Commanders 7-round mock draft: Trades, surprises in final 2023 edition

Commanders draft Darnell Wright

• Offensive Tackle | Tennessee Volunteers

Darnell Wright has played both left and right tackle at Tennessee, and he has logged a ton of snaps against SEC competition. He did not give up a sack his senior year, including a game against Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., currently projected to be one of the top three non-quarterbacks to be drafted in 2023.

Wright is still young but has great size and experience. He has steadily improved throughout his college career and looks like a great fit for the Washington Commanders, who’ve taken a keen interest in the prospect throughout their evaluations.

He immediately takes over one of the two tackle spots. Though he may display some rookie growing pains, Wright should be a steady presence for a long time to come.

This would likely shift free-agent signing Andrew Wylie to the right guard position unless Wright is ready to assume blindside responsibilities. In that case, Charles Leno Jr. is likely going to be demoted to a swing tackle option or perhaps even shift inside.

The Commanders might go for a sexier pick at No. 16 overall with the potential new owners watching on. But Wright has the potential to solve their edge protection problems for more than a decade if his ceiling is reached.