The Chicago Bears shored up the offensive line with the selection of Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Chicago traded back one spot with the Philadelphia Eagles — electing to pass on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter — and landed an additional fourth-rounder in 2024. Philadelphia drafted Carter.
During an offseason where building around quarterback Justin Fields has been a focal point, general manager Ryan Poles addressed a glaring hole at right tackle with Wright, who also has experience at left tackle and right guard.
Wright projects as a plug-and-play starter at right tackle opposite left tackle Braxton Jones. Wright is a reliable pass protector — not allowing a sack in 19 consecutive games — but needs to improve as a run blocker. But after Fields was sacked 55 times in 15 games last season, shoring up the pass protection with Wright was a great move.
Here’s a collection of all of the grades for Wright from various media outlets, where most analysts agree it was a solid addition by the Bears.
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General manager Ryan Poles made the best of a disappointing 2022 campaign, trading out of the top overall pick in exchange for three premium selections (a 2023 second-round pick, 2024 first and 2015 second). They moved back again, swapping spots with the Eagles at No. 10 while adding a 2024 fourth-round selection, to take Wright, who worked himself into a top-10 pick after moving from left to right tackle last fall. His ability to move defenders off the snap and find targets in space will be used immediately by the Bears. — Chad Reuter, NFL.com
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Yes, Darnell Wright is a right tackle. But in today’s quick-game NFL, your right tackle is just as important as your left tackle, and the Bears now have a right tackle who beat up on Will Anderson Jr. Bryan Bresee, and BJ Ojulari last season. Chicago had all kinds of needs along its offensive line, and getting the best tackle in this class while trading down to do so? Not bad at all. — Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
USA Today Sports
The Bears had an NFL-low 20 sacks, ranked 31st in total defense and had a major need along the defensive line, especially at Matt Eberflus’ coveted 3-technique spot. Instead, Chicago opted for a right tackle in the draft’s most questionable early move.
GM Ryan Poles was a former offensive…
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