Coming off a breakout 2025 season, pending free agent cornerback Nahshon Wright is in a far better position than he was when he reached the open market a year ago. In one of last offseason’s best buy-low pickups, the Bears added Wright on a one-year, $1.1MM deal in April. Bringing him back in 2026 will cost far more.
Discussing his future with SiriusXM NFL Radio, the 27-year-old Wright said he “would love to be back in Chicago.” Wright revealed that there has been contact between his agent and the team, but he hasn’t heard any specific “contract details.”
Wright was a 2021 Cowboys third-round pick who started in just three of 32 games in Dallas over his first three seasons. The Cowboys cut the cord on the Oregon State product when they traded him for Vikings corner Andrew Booth in August 2024. The change of scenery didn’t work out for either player.
In Wright’s case, he spent most of the year on the Vikings’ practice squad. In the lone game he played, all 15 of his snaps came on special teams. The Vikings re-signed Wright to a reserve/futures deal in January 2025, but they released him April 7.
A day after Minnesota waved goodbye to Wright, he landed on his feet with NFC North rival Chicago. The 27-year-old ended up an integral part of the Bears’ meteoric rise in 2025, and he earned his first Pro Bowl trip in the process.
Wright, who caused just one takeaway in his first four years in the NFL, led the league with eight last season. In 17 games and 16 starts, Wright finished with 80 tackles, 11 passes defensed, five interceptions (including a 74-yard pick-six), three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The former bench player was on the field for 97% of defensive snaps for an NFC North-winning team that advanced to the divisional round.
One of the game’s tallest cornerbacks, the 6-foot-4 Wright is now on his way to the market among the top options at his position. If the Bears don’t re-sign Wright before the legal tampering period begins March 9, there should be no shortage of interest from other clubs in need of a starting outside corner. Because of his limited track record, it may be a “buyer beware” situation. But that’s not going to stop some team from giving Wright a significant raise in the next few weeks.
Looked like a completely different player in Chicago. He’s not perfect but played great this year. In Dallas he looked like a 3rd round bust. Completely changed his projectability from then to now.
Two words to explain that. Al Harris.
Al Harris was in Dallas at the same time. But we didn’t give him a long leash.Al Harris is definitely a cb whisper for sure.
And why isn’t he a defensive coordinator is mind-boggling
I agree but I’m happy he’s here for now. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. At least as long as they’re still the Illinois Bears.
He made some big plays.. and also got beaten badly in the second half of the season- like he has in the past. Ya have to wonder if last season was an outlier or the real deal.
I would rather know what EXACTLY was the reason that Zah Frazier didn’t play at all last year because he was drafted to be the tall Nashon Wright CB that WAS SUPPOSED to be here last year. Is he hurt? In jail? Join the French Foreign Legion? On a Mormon Religious Mission? Inquiring minds would like to know. Plus whether or not Terrell Smith Can stay healthy for more than 10 seconds. Is the plan for Kyler Gordon to play Safety? Play slot? Play with himself? Answer all those questions for me and then maybe I’ll decide what I would do.
ah.. the Zah Frazier mystery. They sure have kept the lid on that story. If he’d been a higher draft pick, it probably would’ve come out..
He’s a decent playmaker but once OC’s figured him out later in the season, he fell off pretty quick. Hard pass. He’ll get 10-12 mil a year somewhere other than Chicago.
What if they’re the Indiana Bears? I’d go somewhere else.
one of the few instances where I hope the interest isn’t mutual
I would be extremely leery of paying him like a starter. He was a great story and his best plays were fantastic, but is he still a legit starting corner if he doesn’t put up five picks and a touchdown? Because you shouldn’t pay for things that are unlikely to be repeated.
Bears fan here. Hope he gets a bag somewhere else
When your defense is ranked 29th there is little reason to prevent any of those guys from reaching the free agent market.