The 2023 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Darnell Wright 2023 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Tennessee
Size: 6-foot-6, 335 pounds
Class: Senior
2022 stats: First Team All-SEC
Wright was able to get plenty of experience over his four-year career at Tennessee. He is now in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a recruit, Wright was rated five-stars and he decided to join the Volunteers. He saw a little time at right tackle and right guard in 2019 making five total starts. Wright more fully stepped into the starting lineup in 2020, starting nine games. Tennessee struggled that season, finishing with a 3-7 record. In 2021, Wright moved to left tackle and helped the Volunteers to a 7-6 record. The 2022 season saw Wright moved back to right tackle and he was named First Team All-SEC for his play. He helped the Volunteers win 11 games and the team won the Orange Bowl.
Following the season, Wright declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a first or second-round pick.
Wright is a massive offensive tackle and will fit right in at the NFL level. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, which will make him one of the bigger offensive linemen in the class. Wright also has solid length for his size and typically knows how to use his length well to keep defenders away from his body.
With his size comes great power. Wright has incredible strength and it helps him in many different areas. He can anchor as a pass blocker, showing that he can handle when defenders try to power rush him. In the run game, he can move the man in front of him and clear big holes for running backs. His mentality goes well with his strength, as he is a mauler that wants to finish blocks off.
His patience as a pass blocker is admirable. He rarely gets off balance and trusts that his strength will be enough to handle pass rushers. Wright lets defenders come to him and then uses his length and strength to neutralize them for extended periods of time.
Wright’s athleticism will come into question by NFL evaluators. He doesn’t exactly explode at the snap of the ball. Wright also doesn’t have the ability to move as well as other players in the class. This includes moving both laterally and in a straight line. Along with his lack of mobility, Wright doesn’t show good flexibility.
There may be issues with Wright’s run blocking, even if he can handle the block right in front of him. Wright struggles to get to the second level and shouldn’t be used to pull very often. To be successful at the next level, he will need to play in a system that won’t require him to move too much as a run blocker.
While he has held up well in pass pro at the collegiate level, his tightness will resign him to playing right tackle instead of protecting the quarterback’s blindside. He can be successful, but his tightness could limit his ability to block athletic edge rushers who can bend around the end.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second-Round Pick
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