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The Chicago Bears have handed out a trio of extensions prior to Ben Johnson’s arrival. Linebacker TJ Edwards and cornerback Kyler Gordon will continue to bolster the defense while guard Joe Thuney gives the Bears a new look on offense.
When it comes to helping quarterback Caleb Williams reach his ceiling, the addition of Thuney will be massive. He joins fellow guard Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman as three new faces along their interior. After allowing a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, Chicago took an aggressive approach in remedying the issue.
However, the Bears want their offensive line to be a strength for the foreseeable future; which is why they signed Thuney to an extension. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports argues that right tackle Darnell Wright should be next in line to receive a new deal. Signing Wright long-term gives the Bears stability and would certainly hype up Williams.
“Wright will be extension eligible next offseason and is currently under contract through the 2027 season with the fifth-year option,” Sullivan wrote. “Chicago has spent the offseason investing heavily along the interior of the defensive line, and will likely continue that trend of building a wall in front of Caleb Williams at tackle.”
Darnell Wright gives Chicago Bears pivotal building block
The Bears selected Wright with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It may have been considered a reach to some, as Wright was ranked as the No. 18 prospect in that year’s class by ESPN. However, it didn’t take long for the tackle to prove the doubters wrong and become a pivotal part of the offensive line.
He started all 17 games as a rookie and missed just one game in 2024. Wright’s work as a sophomore earned him a 79.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 16/140 tackles. He was dominant in the run game, as his 82.2 grade ranked seventh out of 140 tackles. Wright still has room to grow in pass protection, but overall, he has been everything the Bears were hoping for at No. 10.
Heading into training camp, there will be plenty of speculation about where Wright will play in 2025. With Braxton Jones still nursing his ankle injury, the idea of moving Wright to left tackle has now to come to forefront. That idea was only exacerbated by Chicago selecting Ozzy Trapilo, a natural right tackle, in the second-round.
Still, at least during OTAs, Wright remained on the right side. The Bears want to put their best five forward, but they know how strong the 23-year-old has been at the position.
Regardless of where he plays, Chicago knows they want Wright on their offensive line for the long haul. It was a key strength of the Detroit Lions during Johnson’s tenure as offensive coordinator. He understands that before the fireworks go off, there needs to be a foundation in place.
Signing Wright to an extension ensures the Bears find that foundation at one of their tackle spots and keep Williams upright in the pocket.
More must-reads:
- Aaron Rodgers responds to criticism from Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw
- Terry McLaurin makes big decision amid his contract holdout
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Mariners' Cal Raleigh makes history with 40th home run
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh clubbed his 40th home run of the season on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Angels, not only extending his major league lead but also making him the first player in baseball to reach the 40-home run mark this season. It also helped him make some history. With his 40th home run, Raleigh became both the first catcher and the first switch-hitter in baseball history to reach the 40 home run mark before the end of July. Here is a look at his 40th home run. He is already in the process of having one of the best seasons ever for a Mariners player, and also one of the best seasons ever for a catcher, for any team. Especially when you add in his defense, where he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. His only serious competition for the American League MVP Award remains New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. But with Judge sidelined for some time now due to an elbow injury, it might open the door for Raleigh to put himself in the lead for that award.
Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming. Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multiyear extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move. Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.
Sparks roll toward playoff spot with buzzer-beating win against Liberty
The Los Angeles Sparks are the hottest team in the WNBA right now, and they keep inching their way toward a playoff spot. Their winning streak extended to five games on Saturday night with what was their biggest win of the season, knocking off the defending champion New York Liberty by a 101-99 margin. They got the win when second-year player Rickea Jackson hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating lay-up at the end of the fourth quarter to break a tie. Along with making the game-winning shot, Jackson also finished with a team-leading 24 points in the win. It was not only the Sparks' biggest win of the season, but it was also one of the best games of the WNBA season overall. The Liberty overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and tied the game with less than 25 seconds to play in regulation, setting the stage for Jackson's winning shot. The five-game winning streak is huge for the Sparks because it has put them right back into the mix for a playoff spot. With Saturday's win, the Sparks (11-14) are just one game back of the Las Vegas Aces (12-13) for the final playoff spot. Whether they end up getting that spot or not, there is undeniable growth for the Sparks as this season has gone on. After finishing with the league's worst record a year ago and winning just eight games, they have already exceeded that win total and are on track to crush it this season. The Sparks have not made the playoffs since the 2020 season and are at least playing their way back into contention this season.
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