The Chicago Bears turned a lot of heads in the 2023 NFL draft. It started when they willingly passed on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter by trading the #9 pick to Philadelphia for the #10 pick and a 4th rounder. Then it reached a new level when they selected Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright, whom many experts had going later in the 1st round. Some felt it was a reach, but others saw the same things GM Ryan Poles did. If Wright gets a few things figured out, he could end up being the best tackle in the class. Montez Sweat had heard all of that before.
The Pro Bowl defensive end had gone against plenty of rookies in his time with the Washington Commanders. Most of them didn’t measure up. As a 1st round pick, he knew Wright had talent. Still, that alone wasn’t going to stop Sweat. When the two met face-to-face last season during the Bears’ visit to FedEx Field, the defensive end came away surprised at how adept Wright was. If not for some typical rookie mistakes, he would’ve had a clean game against one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts.
Sweat explained to Chris Long on the Green Light podcast that once the experience catches up to the talent, Wright will be everything Chicago hoped for.
Chicago traded for the star pass rusher at the deadline last year. Now, he and Wright will go against each other every day in practice. The tackle will learn every trick one of the best in the league has at his disposal. Once Wright learns what to look for on each snap, it won’t matter what other edge rushers try. He’s too big, strong, and nimble to overcome with sheer natural ability. This means you better get your wins in now because it won’t be long before the former 1st rounder shuts people down every week.
If Braxton Jones takes another step forward, the Bears’ offensive line could be set for the foreseeable future. Keep in mind that Sweat went against some of the best blockers in the business, like Tyron Smith and Lane Johnson. It is noteworthy that he already has such a high opinion of Darnell Wright. Sure, he’s a bit biased now that they’re teammates, but the sentiment was already there before they joined forces. This should be an exciting year for the young tackle.
