Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) after an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

Bears' unheralded star receives major recognition amid disrespect

Originally posted on Chicago Bears on SI
By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 2:02 PM ET

The Chicago Bears ' offensive line was a major source of contention last season, as quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times and the rushing attack was not up to snuff.

The Bears went to work addressing the issue over the last several months, signing free agents, swinging trades and utilizing the NFL draft.

However, one particular Chicago offensive lineman actually wasn't a problem at all last season: right tackle Darnell Wright. In fact, an argument can be made that Wright was one of the better tackles in football in 2024.

Zoltan Buday of Pro Football Focus certainly thinks highly of Wright, dubbing the former first-round pick as one of the most underrated offensive linemen in the league heading into the 2025 campaign.

"The 10th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft makes this list due to the public's extremely poor perception of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line last season," Buday wrote. "While the unit did allow the most in the NFL, partially due to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ penchant to take sacks while under pressure, not all five starters played at a low level."

Buday then went on to note Wright's 79.3 overall grade at Pro Football Focus last season, which ranked 16th among qualifying tackles. He also registered an 82.2 run-blocking grade.

To be even more optimistic, Wright is just 24 years old, so he has ample room to grow going into the coming season and beyond.

Perhaps the University of Tennessee product can make his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2025.

This article first appeared on Chicago Bears on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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