Chicago Bears star ranked sixth-best in his position across NFL

Caleb Williams had an incredible second season for the Chicago Bears last season. The 24-year-old cemented his status as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.

There’s no denying, however, that Williams would not be in the position he is in now had it not been for his offensive line. Joe Thuney won the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award, and he played arguably the most important role in shielding Williams from the opposition.

Another player who emerged as a bona fide star for Chicago’s OL in 2025 is offensive lineman Darnell Wright. The third-year tackle had a big year and, alongside Thuney, formed one of the league’s most effective offensive lines.

Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears — Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) during the game against the Green Bay Packers.

ESPN ranks Chicago Bears’ Darnell Wright No. 6 on best OT list

A testament to Wright’s rise to the top is his current ranking in ESPN’s top NFL offensive tackles for 2026. The network surveyed executives, coaches, and scouts across the league to determine the 10 best players at each position.

The league has spoken, and Wright ranks as the sixth-best OT in the NFL.

“Wright is on an upward trajectory as an anchor of Chicago’s vaunted offensive line. The team ranked third in rushing and top 10 in overall offense,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote.

“Power and brute strength,” an NFL personnel director said. “He can do whatever he wants on a football field.”

Fowler went on to point out that Wright played through a nagging shoulder injury in 2025. Now that he’s had a full offseason to rest and recuperate, more is expected from the 10th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.