It’s a good time to be Nahshon Wright. Once overlooked after the Minnesota Vikings cut him last year, and having struggled to find his place with the Dallas Cowboys, Wright’s journey took a fortunate turn when the Chicago Bears called. They needed depth in their secondary, and with Al Harris-his former coach in Dallas-now on the Bears' staff, Wright found himself in a situation ripe for opportunity.
The Bears’ secondary was hit hard by injuries even before training camp. Jaylon Johnson was sidelined with a groin injury, and Kyler Gordon was dealing with recurring issues.
Suddenly, Wright was thrust into the starting lineup. Over the next four months, he seized the moment, snagging 5 interceptions and contributing to 7 total turnovers, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
Now, as a free agent, he’s poised for a significant payday, but his heart seems set on staying in Chicago, as he expressed in a candid interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Facing free agency, Wright is in a tricky spot. The Bears, under normal circumstances, might fight to keep him.
However, they’ve already invested heavily in their cornerback roster with Johnson and Gordon receiving substantial extensions. It’s rare for teams to allocate big money to three players at the same position-it’s just not sound financial strategy.
Wright’s performance, while impressive, is characterized by a feast-or-famine style. He’s a playmaker, leading CBs with 5 interceptions, but he also allowed 7 touchdowns, tying for the 5th most among corners.
His passer rating when targeted was 86.8, placing him in the top 25 for CBs with 800+ snaps. This boom-or-bust nature makes him valuable, but not the shutdown corner teams typically splurge on.
The Bears are unlikely to offer Wright an extension that matches what he might find on the open market. The reality of NFL careers is that they’re short, and players must maximize earnings while they can. Despite his desire to remain in Chicago, Wright will likely need to weigh his financial future against his personal preferences.