Ravens Draft Prospects: Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright

Should the Ravens draft Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright after a dominant performance at the NFL Combine?

The Baltimore Ravens are rumored to be in the market for a new running back, and now that the NFL Combine is over, let’s look at a standout who could get drafted by the team.

One rusher who dominated the Combine more than arguably anyone else was Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright.

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into Indianapolis, Wright didn’t necessarily stand out as the top player at his position in the entire class, but now he has an argument.

Wright finished in the top five in the following categories at the combine: 4.38-second 40-yard dash (second fastest), tied for 5th fastest 10-yard split (1.55 seconds), tied for fourth highest vertical at 38 inches, and No. 1 in broad jump among running backs (11' 2”). 

Simply put, Wright performed like a Superhero at the combine, which has now warranted a conversation about whether he deserves to be the top running back selected in April. 

Standing just over 5-10 and weighing over 210 pounds, Wright has the size to potentially be a three-down workhorse at the next level, but does he have a skill set on the field?

Jaylen Wright 2023 regular season highlights pic.twitter.com/oXwSD5uTbo

— CHANNEL TN (@CHANNEL_TN_) November 29, 2023

In 12 games playing for the Volunteers last season, Wright ran for 1,013 yards on a ridiculous 7.4 yards per carry, in addition to catching 22 passes for 141 yards. Wright only finished with four touchdowns in 2023, six less than he ran for as a sophomore; nevertheless, improving his total yardage by almost 300 yards and his yards per touch by nearly 1.5 yards was an impressive accomplishment. 

On paper, Wright looks like a guy that teams should feel comfortable drafting based on his upside in the second round, but some have argued that his lack of production and film make him seem like more of a backup running back. 

Should Ravens Draft 'Next Breece Hall' FSU RB Trey Benson?

As of now, it seems like the right time to take Wright would be in the third or fourth round of the NFL Draft when all things are considered. Although Wright certainly impressed at the NFL Combine, I still have him behind Florida State running back Trey Benson in my rankings and perhaps some other players based on how they perform at their Pro Days. 

All of that being said, Wright is certainly a name to watch for Baltimore in the draft. I’m just not sure he’d be the three-down staring back that some are hoping the Ravens add to the backfield this offseason.