Darnell Wright lands with AFC team in latest NFL mock draft
Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman lands with an AFC team in the latest post-first wave of free agency mock draft
Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright might have been one of the most underrated players in college football last season.
Wright didn't receive much hype during the season — despite shutting down Alabama's Will Anderson and LSU's BJ Ojulari — but he's been praised this offseason by draft analysts after standout performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL draft combine.
The former Vol is expected to be the first Tennessee player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wright played both tackle positions at Tennessee, but he was far more effective at right tackle. He's expected to play right tackle in the NFL (though there have been some rumblings that a team could move him inside, depending on their roster).
The latest post-first wave of free agency mock draft from Pro Football Network has Wright going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 17 overall selection.
From Pro Football Network: “He’s a really talented guy,” former Tennessee offensive lineman Jerome Carvin told me when discussing his long-time teammate. “I think he’s the best offensive tackle in the draft, honestly. You see the guys he went against this year — the guys he shut down. He was a huge reason why our offense was the way it was this season.” If the Pittsburgh Steelers want to get the most out of second-year QB Kenny Pickett, adding a player of Darnell Wright’s talent is a no-brainer. He has experience at both bookends, is a powerful and violent pass protector, and adds value in the ground game.
Wright feels like a player who would fit in extremely well with the Steelers. For starters, he's from nearby West Virginia, so he'd be a good geographical fit.
The former Vol would also be a great fit in the Steelers' culture. He's a nasty offensive lineman that isn't afraid to go to war in the trenches. Wright is soft-spoken off the field, but he's a nightmare on the field. Just ask Will Anderson, a potential top-five draft pick who called Wright the best offensive lineman he faced in college.
Wright could possibly go higher than No. 17, depending on what happens between now and the draft in free agency. Whoever gets him will be getting a player that should be a longtime starter in the NFL.
