Chicago Bears Draft Darnell Wright

Tennessee Volunteers offensive tackle Darnell Wright has been selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Vols saw their first former player off of the board this evening. Offensive tackle Darnell Wright has been selected by the Chicago Bears at No. 10 overall after dropping down from No. 9 overall. Wright will pair with star quarterback Justin Fields, who had a breakout 2022.

Wright is a former five-star recruit and was one of the top tackles in the 2019 recruiting cycle. He was an Under Armour All-American and entered college with a ton of hype. Tennessee tasked him with a lot early, as he started seven contests during his true freshman season and didn't look back. Wright logged 42 starts during his college career; 27 were at right tackle, 13 were at left tackle, and two at right guard.

He exponentially improved in the offseason between his junior and senior seasons. Wright thought about declaring after his junior season but decided there was work to be done, so he returned and cemented his status as one of the best pure tackle prospects in the NFL Draft. Wright performed well at the Reese's Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, and in private workouts.

There's been a lot of conversation about where Wright will play in the NFL. The vast majority of his snaps came at right tackle in college, including all of his final season. However, he has previously expressed interest in playing left tackle, which is a situation worth monitoring moving forward.

How To Watch: NFL Draft

  • Gameday: Thursday, April 27th, 2023.
  • Game time: 8:00 pm ET
  • TV: ESPN/NFL Network
  • Stadium: Union Station Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri)
  • Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!

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Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Volunteer Country, serving as a beat reporter covering football, basketball, and recruiting. He previously worked as the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Gamecocks Digest.