Dae'Quan Wright Would Be A Fun Packers Day 3 Project

Tight end is a sneaky area of need in an odd Green Bay Packers draft without a first-round pick or a no-brainer position to target early. Though it probably won’t be the first group they add to, Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright could be a hell of a fun project if Green Bay drafts him late in Day 3.

Wright is all of 6’4” and 250 lbs., but he moves far more fluidly than someone of his size has any right to. In his final season at Ole Miss, Wright piled up 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns. For much of the season, he led all tight ends in yards per reception and finished the season at 16.3 yards per catch.

Whoever selects Dae'Quan Wright will be getting someone who expanded his route tree significantly in his final season with the Rebels and a player who can create vertical problems for defenses.

For Green Bay, that was always the plan when it took Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft in back-to-back rounds in 2023. Musgrave was supposed to be the spry vertical threat, while Kraft was the jack of all trades. Three years in, Musgrave has been supremely underwhelming, while Kraft has developed into one of the better tight ends in football.

Kraft, Musgrave, and Josh Whyle, the latter of whom signed a one-year deal earlier in the offseason, are all on deals set to expire after the season. Kraft obviously isn't going anywhere, but there are far more question marks than answers behind him. Wright could get a solid year of development in 2026 before potentially taking on a larger role in 2027 and beyond.

If you play tight end in Green Bay, you have to be able to run block. Even if it's an area you don't necessarily excel at, the effort has to be there. And, as it happens, that was a noticeable weak spot for Wright throughout college.

Figuring out the why is the important part for any team that picks Wright in the draft. Why is his intensity in run blocking all over the map, and why is it not as apparent in some games? There's a risk in drafting a player with such uncertainties. Still, if the Packers feel they could bring out the beast inside of him in the run-blocking game, it could be worth the flyer late in the draft.

There are other areas that Wright needs to work on, although inconsistency in run blocking for a tight end of his size is the one that most frequently appears in his draft profiles and scouting reports.

This is from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. The last sentence is the one to focus on:

Per NFL Draft Buzz:

Wright's frame isn't a question. Neither is his strength, nor the manpower behind it. The nagging question is whether he wants to be a good run blocker.

That’s a must in Green Bay, and the fact that Dae'Quan Wright was so nonchalant with his run blocking could prevent the Packers from even considering him. However, there's a lot that could intrigue the Packers if they believe they can bring out the best in his run blocking. Wright likely wouldn't cost much. As a Day 3 pick, he could develop for a year and watch Kraft's total commitment to the position, which could lead to great things.