Roger Goodell took the stage on Thursday night set to announce the Chicago Bears’ selection with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Just minutes prior, the Bears swapped their No. 9 pick with the Eagles’ No. 10 pick to move back one spot. The Eagles took Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter with the ninth pick, who was widely considered to be a top choice for the Bears. That left the door wide open for a Tennessee player to have a chance.
“With the 10th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select Darnell Wright, offensive tackle, Tennessee,” Commissioner Goodell stated.
While Chicago does miss out on a premiere defensive lineman in Carter, the Bears are getting one of the most important pieces on the entire roster locked down with Darnell Wright at the tackle position. Chicago quarterback Justin Fields has emerged as one of the top young, exciting quarterbacks in the league and the Bears need to protect him at all costs. Wright will ensure that the right tackle spot is a strong section of the chain.
Overall, in the flood of first-round grade articles that were released on Friday morning, the overall consensus regarding the Darnell Wright pick has been positive. Wright ends with an average grade above an A.
Here’s a look at some of the experts around the country who released grades on Darnell Wright and the Chicago Bears’ pick following the first round on Thursday night in Kansas City.
More from RTI: Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt Slide Out of the First Round of the NFL Draft
Yahoo Sports (Charles McDonald)
- Grade: A+
- “Wright was the third-ranked player on our big board this year so it’s impossible to have a bad grade on this selection. Wright is a stalwart tackle who will give the Bears an offensive line much better than where they were this time last year.”
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)
- Grade: B+
- “He’s a violent player who fills a major need at right tackle. They have to protect better in front of Justin Fields and he will help that. Wright shut down Will Anderson, which was impressive to watch.”
Bleacher Report (Brent Sobleski)
- Grade: B+
- “Tennessee’s Darnell Wright is the top right tackle in this year’s draft class. The designation used to be a slight when compared to the historically more valuable spot on the left side. But today’s NFL is different. A team must be able to protect its quarterbacks on both sides, since premium pass-rushers move up and down the line of scrimmage to expose weaknesses.”
NFL (Chad Reuter)
- Grade: A
- “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.”
Fox Sports (Rob Rang)
- Grade: A
- “It’s easy to be right with Wright, as he’s as plug-and-play as this class gets. I love this selection for Chicago. The Bears have been relatively toothless up front for years and Wright is one of the meanest, nastiest blockers in the class.”
The Ringer (Danny Kelly)
- Grade: B
- “After adding another mid-rounder to move back one spot, the Bears grab their presumptive starting right tackle of the future. The former Volunteers standout packs a powerful punch and plays with an edge, giving Chicago a bruiser up front who can help make life easier for Justin Fields.“
ESPN’s Get Up – Television (Tim Hasselbeck)
- Grade: A
Rocky Top Insider (Ric Butler)
- Grade: A
- I don’t get to do this often so I’m throwing my name in the hat! While Chicago could have gotten a monster on the defensive line with Jalen Carter, the Bears needed to ensure the safety of their quarterback Justin Fields with a strong lineman. Look – there’s no one more important in the Bears’ entire organization than Justin Fields moving forward. You have to protect that kid because his future is so bright. Chicago saw what Wright did for a mobile quarterback like Hendon Hooker this season and “Rocky Top Ryan Poles” (who has now taken two Tennessee players in two years) must have liked what he saw. The Bears now have a 10-year piece to solidify their offensive line and build a strong, early relationship with Fields. Excellent job by the Bears to avoid missing out on a tackle in this draft.
Darnell in the 🟠 & 🔵#NFLDraft | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/TkDWZyQAQK
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 28, 2023
