Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is off and running with his draft weekend to-do list, looking to improve a last-place roster and accelerate the team’s return toward playoff contention.
In a demanding and busy offseason, Poles has expressed eagerness to do his heaviest lifting through the draft. That process began in Thursday night’s first round and will continue through Saturday evening.
Bears remaining picks in 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29)
- Round 2: Nos. 53 and 61
- Round 3: No. 64
- Round 4: Nos. 103 and 133
- Round 5: Nos. 136 and 148
- Round 7: Nos. 218 and 258
As Poles and the Bears navigate the weekend, we will offer you a comprehensive look at each of the players the team selects.
Catch up on pre-draft coverage
- What to know about the 2023 NFL draft: When will the Bears pick? Who are the local prospects to watch?
- 13 players the Bears could select at No. 9
- Who will the Bears select at No. 9? Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft 3.0.
- 15 months into his ‘disciplined’ rebuild, Bears GM Ryan Poles faces a crucial task — making the most of the return for the No. 1 pick
- 5 things we heard from the Bears, including trade scenarios for the NFL draft and reaction to the Aaron Rodgers deal
- Q&A with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: ‘This should be an offensive-heavy draft’ for the Bears
- How the draft process is unfolding for Bears GM Ryan Poles as he considers his options at No. 9
Round 1, No. 10: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Height, weight: 6-5, 333
Why the Bears drafted him: Wright is a massive man who is hard to move. And while he has experience playing on both sides of the offensive line, he excelled last season at right tackle, where he can be plugged in as an immediate starter for the Bears. Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., who was selected No. 3 by the Houston Texans, singled out Wright as the opponent he had the most difficulty against last season. In 2021, Wright also had an eye-catching performance against Georgia’s Travon Walker, who was the top pick in the 2022 draft. Wright’s upside is undeniable and the flashes on his college tape are difficult to ignore.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner: Wright was the second offensive tackle selected Thursday, so it’s not as if he had a grueling wait to hear his name called. Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. was the first offensive lineman off the board, picked at No. 6 by the Arizona Cardinals. The Bears, after trading down one spot and passing on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, selected Wright over fellow offensive tackles Peter Skoronski of Northwestern — who went No. 11 to the Tennessee Titans — and Broderick Jones of Georgia.
In his own words
“As far as my talent and what I can do, I knew I could go this high. But it just took the right team to see that, the right coaches who know what they’re looking at and they know what I can be. I haven’t even reached my (potential). I’m just scratching the surface of what I can be. I think they know that. And I know that. It’s going to be fun.”
Analyst’s take
“He’s a mauler. He started 42 games at Tennessee. Go back and watch any of these games. Watch him against Travon Walker at left tackle (in 2021). Watch him at right tackle this year against Will Anderson. Watch him against the elite players in college football and watch him go eliminate them and shut them out. Then you just watch how he moves bodies. His power is real. His base is good. Everybody needs to be coached in this business. It’s a different game in the NFL than it is in college. But I think there’s an awful lot to like about his size, about his movement, about his power, about his mentality, about his experience.” — Brian Baldinger, analyst for Fox Sports, NFL Network and Audacy
You should know
In January, Wright had a strong week at the Senior Bowl playing for the American team that perhaps not coincidentally was coached by Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. “It means a lot to know I already have a relationship a little bit with that guy,” Wright said.
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Source: Berkshire mont