The Bears landed arguably the best pass blocking offensive tackle in the NFL draft with Darnell Wright, who’s expected to start immediately at right tackle for Chicago’s new-look offensive line.
Wright will experience some growing pains as a rookie, which is something his teammate Braxton Jones understands well. After all, Jones played immediately as a rookie, starting every snap at left tackle for Chicago in 2022. So Jones had some advice for Wright this offseason.
“Him being the No. 10 overall pick, he’s been great,” Jones said, via Heavy.com. “The biggest thing for me is just trying to tell him to relax a little bit and when things get tough, or overwhelming in practice, sometimes, just relax. It’s going to come.”
While Jones is stepping into a mentor role with Wright, he also said there’s plenty he can learn from his rookie teammate, especially when it comes to his pass blocking prowess.
“Darnell was a great pass-blocker at Tennessee, and they would really sling the ball around,” Jones said. “So, I’ve definitely seen him, and taken some of his techniques away and tried to put it in my game a little bit, too. Obviously, he’s a premier 10th overall pick, so he’s got some tricks and tools that I can take from his game.”
The Bears offensive line struggled in pass protection last season, which is why things were reworked. Chicago added Wright and veteran Nate Davis this offseason, as well as moving players to different positions. In fact, Jones is the only starter to occupy the same spot last season with the Bears.
Protecting quarterback Justin Fields will be a top priority in 2023, after he was sacked a league-high 55 times last season in 15 games. Jones and Wright will play an integral role in keeping Fields upright to help him take the next step in his development.
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