Instant Reaction: Darnell Wright 'has the ability to be the best player in this draft'

Louis Riddick didn’t hold back on the ESPN broadcast Thursday night during the first round of the NFL Draft. When the Chicago Bears selected Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright at No. 10 overall, it might go down as the best pick, and the best player, in the entire draft.

“I believe that this young man, when it’s all said and done, has the ability to be the best player in this draft,” Riddick said.

Here’s the full reaction from both the NFL Network and ESPN sets after Wright heard his named called by the Bears at pick No. 10:

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: “This is a very talented player. ‘CD’ (Charles Davis), this is your Tennessee Vol. We just saw Jalen Carter go. (Wright) saw a little bit of Jalen Carter (against Georgia), held up well. But it was what he did against Will Anderson. That’s what really put him on the map this year. A totally different player last year from what we saw this year. He’s on the right side this year. Again, against Anderson, there weren’t a ton of one-on-one opportunities, but when he did have that one-on-one opportunity, he was fine. Here he is against Jalen Carter who we just saw go off the board, did a great job against him. He’s 330-plus pounds. He is physical, he is strong. Here he is against Bryan Bresee in the bowl game. So his tape, you want to see him go up against good players, you see him go up against great players. And he has that ability to knock you off the ball. This draft for the Bears, and this offseason, has been all about Justin Fields and they just got a physical, mauling offensive tackle.”

NFL Network’s Charles Davis: “And it told you they wanted a tackle because Peter Skoronski sitting right there in state, in the city, and they end up going Darnell Wright to go with Braxton Jones, the rookie last year.”

ESPN’s Louis Riddick: “I believe that this young man, when it’s all said and done, has the ability to be the best player in this draft. At 6-5, 333 pounds, all cracked five-flat in the 40-yard dash. He is big, mean, nasty. Ask Will Anderson. I asked Will Anderson. Who is the best player you played agains? He instantly said oh, that offensive tackle from Tennessee. I said Darnell Wright, huh? Yeah. He’s got feet, he’s got punch, he’s got lateral ability. He can absolutely knock you off the football and knock you five yards off. That’s Bryan Bresee right there, he’s taking him on the other side of the center five yards down field. And as far as being a mauler, look, he’s going to finish it, even in pass pro. If you let up at all and you don’t get off, he’s going to put you on the ground like that. He’s going to put his helmet right in your chest. And I can tell you this, as far as recovery, if you’re rushing against this guy, you’re saying where should I go? What should I do? I can’t run down the middle, I can get on his edge. And if I get out in space, and I’m a second-level player, make sure your chinstrap is buckled. Just make sure it’s buckled … He’s plug-and-play Day 1.”

ESPN’s Booger McFarland: “Just like Arizona getting Paris Johnson Jr., Chicago gets the tackle to protect Justin Fields. He was sacked 55 times last year. You’ve got to protect the quarterback and they’ve got a guy that adds a mean streak.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. : “And it wasn’t just Will Anderson Jr. He neutralized LSU’s BJ Ojulari as well. He went up against Byron Young everyday in practice. Byron Young will probably be a second-round pick coming off the edge in that Tennessee Vols program. (Wright) had 27 starts at right tackle, 13 at left tackle, two at guard. This is Ryan Poles the GM saying I’ve got to get me a tackle. I’ve got a young quarterback.”

Entering Thursday night, ESPN’s ranking of the best players available in the NFL Draft, Wright is ranked No. 15 overall and No. 4 among offensive tackles, with a draft grade of 91. Offensive tackles Peter Skoronski (Northwestern), Broderick Jones (Georgia) and Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) were ranked ahead of Wright.

Wright was a five-star prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking coming out of Huntington High School in Huntington, W.V., in 2019. He was the No. 6 overall prospect in the class and ranked as the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country. 

He started his Tennessee career at left tackle for his freshman season under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, then moved to the right side where he starred the last two seasons in head coach Josh Heupel’s offense. 

Wright anchored Tennessee’s offensive line during his breakout season and was named a First Team All-SEC pick by the Associated Press, USA Today and SEC Coaches. He was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and was twice named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

“It’s been really cool to see his journey,” Heupel said Thursday morning during an appearance on the ‘Ramon, Kayla and Will’ Show on 104.5-FM The Zone in Nashville. “From when we got here, a kid that came out of his shell, gained confidence, became a technician at the offensive line position. Coach (Glen) Elarbee has done an unbelievable job of helping him grow on and off the field. 

“He’s got elite traits, man. He is extremely special, just what God gave him and what he’s continued to develop. He’s going to play in that league for a long time at a really high level. To see him handle the process … t’s really cool to see a young man propel himself the way he has. Really excited about tonight for him.”