The Chicago Bears addressed one of their biggest needs at the 2023 NFL Draft. After trading back from the top overall pick, then once more from No. 9 to No. 10., they were able to make Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright the second offensive lineman drafted last spring.
This was an important addition. Bears quarterback Justin Fields had been sacked 91 times in his first two seasons as a pro, making up an unsustainable 13.4 percent of his dropbacks. That put a big onus on the Volunteer standout, an athletic marvel with massive potential. And in preparation of his first NFL training camp, Wright went out and made himself a little less massive.
The formerly 335-pound bookend lost 16 pounds this summer thanks to workouts and a strict diet… all because he read the conditioning guidelines for Chicago’s wide receivers instead of its offensive linemen.
Ryan Poles said earlier this week that Bears rookie RT Darnell Wright crushed his workout plan. Turns out Wright did the one meant for receivers and he realized it later. He lost 16 pounds and hired a personal chef.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 28, 2023
The good news is Wright had plenty of mass to shed, and playing at 315 or 320 pounds still makes him a behemoth. The better news is that he doesn’t have to worry about struggling through drills and catching his breath between reps. He absolutely crushed his conditioning test to open Bears camp.
#Bears GM Ryan Poles says No. 10 overall draft pick Darnell Wright "busted his butt" in the offseason. Wright has lost weight and body fat.
"He absolutely crushed the conditioning test. Like didn't break a sweat."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) July 25, 2023
Having a right tackle that can hold his own on the edge would be a boon for the Bears. Getting one that has no problem getting up to the second level and crushing linebackers when his quarterback opts to scramble would be a godsend. Fields ran for 1,143 yards last season, and while part of that was thanks to a lackluster receiving corps and shoddy blocking, he remains one of the league’s most electric dual-threat signal callers.
Wright might not be able to keep up with him, but he’s got the power to keep Fields’ pockets clean and the endurance to get upfield and clear out space in the fourth quarter when needed. All because he read the wrong workout plan.
