Nahshon Wright’s 2025 season was one of the more unexpected developments in a year full of surprises for the Chicago Bears. Pressed into action early due to Jaylon Johnson’s injury, Wright didn’t just hold his own-he thrived. The former depth piece turned heads with a breakout campaign that ended in a Pro Bowl nod, and now he’s set to hit the open market.
The Bears, however, find themselves in a tricky spot. Wright is a free agent, and with Chicago currently over the salary cap, re-signing him could come with a hefty price tag. According to recent projections, Wright could command upwards of $16 million per year in what’s considered a relatively thin free agent cornerback class.
That number speaks to the kind of season Wright had-on paper. In 16 starts, he racked up five interceptions, recovered three fumbles, and broke up 11 passes.
Those are splashy numbers, and they’ll catch the eye of teams looking for a playmaker in the secondary. But as with most things in football, the full picture is a little more complicated.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
While Wright’s ball production was impressive, consistency was an issue. According to Pro Football Focus, he missed 11 tackles and allowed seven touchdowns over the course of the season.
That’s a tough stat line to reconcile with a top-tier cornerback salary. For context, Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon-a solid but unspectacular corner-also surrendered seven scores.
That’s not exactly elite company.
Wright’s style of play is aggressive, and that’s both a strength and a liability. He’s a gambler in coverage, and while that approach led to some highlight-reel plays, it also left the Bears exposed at times.
Missed tackles and blown assignments often came hand-in-hand with his big moments. It’s the classic high-risk, high-reward profile, and it’s not always the most dependable formula for a defense trying to build something sustainable.
From a roster-building standpoint, Chicago has options. Tyrique Stevenson remains under contract and showed promise in his own right. The Bears also hold valuable draft capital, and with a deep cornerback class expected in the upcoming draft, they could find a long-term starter on a rookie deal-something far more cap-friendly than a $16 million annual commitment.
Wright’s 2025 campaign was undeniably fun. He brought energy, playmaking, and a bit of swagger to the Bears’ secondary.
At times, he looked like a star in the making. But when weighing the highs against the lows-and factoring in the financial implications-it’s fair to wonder whether the Bears should let another team pay for the upside.
Wright earned his moment in the spotlight, and he’ll likely cash in because of it. But for Chicago, the smarter play might be to thank him for the ride and move forward with a more balanced, cost-effective approach in the secondary.