By Jimmy Hyams
The NFL draft isn’t the be-all, end-all in terms of evaluating a team’s talent.
In some years, a great team’s best players might be gifted freshmen or sophomores, or juniors that elect not to turn pro.
In other cases, the draft gives you a clear indication.
For example, national champion Alabama had an SEC-record 12 players taken in the draft – and not all were starters.
Then there is Tennessee. The Vols had three players drafted, eight more signed as free agents and two more signed mini camp deals.
That’s 13 players in an NFL camp off one team.
And Tennessee went 4-8?
Has there been another team in SEC history go winless (0-8) in conference play, yet send 13 to pro camps?
Probably not.
Heck, there probably haven’t been many 1-7 or 2-6 SEC teams do that.
What does that say?
It says the Vols grossly underachieved. It says players weren’t developed. It says the team didn’t always play hard. It says coaches didn’t maximize their talent.
Of course, we knew that already, but this past weekend was proof.
The real proof will come when we learn how many of these VFLs make it in the NFL.
Rashaan Gaulden was the first former Vol taken in the draft, going in the third round to Carolina. It marked the second year in a row UT had a defensive back go in the third round and the sixth time UT’s first drafted player was a defensive back since 1960 (Eric Berry, Jason Allen, Gibril Wilson, Dale Carter, Terry McDaniel, Roland James).
The other two Vols drafted were running back John Kelly (sixth round) and defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie (sixth round). ESPN draft analyst Lewis Reddick said he “knows’’ Kansas City will switch McKenzie to the offensive line.
Tennessee had two offensive linemen sign free agent deals (Brett Kendrick with the Lions and Jashon Robertson with Dallas), a tight end (Ethan Wolf, Titans), a defensive back (Emmanuel Moseley, 49ers), a defensive lineman (Kendal Vickers, Pittsburgh), a linebacker (Colton Jumper, Saints), a safety-return specialist (Evan Berry, Browns), and a punter (Trevor Daniel, Houston).
Moreover, former Tennessee wide receiver Josh Smith (Saints) and linebacker Elliott Berry (Chiefs) were invited to rookie mini camps.
The draft pick least likely to make it will be McKenzie, unless he moves to offense. Based on what he did in college, McKenzie won’t make it as a defensive lineman; he wasn’t very productive at UT. But his uncle, Raleigh, had a stellar 16-year NFL career as a guard.
Still, there is a gamble attached to a switch.
The two free agents most likely to make it in the NFL – defined as at least a five-year career – are Daniel and Wolf. Three punters from the SEC were drafted, indicating an emphasis on punters.
Tennessee is quickly becoming Punter U. The Vols have four starting punters in the NFL. Daniel will be the fifth – eventually. It took Michael Palardy a while to find a home. It might for Daniel, too.
Interestingly, Tennessee has had two punters that were the first Vols taken in the draft: Craig Colquitt in 1978 and Neil Clabo in 1975.
Making the grade in the NFL will be a big challenge for the other six UT free agents.
With the NFL de-emphasizing kickoff returns, that will make it tougher on Berry.
None of the others played well enough to earn any type All-SEC honors or display NFL ability while at Tennessee.
Still, it’s amazing that a team that went 0-8 in the SEC will have 13 players in NFL camps.
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