him to the left side, though — Poles said during the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bears preferred he play next to right guard Jonah Jackson.