Chiefs UDFA Spotlight: Cincinnati LB Bryan Wright

How does Cincinnati UDFA LB Bryan Wright fit with the Kansas City Chiefs?

A multi-sport athlete at Howard High School, Bryan Wright played football and basketball. In basketball, he was a three-year varsity player, participating in Howard’s State Championship run in 2012-13. In football, he was a multi-position player operating as a dual-threat quarterback, as well as the punter and kicker for the team. He went to a year of prep school before redshirting with the Bearcats in 2015.

Initially, at Cincinnati, Wright played defensive end before making the switch to off-the-ball linebacker in 2018. In his opening game at linebacker against UCLA, he shined, accumulating three total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. He improved at the linebacker spot with each consecutive game, earning a selection as team captain and First-Team All-AAC honors in 2019.

Stats:

2015: Redshirt

2016: Eight games played. 28 total tackles, four tackles for loss

2017: Six games played. 15 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and two passes defended.

2018: 13 games played. 55 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

2019: 14 games played. 100 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five passes defended.

Combine/pro day results

Height: 6-3
Weight: 238 pounds
Hands: 9 3/4″
Arms: 33 1/2″
40-yard dash: n/a
10-yard split: n/a
225-pound bench: n/a
Vertical: n/a
Broad Jump: n/a
20-yard shuttle: n/a
3-Cone Drill: n/a

Highlights:

*NSFW language warning*

2016

2019

Fit with the Chiefs:

Size, length, leadership and production are some of the things that stand out most about Wright. He’s always showcased that team-first attitude, dating back to his high school days when he played multiple positions. He worked his way to an opportunity at Cincinnati after not receiving any offers out of high school.

Wright is at his best when he’s turned loose in the backfield and allowed to attack the football. He does a good job getting pressure and getting his hands up to deflect the ball on designed blitzes. His arm length helps him wrap guys up, stack and shed offensive linemen and pop the ball free from ball carriers.

He’s a good athlete, but I’m not sure he has the long speed to be put in coverage situations often. At the same time, he has really good instincts and was always around the football in 2019. Some of those moments where Wright shoots the gap and knifes his way into the backfield are reminiscent of former Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson.

It’s clear that Wright is still a raw player, going into only his third year of playing the linebacker position. He has some really nice developmental upside with the Chiefs under linebacker coach Matt House, though. He even has the size to play MIKE or SAM linebacker in the Chiefs’ system.

Chiefs’ undrafted free agent

Position Player School Article Release Date
QB Shea Patterson Michigan 5/26
WR Maurice Ffrench Pittsburgh 5/28
LB Bryan Wright Cincinnati 6/2
OC Darryl Williams Miss. St. TBA
CB Hakeem Bailey West Virginia TBA
P Tommy Townsend Florida TBA
WR Kalija Lipscomb Vanderbilt TBA
DB Rodney Clemons SMU TBA
OT Yasir Durant Missouri TBA
DE Tershawn Wharton Missouri S&M TBA
WR Justice Shelton-Mosley Vanderbilt TBA
CB Jalen Julius Ole Miss TBA
WR Aleva Hifo BYU TBA
LB Omari Cobb Marshall TBA
WR Cody White Michigan St. TBA
CB Lavert Hill Michigan TBA
WR Andre Baccelia Washington TBA
OG Jovahn Fair Temple TBA
CB Javaris Davis Auburn TBA

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