The Chicago Bears and right tackle Darnell Wright have yet to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension, and general manager Ryan Poles acknowledged Tuesday that while there’s a window to get a deal done before the regular season, negotiations still have a ways to go.

“I think there’s a window to get a deal done,” Poles told reporters at Halas Hall. “At some point, we’ve got to go play football. So, we’ll figure that part out. Obviously, I think I’ve said it before, Darnell’s a guy we want here long-term. It takes two sides to get things done. But, at the end of the day, I don’t want any distractions or anything like that. So, when it’s time to go play football, we’ll play football and keep it moving. But yeah, he’s a guy we’d really like to have here for a while.”

Wright, the former first-round pick, is entering into his fourth year with the Bears and is in line to become one of the highest-paid right tackles in football once a deal materializes. It’s a complicated negotiation process and it explains why the two sides are still working.

Minnesota Vikings extension with Brian O’Neill could accelerate negotiations with Darnell Wright

One development that could push things along happened just minutes before Poles spoke to reporters Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings and Pro Bowl right tackle Brian O’Neill agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension, reaffirming the price for a top-caliber right tackle on the market.

O’Neill is an older player but more accomplished than Wright. Yet, the Bears’ stance on Wright and his potential signals Wright’s eventual deal will exceed that number. The timing of O’Neill’s extension is just as significant as the price.

It’s possible the lack of a recent comparable deal on the market was part of what held up negotiations between the Bears and Wright’s camp. Now that a benchmark exists, both sides have a clearer picture of what this contract should look like.

Darnell Wright’s value to the Bears goes beyond the stat sheet

Head coach Ben Johnson has spoken at length about Wright’s importance to the offensive line, calling him a “unicorn” as the anchor on the right side and a foundational piece for the unit. That kind of endorsement from the coaching staff speaks volumes about how the Bears view Wright’s role going forward.

“I think it’s just consistency,” Poles explained when asked what more Wright needs to show. “We all see the flashes and the stacks of plays that he puts together. It’s really impressive. Can he be consistent day in and day out? That’s the key part for Darnell.”

The Bears have built a formidable group up front and Wright is the big piece the team needs to secure. For now, the Bears and Wright’s representatives will continue working toward a resolution. Poles has the right approach in wanting to avoid a prolonged negotiation that bleeds into the season, but these things do take time.

The O’Neill deal gives both sides the better number they needed to anchor a conversation. It’s just a matter of whether the Bears are willing to go above it and whether Wright’s camp views it as the appropriate floor.

Training camp is about to get underway this week and the Bears have real football to play in a few weeks. The sooner this gets done, the better for everyone involved.