Darnell Wright Is Already Blowing Teammates Away In Practice

Assessing Darnell Wright as a blocker right now is almost impossible. Offensive linemen don't wear pads in OTAs and minicamps. Thanks to NFL rules, they aren't allowed to play with any degree of real physicality. That means they aren't truly blocking. So Wright must wait until the end of July for training camp before he can start showing everybody what he can do. However, the 10th overall pick hasn't failed to make an impression anyway. Teammates have already taken notice.

Offensive line coach Chris Morgan said he was somewhat surprised at how fast Wright is picking up the Bears' system with blocking assignments and responsibilities. People on the field with him notice something different: his athleticism. Courtney Cronin of ESPN spoke to Cole Kmet about it.

"He fell down [during an OTA practice] and did this somersault," tight end Cole Kmet said. "And it was the most graceful somersault I've ever seen a 330-pound player do. It was pretty impressive. I was like, 'Damn, that's pretty good.'"

This was one of the common misconceptions about Wright during the pre-draft process. Since he was on the heavier side at 330+ lbs, people automatically assumed he was only an average athlete. One look at the tape says others. Guys his size aren't supposed to move like he can.

Darnell Wright isn't a statue.

He won't be a guy that relies on his length and power to handle speed rushers in the NFL. He's more than capable of matching them with his footwork and quickness. That is what makes him so dangerous. His size and power are hard enough to deal with. When he's able to move that well on top of it, there isn't much pass rushers will be able to do. If he becomes proficient with his technique in the coming months, there won't be a person in this league he can't block. That is how talented he is.

This appears to be the first glimpse of how Ryan Poles will approach every draft moving forward. He clearly likes big athletes. Second round pick Gervon Dexter is another example making early waves in practice. You can't teach size, as the saying goes. Big guys that can move tend to do well in professional sports. Not just football. Darnell Wright will have to stay healthy. If he does, his natural ability and newfound work ethic should carry him far in this city.