Early mock draft has Titans selecting a Tennessee Vols standout in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
It's a bit early to be thinking about the 2023 NFL Draft, but a recent mock draft from Pro Football Network made an interesting prediction for the Tennessee Titans in the first round next year. PFN's early 2023 mock draft has the Titans selecting Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the No. 17 overall pick. […]
It's a bit early to be thinking about the 2023 NFL Draft, but a recent mock draft from Pro Football Network made an interesting prediction for the Tennessee Titans in the first round next year.
PFN's early 2023 mock draft has the Titans selecting Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the No. 17 overall pick.
The Titans have Dillon Radunz auditioning at right tackle in 2022, but it’s uncertain if he’ll hold down the role. There’s a scenario where Radunz moves back inside while the Titans seek out their right tackle of the future yet again in the 2023 NFL Draft. In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, Darnell Wright gives them hope. The massive 6’6″, 335-pound blocker has elite power capacity and upper-body torque, along with good athleticism and natural RT experience.
Wright is a former five-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2019 recruiting cycle (under previous Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt).
The Huntington, WV native has quietly had a tremendous career on Rocky Top. Wright has played in 34 games and made 29 starts. He started all 13 games at left tackle in 2021 in his first season playing under Josh Heupel.
Wright proved to be durable last year, playing a team-high 922 snaps. He also had several impressive performances, including against Alabama (played 57 snaps and didn't allow a sack) and against Georgia (played 89 snaps and didn't allow a sack or a quarterback hit). Wright also had solid games against Kentucky (49 snaps and didn't allow a sack or a quarterback hit) and Florida (68 snaps and didn't allow a sack).
If the Titans draft Wright they'll be getting a versatile player (14 starts at right tackle, 13 at left tackle, and two at right guard) who has performed at a high level against some of the best competition in the nation.
Wright will still have another year of eligibility remaining after the 2022 season (thanks to the extra COVID-19 year that the NCAA granted student-athletes), but it's hard to see him sticking around at Tennessee for another year if he's being projected as a first-round draft pick.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
