The New York Jets’ defensive overhaul continues, as they have now agreed to terms with their seventh defensive addition (and eighth overall addition) since Monday.
According to Jordan Schultz, the Jets have agreed to terms with former Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million.
Wright, 27, was a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. Across three years in Dallas, he mostly played on special teams, struggling to carve out a defensive role. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, playing just one game in his fourth NFL season.
With his career on the line, Wright joined the Chicago Beras in 2025 on a non-guaranteed one-year contract for the veteran minimum. Not only did Wright make the team, but he won a starting cornerback spot and made the Pro Bowl in his fifth NFL season.
Across 17 games (16 starts), Wright recorded five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, 11 passes defended, and 80 total tackles.
Wright’s penchant for takeaways is sorely needed by a Jets defense that had zero interceptions and four fumble recoveries in 2025. On his own, Wright had a combined total of 10 interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries.
So, why did Wright net a measly one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million despite his Pro Bowl pedigree and incredibly takeaway production?
The answer lies in Wright’s overall coverage performance. While he made plenty of plays on the football, Wright also committed plenty of errors. According to Pro Football Focus, Wright coughed up 725 yards and seven touchdowns on throws into his coverage, both ranking as the fifth-most among all cornerbacks.
Wright was one of only two NFL cornerbacks to allow 700+ yards and 7+ touchdowns into his coverage, joining Washington’s Mike Sainristil. On top of that, Wright committed eight penalties.
On a positive note, the 6-foot-4, 199-pound Wright is a quality corner in run support. He ranked second at the position with 14 run stops in 2025. Just like in coverage, though, he can be a little boom-or-bust, as he also missed five tackles against the run, tied for the 14th-most among corners.
Overall, this is a fantastic value signing for the Jets. Wright’s one-year-wonder status makes him a risky prospect, which is why it’s a victory for New York to land him without a lucrative long-term commitment. The upside is tremendous, though, making him a worthwhile gamble. While Wright’s coverage is questionable, his takeaway production and run support could provide the Jets with fantastic bang for their buck on a modest one-year salary.
Wright joins a cornerback room that featured Brandon Stephens and Azareye’h Thomas as the projected starters on the outside. Neither player is a sure thing moving forward.
Stephens signed with the Jets on a three-year, $36 million deal in free agency last year, but had a shaky debut season in which he allowed eight touchdowns to no interceptions. Thomas had a promising season as a third-round rookie, but missed significant time due to injury, and still needs development after some rookie growing pains.
The addition of Wright brings quality competition to the Jets’ cornerback room for a very fair price when considering his overall profile. Wright offers a high ceiling (based on his elite numbers regarding takeaways and run support) and a low floor (based on his poor coverage and one-year-wonder status), and the Jets paid him accordingly.
