Bears Rookie Admits Darnell Wright Is Already Earning A Reputation

GM Ryan Poles knew he wanted Darnell Wright after the Chicago Bears hosted him for a private workout. The team already liked him after an in-depth tape study. They needed to know if he had the mental and physical toughness to handle high-intensity work. So they pushed him hard during that visit. He didn’t break. That sold it. The Bears grabbed him 10th overall in the 1st round over more hyped prospects like Jalen Carter, Christian Gonzalez, Peter Skoronski, and Broderick Jones. Poles has remained steadfast that he believes the Bears got the right player.

Early impressions suggest he isn’t wrong. Wright hasn’t even practiced in full pads yet. That means he isn’t allowed to get fully physical against defenders. Yet that hasn’t stopped him from making a noticeable impression on those that have witnessed the right tackle up close. One of them is D’Anthony Jones. The undrafted free agent earned his place on the roster after a good showing at rookie minicamps. From what he said on the Irish Bears Show, it didn’t come at the expense of Wright, who looked every bit the monster he was last year for Tennessee.

Darnell Wright isn’t letting his foot off the gas.

That should be the most encouraging part. He’s a top 10 pick in the draft and yet continues to operate as if he went undrafted. That is the mentality one requires to be great in this league. The primary concern about Wright wasn’t his ability. His mixture of size and athleticism is rare. It was his work ethic. Wright once showed up for practice after a long layoff at 360 lbs, significantly overweight. That is where the reputation of a lackadaisical attitude began. It is probably a reason why the Bears put him through such a tough workout.

Whatever his motivations were back then, they’ve changed. He is relentless in his approach on and off the field. If players already notice this when the pads aren’t on, one must feel sorry for them. They’re in for some pain once training camp arrives. Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus don’t care. They wanted a physical and violent football team. Darnell Wright can be one of those guys that set the tone for others, helping to toughen them up for the grueling schedule ahead. If this mentality holds, it’s hard not seeing him being successful for years to come.