Ben Johnson shuts down idea of moving Darnell Wright to left tackle

Head coach Ben Johnson made it clear that Wright is staying at right tackle.

"No, I don't think that's necessary," Johnson said when asked about potentially moving Wright to the left side. "I think pass rushers are equally good on both sides these days. I don't subscribe to that viewpoint necessarily [where you need your best tackle to play left tackle]. I think he does a really good job on the right side. He's very comfortable over there, and we'll continue to find that left tackle that helps complement our offense and does great things."

It's difficult to argue with Johnson's logic, given how dominant Wright has become on the right side.

The Bears signed the former first-round pick to a four-year, $116 million extension with $93 million guaranteed, securing one of the NFL's ascending offensive tackles through the prime of his career. Wright also became the first first-round selection of the Ryan Poles era to sign a second contract with Chicago.

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The extension comes after Wright's best season as a pro.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wright finished 2025 with a career-high 80.3 overall grade and was particularly dominant as a run blocker, earning an 82.7 grade in that category. His presence on the right side was a major reason Chicago consistently found success running behind that side of its offensive line.

"As we continue to build our team and develop our culture, we are excited that Darnell will remain a cornerstone of our franchise as we work toward creating sustained success," Poles said after the extension was announced. "Darnell has consistently elevated his play and the performance of his teammates since joining our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and leadership for years to come."

Meanwhile, the Bears still have to determine who will line up opposite Wright.

Braxton Jones has received the majority of the recent first-team work at left tackle, while Chicago continues evaluating its other options during training camp. But regardless of how unsettled that competition becomes, Johnson doesn't appear interested in weakening one side of the offensive line in an attempt to strengthen the other.

The Bears just invested $116 million in Wright because he's developed into one of the NFL's premier right tackles. That's exactly where they plan to keep him.