The Chicago Bears are on the doorstep of the playoffs for the first time in five years. There are many reasons for this. However, it starts up front. No group on their roster improved more this offseason than the offensive line. While Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson have been revelations on the interior, it's the evolution of Darnell Wright at right tackle that has many who played or coached in the league buzzing. He isn't just a talented former 1st round pick anymore. He's become a genuine star.
AQ Shipley played in the NFL for a long time. He worked with a lot of good tackles and watched even more. He has been closely following the progress of the Bears' offensive line all season and considers them one of the best in the league. Much of the credit for that goes to Joe Thuney. The future Hall of Fame guard has been everything promised and more since the Bears traded for him. However, Shipley explained on The Pat McAfee Show that Wright might now be the best right tackle in football.
The numbers don't lie with Darnell Wright.
He has played 512 pass-blocking snaps this season, allowing just 17 pressures on the quarterback. Only one of those games saw him give up more than two, and that was against Micah Parsons in Green Bay. The only right tackle who has given up fewer pressures is Penei Sewell (15). If that weren't enough, he's also the sixth-highest graded run-blocker at tackle in the league. The Bears have run the ball behind him or around his end 105 times this season. They have 541 yards and three touchdowns in those situations. That is 5.15 yards per carry.
Shipley already showed some of his tape. This isn't something where great coaching has masked an otherwise average player. Darnell Wright is the real deal. He's validating that 10th overall pick the Bears spent on him in 2023. He has become a cornerstone for their offensive line and should be in line for a lucrative contract extension in the near future. Credit must go to GM Ryan Poles for recognizing the ability and the willingness to take a chance. One must not forget that many thought Wright was overdrafted.
Apparently not.
