Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright is one of those players who flew under the radar until he didn't.
A third-round pick out of Oregon State, Wright spent his first three seasons in Dallas, where he participated in over 30 games. Like many young players in the NFL, with no extensions on the horizon and no guaranteed money to protect him, Wright found himself without a team for the 2024 season.
It's not as though Wright was dropped altogether. In August of 2024, Wright was traded to the Vikings, was waived a few weeks later, and was then re-signed to their practice squad. Wright was then released in April, and he was then signed to the Bears on a one-year deal.
The Case for Continuity
Wright logged 80 total tackles in 2025, 54 of which were solo. He forced two fumbles and recovered three others. That's more than can be said for the rest of his career combined. When Wright was given a chance and used to his full potential, he posted respectable numbers. For the first time in his professional career, he was asked to step up, finish plays, and be actively involved in tackling.
The Bears are facing significant personnel turnover on their defense this offseason. Key players such as Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and Andrew Billings are all entering free agency. In addition to this, overthecap.com lists the Bears as projected to be almost $10 million over the salary cap in 2026, and that's after the NFL raised the cap. Keeping Wright on the roster provides a veteran presence already familiar with Dennis Allen's system, which adds value.
Wright is projected to receive a contract in the range of $50 million, according to Spotrac. Across three years, that comes to just shy of $17 million. Even with the Bears projected to be over the cap, they should pursue Wright. He's likely willing to sign a team-friendly deal, and maintaining continuity on defense could be the right direction for Ryan Poles to take the team.
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Wright has already shown what happens when he is given real responsibility. At only 27 years old and already familiar with Dennis Allen's defensive system, the Bears have the chance to make Wright into an anchor piece of the defense to come. He represents the stability the Bears are looking for. The cap may force tough choices, but preventing a proven corner to walk shouldn't be one of them.