The Chicago Bears selected Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, addressing one of their top needs.
Chicago shored up their pass protection with the addition of Wright, who played both left tackle and right tackle during his college career. Wright is expected to line up on the right side opposite last year’s fifth-round pick Braxton Jones, who played every snap at left tackle last season.
The Bears got an up-close look at Wright during the Senior Bowl, where offensive coordinator Luke Getsy served as head coach of the American Team.
Here’s a quick scouting report on Wright:
Vitals
Position: OT
Age: 21
School: Tennessee
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 333 pounds
Strengths
- Powerful run blocker with the ability to climb and get to second-level defenders.
- Tone-setter who plays with a mean streak and will play through the whistle.
- He plays with power and strength – able to anchor against pass rushers.
Weaknesses
- He struggles to keep up with speed rushers one-on-one in pass coverage.
- He is not the best fit for a zone scheme due to his lack of athleticism in space.
- As a blocker, he wins with power more than technique – his hands often get too wide in pass protection.
Fit with Bears
Wright is an excellent fit for the wide zone scheme the Bears are running. He can displace linemen at the point of attack and should be athletic enough to get to linebackers and safeties at the second level.
In pass protection, he’s solid when not asked to deal with speed rushers on an island. This means he’s likely playing right tackle. In addition, his lack of lateral quickness makes him a perfect fit for the play-action, RPO-style passing schemes that the Bears run.
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