Ben Johnson knows a good right tackle when he sees one. For the past four seasons in Detroit, the Bears' head coach had Penei Sewell protecting quarterback Jared Goff’s right side.
Since Sewell was selected No. 7 overall out of Oregon in 2021, he has been one of the best offensive linemen in football. He has allowed only nine career sacks and just one in each of the past two seasons, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Sewell has played 4,503 career offensive snaps and has missed one game – the Week 17 finale during his rookie season due to illness and a thumb injury.
Sewell is as good as it gets at right tackle and Johnson compared the Lions’ standout O-lineman to Wright during an interview with Fox32’s Cassie Carlson at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I see Darnell Wright very much in the same mold as a Penei Sewell, and we tried to do things the last three years in Detroit to highlight Sewell in space, highlight him in one-on-one blocks, him against their best defensive lineman,” Johnson said. "I see the same thing for Darnell.”
Johnson most likely sees the physical similarities between the two: Sewell (6-foot-5, 335 pounds) and Wright (6-foot-6, 333 pounds). The Bears' right tackle spoke with the media at Halas Hall on Tuesday afternoon and was asked about being compared to Sewell.
“I'm happy, I'm fortunate that they think highly of me and hopefully I can live up to that,” Wright said. “He's a really, really good player and I try to emulate some of his stuff. He's good, so I hope I can live up to that.”
For Johnson’s offense to operate to its full capability with Caleb Williams, Wright will have to go beyond just comparisons and raise his level of play to be in the same realm as Sewell.
Darnell Wright will be a key cog in Ben Johnson's offense with the Bears
Wright has already started that process.
“Him being one of the greater players, as far as the offensive line in the game today, I watch him all the time,” Wright said. “His body type, I feel like, is similar to mine. Then being in the same conference, his tape comes up anyways. I'm always watching him. Try to emulate some of the things he does. Obviously, you can't emulate everything. Some people are just different. Some people have different talents. I watch him.”
Watching one of the best players at his respective position is a good start for Wright, especially since he is now playing under the same offensive mind as Johnson. Through two seasons, Wright has allowed 13 sacks, but he did reduce his quarterback pressures allowed from 51 in his rookie season to 30 in 2024, according to PFF.
For the No. 10 overall pick out of Tennessee in 2023, Wright will have to start by mastering the new playbook and establishing chemistry with new right guard Jonah Jackson, who is familiar with Johnson’s scheme.
Offensive line coach Dan Roushar will also play a pivotal role in Wright's development as he prepares for Year 3, and the two have already been in constant communication with each other.
“We talk a lot,” Wright said. “He and I talk a lot. The thing I'm most excited about with him is just the way he inspires me to, not a leap of faith, but not be afraid to fail. We talk a lot, so it'll be good.”
Wright can’t be afraid to fail or achieve greatness because that’s exactly how Johnson expects of the 23-year-old right tackle, and he needs to take that next step in his NFL career if the Bears want to make positive strides as an offense this upcoming season.