Vols In The First: Darnell Wright To Green Bay
It became apparent early on in the NFL Draft process that Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright was going to be a first-round pick. The former five-star has all the tools in the world, loads of experience, and pedigree. Despite playing four seasons with the Volunteers, he is coming off his best season and is only 21 years old.
While he may not be the first offensive lineman off the board on Thursday, many scouts grade him as the best pure tackle prospect in the class. Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski has short arms and will likely kick inside to guard in the NFL, though he is expected to be a top-10 pick. Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones is also a late riser, but Wright is younger and has more experience than him.
His predraft performances have painted a broader picture: Wright will not be on the board for long. That begs the question of which team needs an offensive tackle, and who may invest premium capital in Wright? One easy answer is the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay traded legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets this week in exchange for No. 13 overall, a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 sixth-round pick, and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that could become a first-round pick. The Packers have since come out and stated that they expect quarterback Jordan Love to be their starter and have full confidence in the former Utah State signal caller.
Team brass selected Love at No. 26 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, sending shockwaves across the league and accelerating Rodgers's departure. They are invested in his success, and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a press conference this week, "We're really excited where Jordan can go. He needs to play. Having him sit another year, I think, would have really delayed where we're going and what we're trying to build." Giving him a young, athletic tackle can only help Love's development.
The Packers also have All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, meaning Wright can slide into the right spot without having to get thrown into the fire right away. Wright has previously expressed that he wants to play left tackle, but getting a solid foundational base learning under Bakhtiari could do wonders for his career.
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