Tennessee Vols standout makes huge jump in latest mock draft from ESPN
Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright has seen his draft stock rise significantly in recent months. The former five-star recruit impressed at the Senior Bowl and during his NFL Draft combine workout. Those performances combined with Wright's fantastic 2022 season have the former Vol well-positioned to be a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. […]
Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright has seen his draft stock rise significantly in recent months.
The former five-star recruit impressed at the Senior Bowl and during his NFL Draft combine workout.
Those performances combined with Wright's fantastic 2022 season have the former Vol well-positioned to be a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Not only should Wright be a first-round pick in the draft later this month, but he could be the highest-drafted Tennessee player since Eric Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper revealed his latest mock draft on Tuesday morning and he has Wright going to the Chicago Bears with the No. 9 overall selection.
From ESPN: Chicago dropped eight spots in Round 1 but picked up a massive haul in its trade with Carolina, allowing it to keep premium picks in this draft and add future capital as well. And if it wants to add an instant starter at No. 9, offensive tackle is the position to target. I like Wright's opportunity with the Bears if we're strictly looking at right tackles, since Braxton Jones held his own on the left side last season. Wright started 27 games at right tackle in college; his tape against Will Anderson Jr. and Alabama was phenomenal. He's the best right tackle in this class. My pal Louis Riddick is a huge fan too. This is a selection to keep quarterback Justin Fields clean.
The Bears could certainly use a right tackle and there isn't a better one in the draft than Wright.
While Wright can play left tackle if needed (he started every game at left tackle in 2021), he seems better suited to play right tackle.
The West Virginia native excelled on the right side of the offensive line for the Vols in 2022, giving up zero sacks while starting all 13 games (including Tennessee's win against Clemson in the Orange Bowl, which he didn't opt out of). He played so well, in fact, that Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, a potential top-five draft pick later this month, said earlier this offseason that Wright was the best offensive tackle he played against in college.
Wright has good size, he plays with an attitude, and he produced at an extremely high level while going up against the best competition in college football.
Sounds like a top-10 pick to me.
