Where Tennessee players are ranked in Mel Kiper's final NFL Draft rankings
Hendon Hooker is still generating buzz as a late first-round pick during NFL Draft week, but the standout Tennessee quarterback isn’t the highest-rated player for the Vols in the draft according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
In fact, the longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst has Hooker ranked just as the fifth best Tennessee player in the draft in his final rankings ahead of the NFL Draft’s start Thursday night.
Kiper on Tuesday released the final rankings with Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright the highest among the Vols at No. 24 overall and the No. 3 offensive tackle in the draft. Wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman came in at No. 44 and No. 48 overall, ranked No. 5 and No. 7 among wide receivers, respectively. And edge rusher Byron Young came in at No. 51 overall and No. 4 among outside linebackers.
Hooker was ranked No. 54 overall by Kiper and rated as the fifth best quarterback in the draft.
NFL Draft: Thursday-Saturday, Kansas City, ESPN
The NFL Draft gets started with the first round Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (TV: ESPN, ABC) in Kansas City. The second and third rounds will be held Friday (7 p.m. ET) and final four rounds will take place on Saturday (Noon ET).
The consensus for Wright seems to be in the middle of the first round while Hooker has been projected as a late first-round pick at best.
“Wright is the best pure right tackle in this draft,” Kiper wrote. “He could end up at No. 9 to the Bears, who have a huge need for a right tackle. He started 42 games in college, playing both tackle spots and right guard for the Vols.
“Wright got better every season. Go watch his tape against Alabama and Will Anderson Jr. — he dominated a potential top-three pick. Wright was called for eight penalties in 2021 but just two last season, so he cleaned up his game.”
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ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s seven-round mock draft has Wright going No.17 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Hooker at No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings. He has Hyatt at No. 35 to the Indianapolis Colts and Tillman at No. 39 to the Carolina Panthers, ahead of Byron Young, No. 72 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and safety Trevon Flowers at No. 255 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
Mel Kiper Jr. has 10 Tennessee players in final NFL Draft rankings
Kiper ranked five other Tennessee players in their respective position groups. Princeton Fant was ranked eighth among fullbacks/H-back and Jerome Carvin was ranked as the 24th-best guard in the draft. LaTrell Bumphus was mentioned in the “best of the rest” category for defensive ends, one of 14 players listed outside of the top 25 players at the position.
Jeremy Banks was ranked No. 14 at inside linebacker and Paxton Brooks was the No. 5 punter.
Ahead of Hooker in Kiper’s QB rankings are Bryce Young, Will Levis, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. Wide receivers ahead of Hyatt are Zay Flowers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison and Quentin Johnston, with Jonathan Mingo ranked between Hyatt and Tillman.
Offensive tackles ranked ahead of Wright are Paris Johnson Jr. and Broderick Jones. Outside linebackers ranked ahead of Young are Will Anderson Jr., Nolan Smith and Will McDonald IV.
