By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Friday and Saturday will be the more anxious and exciting days for former University of Tennessee football players and Vols fans keeping a close eye on the NFL Draft.
Friday (Day 2) will be rounds 2 and 3 of the draft, which is the earliest and VFLs are expected to be taken. Saturday (Day 3) is for rounds 4 through 7 where there could be more UT players selected. There will be a number of undrafted free agents that will sign quickly after the draft with NFL clubs.
Here’s a list of Tennessee Volunteers players to watch for the NFL Draft and a potential free agents or tryout opportunities as well as 5 teams to watch as good fits for the most likely players to be drafted from UT.
Likely To Potential Draft Picks
DB Rashaan Gaulden (6’1, 197)
4.69 forty at Pro Day
4.61 forty at NFL Combine
Range projection: Rounds 3 to 5
Teams To Watch: Chiefs, Titans, Browns, Buccaneers, Raiders
Vince’s View: Gaulden has impressed some draft analysts and scouts with his versatility and toughness. Two questions that an NFL scout brought-up to me was that he ran a slower forty-yard dash at UT’s Pro Day despite being at a lighter weight and the unknown of a true position in the secondary. You can flip that to a positive of the versatility he can bring, but each team will view that differently. He’s smart, plays stronger than his size and was productive without a ton of healthy help around him at Tennessee.
RB John Kelly (5’10, 216)
4.64 forty at Pro Day (reported times 4.5 to 4.65)
Range projection: Rounds 3 to 5
Teams To Watch: Lions, Raiders, Steelers, Eagles, Giants
Vince’s View: Kelly is listed by the NFL heavier and taller than what we saw at UT’s Pro Day. I think he’s 5’9 and 209-ish unless something’s changed recently. The NFL comp that I think is most complimentary of Kelly and most accurate is Falcons RB Devonta Freeman. Both rack-up yards after contact, run bigger than their size, can catch the ball out of the backfield and play with an edge. He can be a role back as part of a duo or trio backfield.
DL Kahlil McKenzie (6’3, 314)
Range projection: Rounds 5 to 7
Teams To Watch: Raiders, Colts, Chiefs, Bears, Dolphins
Vince’s View: With his dad as GM of the Raiders and Jon Gruden as head coach, Oakland is easily the most likely destination. There will be other teams that feel like they can work with his size and family genes. Even though he worked out some at offensive line for some teams, that’s a really rare transition entering the NFL.
P Trevor Daniel (6’2, 230)
23 bench press reps at NFL Combine
Range projection: Rounds 6 to FA
Teams To Watch: Texans, Eagles, Falcons, Steelers, Vikings
Vince’s View: He was among the nation’s best punters the last two years with the Vols. There’s punting depth in this draft, which could push the big, strong punter out of the draft. He’ll absolutely sign with someone after the draft at the very least. The NFL is also looking to save dollars by going to younger punters to replace vets.
CB Emmanuel Moseley (5’11, 184)
4.42 forty at Pro Day (reported low of 4.36)
38.5 vertical at Pro Day
10 feet 8 inches broad jump at Pro Day
21 reps in bench press at Pro Day
Range projection: Rounds 6 to FA
Teams To Watch: Browns, Bills, Cardinals, Bengals, Texans
Vince’s View: This would surprise many Vols fans if he’s drafted. Those fast forty times have caught the attention of some NFL teams. He played a ton of football at UT. He wouldn’t be the first highly criticized UT DB to get an NFL look (see Justin Coleman and Malik Foreman.) Coleman has stuck. Foreman has not.
QB Riley Ferguson (6’3, 212) *transferred to Memphis
Range projection: Rounds 6 to FA
Teams To Watch: Panthers, Falcons, Texans, Vikings, Redskins
Vince’s View: Ferguson has the arm talent and huge production with the Tigers to take a flyer on late in the draft as competition for your 3rd quarterback or develop on the practice squad.
Possible Undrafted Free Agent Signings
TE Ethan Wolf (6’6, 258)
Teams To Watch: Saints, Bills, Titans, Jaguars, Giants
DT Kendal Vickers (6’3, 290)
Teams To Watch: Giants
LB Colton Jumper (6’2, 235)
Teams To Watch: Colts
WR/RS Evan Berry (5’11, 202)
4.65 forty at Pro Day
Teams To Watch: 49’ers
Possible Tryout Candidates That Are Draft Eligible
OL Jashon Robertson (6’2, 292)
OT Brett Kendrick (6’6, 305)
OL Coleman Thomas (6’6, 322)
CB Justin Martin (6’2, 192)
4.56 forty at Pro Day
CB Shaq Wiggins (5’9, 171)
4.63 forty at Pro Day
WR Josh Smith (6’0, 204)
4.52 forty at Pro Day
WR Jeff George (6’5, 191)
4.75 forty at Pro Day
TE Jakob Johnson (6’3, 253)
LB Elliott Berry (5’11, 204)
PK Aaron Medley (6’1, 199)
