Ex-Players Believe Chicago Bears Snagged Top Tackle in the Draft
The Chicago Bears' 2023 draft was a relatively low-key affair compared to the buzz surrounding their 2021 selections of Justin Fields and Teven Jenkins. This time, the Bears opted for a roster of notable names without any major attention-grabbers. Whether or not this was a deliberate move by GM Ryan Poles remains uncertain, but the real question is if he made the right choices. Early feedback indicates he did.
With the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bears opted for Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright. This made him the highest-drafted Volunteer since Eric Berry was picked at No. 5 overall in 2010 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Wright is also the first Tennessee player to be chosen in the first round since Derek Barnett was selected No. 14 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.
The Bears prioritized addressing one of their most pressing needs: the offensive line. As per the Pro Football Network, the team ranked in the bottom half of the league (20th overall) in terms of offensive line rating last season. This weakness significantly impacted their performance, leading to a 3-14 record for the year and a combined record of 9-25 over the past two seasons. Following a minor trade down from the 9th to the 10th spot, they secured Wright's selection. While some draft experts expressed mixed feelings about the choice, believing Wright was more suited for a mid-to-late 1st round pick, others disagreed with that assessment.
Former NFL guard and renowned analyst Brian Baldinger is one of those who shares this sentiment. During an appearance on Mully & Haugh for 670 The Score, he expressed his belief that Wright was the top tackle in the draft.
It's worth noting that Baldinger has 11 years of experience playing in the league.
Former quarterback Chris Simms shares a similar perspective. On his podcast Unbuttoned, he discussed how he believes Wright was an excellent value pick for the Bears, and that he envisions him becoming an outstanding player in the NFL, making a significant impact on the team's performance.
As seen at: Two Former Players Think Chicago Bears Stole Best Tackle In The Draft
| POLL | ||
2 MAI | 66 ANSWERS Ex-Players Believe Chicago Bears Snagged Top Tackle in the Draft Is Darnell Wright the best Tackle from the draft? | ||
| Yes | 55 | 83.3 % |
| No | 11 | 16.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
