Former Tennessee Vols OL Darnell Wright just got some big money help from the NFL, but it comes with a word of warning
The Bears’ star lineman just got a big vote of confidence from execs and coaches around the NFL, and it could pay off handsomely soon.
The Chicago Bears have and former Tennessee Vols standout Darnell Wright have yet to reach terms on a contract extension. The Bears’ star right tackle and first round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft is due a massive pay increase, as he enters the final year of his rookie contract this fall.
Wright held a lot of cards during the summer, as he’s developed into one of the best right tackles in all of football. But he got a little bit more help from other coaches, scouts, and executives around the league on Saturday.
ESPN polled NFL personnel around the league as to their top 10 offensive tackles, and they affirmed their belief in his place among the league’s best by ranking him sixth. Wright was voted No. 2 at the highest, as well as inexplicably unranked by others.
NFL personnel rank OL Darnell Wright No. 6 offensive tackle in the league
“Power and brute strength,” ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler quoted an NFL personnel director as saying. “He can do whatever he wants on a football field.”
Wright has certainly backed up that physicality, as he’s proven to be one of the very top run blocking tackles in the NFL. He has helped unlock a Bears rushing attack that finished third in the NFL last year in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach. Chicago rushed for 2456 yards at 4.9 yards per carry, both third in the league last year.
However, Fowler quoted a veteran NFL defensive coach who had some comments on where Wright still needs to improve as a player.
“I don’t see a consistently high motor,” he told ESPN. “That’s the next step for him is getting that up.”
As good as Wright’s game is in the run blocking spectrum, his pass blocking might be the area where there would be the most room for improvement. That being said, Wright’s pass blocking last year was very good. He allowed just three sacks and 24 QB pressures, both career lows by a significant margin, in 740 pass blocking snaps. So he really did step forward in that respect last year.
We’ll see in the coming weeks if the Bears and Wright can get a new deal hammered out, because if not, it’s clear there are plenty of very interested teams around the league who would be willing to roll out the red carpet.