Examining whether or not Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright can take a significant step forward heading into his second season with the franchise.
Usayd Koshul
When the Chicago Bears report to training camp on July 16th, the franchise will officially begin year 3 of the Ryan Poles-Matt Eberflus era. And it's about to be the most intriguingone yet. Poles and Eberflus have spent two full offseasons (2023 and 2024) overhauling the roster with talent.
The duo has added three first-round picks over the last two NFL Drafts, all three being offensive players. One of the most notable additions of the 2023 offseason was offensive tackle Darnell Wright, the 10th overall selection in the 2023 draft.
From the start, the Bears intentions with Wright were clear. Drafting a player that the franchise believed would turn into a cornerstone player on offense. For an offensive line that needed to be overhauled, Wright seemed to be the most obvious selection when Chicago was on the clock last April.
During the Reese's Senior Bowl in 2023, Chicago got an extended look at Wright as he was part of the American team, coached by then-Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, The extra intel helped Poles and his scouts gain some extra intel into who Wright is as a player, teammate, and person.
At the end of the season, NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks named Wright to his All-Rookie Team, citing his ability to protect the quarterback and also, be a mauler in the running game. Wright put exactly that on film in 2023, continuing to hold his own against some of the league's top edge rushers.
As 2024 comes into focus, there are high expectations for Wright. Last season, he proved he is more than capable of becoming a top-tier right tackle but also, he has everything needed to become a cornerstone on the offensive line.
With year two officially herefor Wright, let's get into whether or not he'll take a jump forward during his sophom*ore season.
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Positives from 2023
Wright's 2023 season wasn't that of a typical rookie. He started all 17 games and logged 1133 snaps, not missing a single snap on offense, managing to stay healthy the entire season. Per Pro Football Focus, he also had just 11 penalties and allowed just six sacks the entire season.
Coming into the league, Wright was seen as a player who could be a force in the running game. From his college film, his athleticism and size showed a player who could get out into space, climb to the second and third level, and move laterally with ease.
The night he was drafted, Wright spoke about his football abilities and what to expect when he took the field for the first time.
"You see on tape, I'm big and I'm strong," said Wright in 2023. "But I don't think people will realize once they really get to see some more of me, they'll see how athletic I am and that I can play both sides as needed."
His power and physical prowess were on display all throughout his rookie season as continued to improve each week. Throughout the season, Wright's relationship with offensive line coach Chris Morgan also grew, setting the stage for what will be an interesting year two.
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Negatives from 2023
Throughout the predraft process in 2023, there were some questions about Wright's ability as a pass protector. At the start of the season, the Bears appeared to be hesitant to leave him on an island, often utilizing tight end Cole Kmet as some extra blocking insurance to aid Wright.
Mentally, there were instances earlier in the season where Wright struggled to recognize the complex stunts and twists that defensive lines were throwing at him. Eventually, the game continued to slow down for him and his blitz recognition ability increased, as did his ability to understand how to combat pass rush moves used by edge rushers.
"But we're gonna have to really harness him in there and how he uses his body," said Eberflus. "And understanding that it's gonna be a little different every week, because you're gonna be blocking different types of pass rushers. He's got to learn the scheme. Learn what works for him. And that's a process. It takes time to be able to do that."
The goal for Wright heading into 2024 is simple: go from being a good pass protector to a great pass protector. Already establishing himself as a force in the running game, with a strong year in pass protection, it's like that Wright establishes himself as one of the better young offensive tackles across the league.
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Conclusion: Wright takes a step forward
As solid as his rookie was, Wright should come back with a chip on his shoulder in 2024. Around Halas Hall, the Bears see him developing into a decade-long starter on offense simply because he has all the traits needed to play offensive line at a high level. He has too much talent to not take a step forward.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Poles praised Wright's rookie season and also, discussed what type of player he will eventually develop into.
"He's out there right now as a rookie, he's out there just using his natural ability," said Poles. "In a lot of games, that was good enough, but there were some games and some reps where it wasn't good enough, and he's gotta continue to get better. And I know he's gonna put the time in. But he's made of the right stuff. He's tough, he's strong — all of those core pieces are gonna allow him to build off that and be a really good player."
There is a very real chance that at some point during his sophom*ore season, Wright is being discussed as the top offensive tackle from his draft class, one that featured five tackles being taken in round one.
