Chicago Bears’ Darnell Wright criticized by NFL coach

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Chicago Bears’ Darnell Wright criticized by NFL coach

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jul 11, 2026 1:56 PM ET

The Chicago Bears offensive line improved last season after the addition of four new starters: Ozzy Trapilo, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Joe Thuney.

Dalman retired this offseason, prompting Chicago to trade for Garrett Bradbury. It’s unclear how the Bears plan to attack left tackle as Trapilo recovers from a serious injury he suffered against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild-Card Round.

Fourth-year offensive tackle Darnell Wright has consistently been one of the Bears’ better offensive linemen since he was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He earned his first Pro Bowl appearance last season despite playing through a shoulder injury, and was graded as the No. 14 best offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus.

In a survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts conducted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Wright was ranked as the No. 6 best offensive tackle in the league. He earned a 95.2 percent pass block win rate, but some around the league think he needs to develop a higher motor this season.

“I don’t see a consistently high motor,” an NFL defensive coach told Fowler. “That’s the next step for him: getting that up.”

Chicago Bears RT Darnell Wright has ‘brute strength’

Jan 5, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

An NFL personnel director was more kind to the right tackle, saying he’s able to take charge of whoever he lines up against on the field.

“Power and brute strength,” the director said of Wright’s best abilities. “He can do whatever he wants on a football field.”

The Bears picked up the fifth-year option on Wright, so he’s locked down through the 2027 season. Expect him to enter the season fired up to make a statement before he negotiates a better contract in the next offseason.

Wright has been everything the Bears hoped for when they took him in the 2023 draft, and he has the potential to develop into an All-Pro if healthy.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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