One of the headlines from Caleb Williams' rookie year is how he took a league-high 68 sacks. There's plenty of blame to go around for that, rooted in the general dysfunction of the Chicago Bears' offense last season.
The core part of the 2025 offseason for the Bears was reshaping the offensive line. All three interior starters are new, with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson on each side of center Drew Dalman. There's also an open training camp competition at left tackle, with incumbent Braxton Jones being challenged by rookie Ozzie Trapilo and second-year man Kiran Amegadjie.
The only change that is absolutely not coming for the Bears' offensive line is at right tackle. Any idea Darnell Wright could be an option at left tackle is all but gone, and that's a good thing based on the improvement he showed last season.
After registering a 62.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus as a rookie in 2023 (52nd out of 81 qualifiers), Wright posted the 16th-best overall grade last year (79.3, with the ninth-best run blocking grade at the position).
Darnell Wright may not be under the radar much longer
Zoltan Buday of Pro Football Focus recently recently named the most underrated offensive lineman heading into the 2025 season, highlighting two at each position. Wright made the cut at right tackle.
"The 10th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft makes this list due to the public's extremely poor perception of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line last season. While the unit did allow the most in the NFL, partially due to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ penchant to take sacks while under pressure, not all five starters played at a low level."
"Chicago’s right tackle made a big improvement in his second NFL season. While he ranked 52nd among all offensive tackles with a 62.4 PFF overall grade as a rookie, he earned a 79.3 mark in 2024, which ranked 16th at the position. Wright's 82.2 PFF run-blocking grade also ranked ninth among offensive tackles."
As a tentacle of that sentiment, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports has Wright on his list of former first-round picks who could become stars in 2025.
"A hulking tackle at 6-foot-5 and over 330 pounds, Wright is a dancing bear with a ferocious mentality once he latches onto his assignment. Even blocking for a rookie quarterback who took a league-high 68 sacks, Wright routinely did his job on an island."
"I can't imagine Caleb Williams has a sack rate of 10.7% like he did a season ago, which will naturally help the perception of the Bears entire offensive line. And new head coach Ben Johnson has proven to be a brilliant play-designer, which should reduce the amount of time Wright and Co. have to block on individual plays."
"By season's end, we will all recognize Wright as one of the game's best young blindside protectors."
Trapasso insinuated Wright will be moving to left tackle, which isn't happening barring something unforeseen, but the rest of his point stands.
Read more: Dennis Allen humbly revealed where he will have great value to Ben Johnson
An all-around more functional Bears' offense will help everyone succeed and/or get noticed. There are naturally bigger headliners on that front, but the idea Wright is sitting on a third-year breakout is gaining traction.