Does recent history agree with Chicago Bears taking a RT in the top ten
One of the few criticisms about the Chicago Bears taking Darnell Wright is that he was a right tackle and not a left tackle. The thought is that the left tackle is more valued because it is protecting the blind side of the quarterback, and they are harder to find in the NFL draft as well as free agency.
Chicago Bears drafting a right tackle in the top ten makes sense
The thought that right tackles are less valued than left tackles is starting to get outdated. It can be shown by the Chiefs actually paying Jawaan Taylor more at right tackle, and letting Orlando Brown walk at left tackle. They signed Donovan Smith to play left tackle, so their right tackle will be making more than twice as much.
The reality is that guys such as Nick Bosa, and TJ Watt now rush against the right tackle, and you need to be good at both.
Beyond that, right tackles have started to pop up in the top ten more and more. 15 offensive tackles have been drafted in the top ten, and five of them have been drafted to play tackle. Darnell Wright will be the sixth.
The names that Wright is joining are Jack Conklin, Mike McGlinchey, Lane Johnson, Penei Sewell, and Evan Neal. A right tackle going in the top ten is not rare anymore, and the right tackles who do go that high are pretty good.
Jack Conklin is a two-time All-Pro who now will be getting a third contract in the NFL, showing the longevity of his career. Lane Johnson is also one of the corps pieces of the Philadelphia Eagles' success in recent years. Penei Sewell has been that same type of player for the Detroit Lions rebuild.
Evan Neal was up and down as a rookie, but there is plenty of time, and while Mike McGlinchey is arguably the worst case, he just got paid serious money on the open market, and he got his fifth-year option picked up.
Next. 3 areas where Justin Fields must improve. dark
Drafting a right tackle this high has become commonly accepted, and getting at least five years of solid right tackle play also should be expected with the pick based on past history. It is hard to knock the Chicago Bears for going right side over the left side, when the need was there, and the value is not off.