Nobody saw Nahshon Wright coming. The former castoff from the Dallas Cowboys had just been cut by the Minnesota Vikings. He was in limbo, wondering if he could find work elsewhere. Lucky for him, Chicago Bears secondary coach Al Harris had the ear of GM Ryan Poles, insisting the cornerback could help the defense. With Jaylon Johnson already hurt, it would at least be a solid depth move. Then the injuries piled up further. Terell Smith tore his ACL. Kyler Gordon had multiple soft tissue problems. Zah Frazier had a personal issue. Just like that, Wright was thrust into the starting lineup.
In the first game, Wright picked off J.J. McCarthy for a touchdown. That set the tone. Across the last 12 contests, the cornerback has five interceptions and recovered three fumbles. It is a true breakout year for the former 3rd round pick. That almost certainly means big things next spring. Wright is a free agent after this year, and history says he will have lots of interest on the market for his services. Somebody will offer him a big contract, and the Bears should benefit from that outcome, even if they lose him.
Nahshon Wright should help fill Chicago's future draft coffers.
This past offseason was a boon for cornerbacks as Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis, and Paulson Adebo each got $18 million per year from their new teams. Based on projections, that means each of the teams they left will receive a 4th round compensatory pick in the 2026 draft. It isn't crazy to think Nahshon Wright could get similar money on the market in March. Teams are always looking for great ballhawks. Wright has obvious talent and seems to have blossomed in coverage.
Remember, the Bears have under $3 million in cap space. Even if they make moves to clear more, it is highly unlikely they will do any meaningful spending in free agency. That means they will have a great opportunity to stockpile some compensatory picks. Keeping Wright is almost impossible since they're already paying Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. That means they should hope he keeps stacking takeaways to drive that price tag up.
