Former Tennessee Vols running back Jaylen Wright turned a lot of heads at the NFL Combine five weeks ago. The electric runner had a big weekend with a 4.38 40-yard dash time, an 11'2" broad jump, and a 38-inch vertical. If he wasn't on some teams' NFL Draft boards entering the Combine, he likely was at least on their radars once the event ended.
However, there's another aspect of Wright's game that should have teams' attention, and it's an extremely important one: his pass blocking ability. Wright is a willing and physical blocker in the passing game, which distinguished him among a trio of talented Tennessee running backs in 2023.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus tabbed Wright as the best pass blocking back among all running backs in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Wright is still raw in terms of vision and patience for those home run plays his athleticism warrants, but his pass protection reps were eye-popping. He is stout when taking on blitzers of all shapes and sizes. That paired with his speed will make him a tempting bet to make for a team on Day 2 of the draft. - Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus
It's hard to overstate the importance of pass blocking in the NFL. Considering the freak-level athleticism of pass rushers coming off the edge - and how the NFL has largely become a passing league - being able to contribute with protecting the quarterback is a major consideration teams look for in evaluating running backs.
Of course, that also has something to do with the incredible amount of money quarterbacks are earning nowadays, with salaries going north of $50 million average annual value per year. Have to be able to protect that investment.
And that's not an insignificant reason why Wright got the nod over Dylan Sampson for much of the season last year despite the latter being a force with the ball in his hands. Wright - who was a terrific runner himself with 7.4 yards per carry, second among all FBS running backs - simply offered Josh Heupel a better option as a pass protector while being a capable runner himself.
Some team will be smart enough to draft him on Day Two of the NFL Draft. We'll see soon enough who will be getting the talented former Vol.
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