The Detroit Lions signed tight end Brock Wright as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He made the team and has been a valuable contributor since.
The Lions showed how much they valued him by matching the three-year, $12 million offer sheet the San Francisco 49ers gave him last offseason.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was a third-round pick by the New York Giants in 1999. However, he played 10 seasons in the NFL not because he was a star, but by doing the dirty work and fighting for his spot every year.
Wright is following a similar career path as his head coach, with 50 career receptions now in his fourth season. He has seven catches in four games this season but has played in half of the Lions’ offensive snaps.
Going into Week 5, he is Pro Football Focus’ 46th-highest graded tight end. His receiving grade (62.2) and pass blocking grade (65.1) are both in the top 35 at his position so far this season.
Brock Wright named Lions’ hidden gem so far this season
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named each team’s biggest hidden gem at the quarter-point of the 2024 season. The Lions have several candidates, but Wright was a straightforward and solid choice.
“The Detroit Lions have no shortage of offensive stars. From Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown to Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta, Detroit’s offense is full of stars and recent high draft picks.
“Tight end Brock Wright is an exception. The 2021 undrafted free agent has mostly flown under the radar in Detroit, though he’s caught the attention of other teams. To keep Wright, the Lions had to match a three-year, $12 million offer from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.”
“While LaPorta is Detroit’s top tight end, Wright still plays a valuable role for the team. He’s a capable, if not elite, blocker who can occasionally provide an extra target for Goff.”
“While Wright has just seven catches for 49 yards this season, he’s played 50 percent of the offensive snaps and remains a key, if overlooked, part of the game plan.”
Wright will likely remain overlooked due to the talent around him in the Lions’ offense, and because he is the No. 2 tight end behind Sam LaPorta, receiving fewer targets. But Campbell can, and likely does, see much of himself in Wright.
