Tennessee Vols player lands in first round of most recent mock draft
A key Tennessee Vols player landed in the first round of the most recent mock draft from Pro Football Focus. PFF has Vols offensive tackle Darnell Wright going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 28 overall selection in the first round. From PFF: The Bengals are one of the more complete teams in the […]
A key Tennessee Vols player landed in the first round of the most recent mock draft from Pro Football Focus.
PFF has Vols offensive tackle Darnell Wright going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 28 overall selection in the first round.
The Bengals are one of the more complete teams in the NFL, outside of their offensive tackle spot being a bit of a letdown this season. If they can take a chance on a tackle at the back end of the first round, it would be well worth it. Wright played this past season at right tackle for the Vols, and he did so with a ton of power, weighing in at 335 pounds. He’s not just a bruiser, either, with just three pressures allowed on 93 pass sets this season.
Wright, a former five-star recruit from West Virginia, was one of the most underrated players in college football this season.
The talented offensive lineman completely shut down Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson — a projected top-five draft pick — in the Vols' 52-49 win against the Crimson Tide earlier this season.
Wright, who is playing in Tennessee's matchup against Clemson in the Orange Bowl on Friday, started all 12 games at right tackle for the Vols this season. According to UTSports.com, Wright didn't allow a sack in 2022 while playing 829 snaps (tied for the most snaps played at UT this season).
Whoever drafts Wright will be getting a versatile offensive lineman who can also play left tackle and guard (Wright started 13 games at left tackle in 2021 and he started a couple of games at guard as a true freshman in 2019).
The Bengals signed former LSU standout La'el Collins before the 2022 season to pay right tackle. Collins, however, tore his ACL in Cincinnati's win against the New England Patriots, effectively ending this season.
Collins is under contract in Cincy through 2024, but the Bengals could release him after the 2022 season and only face a $3.3 million dead cap hit.
If Wright ends up landing in Cincinnati, it's certainly possible he could be in line to start as a rookie.
Featured image via Alan Poizner / USA TODAY NETWORK
