Chicago Bears’ Ryan Poles drops eye-opening Darnell Wright position take
Since being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Darnell Wright has solidified himself as the Chicago Bears right tackle. However, as Ben Johnson enters his first season as head coach, there are sure to be changes across the roster.
Now holding the No. 10 pick again in 2025, that selection will alter the course of Chicago’s franchise history forever. While the Bears massively bolstered their offensive line in free agency, it’s still an area the team knows they must address in the draft. Whoever they end up adding will then have a ripple effect on Wright’s status.
The lumbering tackle will continue to be a focal point on the offensive line in 2025. However, general manager Ryan Poles revealed there’s a chance Wright could end up playing left tackle depending on how Chicago drafts, via Nicholas Moreano of Bear Goggles On.
“Yeah, I think that is a conversation we’ll see how everything goes,” Poles said. “He clearly has the ability to play left and right. We saw that in college. That was part of the value in taking Darnell, so if he had to play left, he can play left, and obviously I think we are all excited about his stuff to go right.”
Darnell Wright is crucial for Chicago Bears success
Wright has missed just one game over his two years with the Bears. From the moment he heard his name called, the tackle has become a pivotal piece of Chicago’s offense. While the team let up a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, Wright was one of the Bears’ lone bright spots.
He earned a 79.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 16/140 tackles. Wright was solid in pass blocking, as his 75.4 grade ranked 35/140. However, he was phenomenal when run blocking, earning a 82.2 grade that ranked seventh/140 tackles.
While Johnson was known for his flash with the Detroit Lions, none of that was possible without a strong offensive line in place. They invested heavily in players such as Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker. As Johnson begins his next venture, Wright will be in the middle of any offensive success.
The only question is whether he will be the starting right or left tackle. Chicago surely wants to keep him on the right side based on the success he has had. But the draft changes all. If the Bears land themselves a top flight right tackle, their best option may be moving Wright to left.
Bears left tackle options
Assuming Wright stays on the right, Braxton Jones is poised to enter the year as starter. He flashed moments of brilliance when on the field in 2024, ranking 20/140 tackles with a 77.4 grade from PFF. However, the only issue is Jones was on the field for only 12 games as Jones suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
He played in just 11 games in 2023 as the injury bug bit again. Now, Jones is poised to enter training camp limited. While the Bears have high hopes for the fifth-rounder, he needs to be on the field to make an impact.
It’s why Chicago has been so connected to players such as Will Campbell and Armand Membou. Fans and pundits may look at the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman and think the Bears are done adding across their offensive line. However, Chicago’s main goal is keeping Caleb Williams upright in the pocket. Even if it isn’t the first round, it would be shocking to see the Bears leave the draft without another offensive lineman on their roster.
If their best position truly is right tackle, then Wright may be on the move to the left. Johnson and company will consider all options as they figure out their perfect blocking scheme in 2025.