Todd McShay, Mel Kiper Jr. pick five Vols in ESPN's three-round NFL mock draft

ESPN’s latest three-round NFL mock draft from Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. has five Tennessee players being picked in the first 67 selections of the upcoming NFL Draft.

Offensive tackle Darnell Wright was the highest pick at No. 16 overall to the Washington Commanders in the first round. Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt were second-round picks, with Hooker going to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 37 overall and Hyatt going at No. 39 to the Carolina Panthers. Cedric Tillman and Byron Young were back-to-back picks in the third round, with Tillman at No. 66 to the Arizona Cardinals and Young at No. 67 to the Denver Broncos. 

Tennessee had five players drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft — Alontae Taylor (Second Round, No. 49 overall, New Orleans Saints); Velus Jones Jr. (Third Round, No. 71, Chicago Bears); Matthew Butler (Fifth Round, No. 175, Las Vegas Raiders); Cade Mays (Sixth Round, No. 199, Carolina Panthers); Theo Jackson (Sixth Round, No. 204, Tennessee Titans) — after having seven players picked over the previous three drafts.

NFL Draft: April 27-29, Kansas City

Wright at right tackle was a breakout star on Tennessee’s offensive line last season. He was named First Team All-SEC by the Associated Press, USA Today and SEC Coaches.

“I know Washington just signed Andrew Wylie,,” McShay said of the 16th overall pick, “but Wright is an excellent run-blocker who could be a long-term solution at right tackle. And if the Commanders want, they could bump him inside as a rookie. Wright plays with power and quickness to open running lanes and stall pass-rush attempts.”

Hooker, who tore his ACL in November, played two seasons at Tennessee, passing for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions. In 11 games last season, Hooker completed 69.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions.

“This is where I’d feel comfortable taking Hooker if I were running a draft room,” Kiper said. “Seattle was able to fill defensive holes with its top two picks, and now it can try for its quarterback of the future. Geno Smith’s contract shouldn’t prohibit the Seahawks from taking Hooker if they like him.”

Hyatt last season became Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff Award winner after leading college football and setting a new Tennessee single-season record with 15 touchdowns. He finished with 1,267 receiving yards on the year.

“When the Panthers traded away wide receiver DJ Moore to move up to the No. 1 pick, I was worried for the quarterback they were going to draft,” Kiper wrote. “Their pass-catcher depth chart was barren. Now, after signing veteran Adam Thielen in free agency and taking a speedy wideout in this projection, Bryce Young would have a much better chance as a rookie.”

Cedric Tillman ‘would be a good get’ in the third round

Tillman had a breakout redshirt junior season in 2021, catching 64 passes for 1,081 yards — fifth most in Tennessee football history — and 12 touchdowns. Last season he was limited to just six games played due to a high-ankle sprain suffered in a 63-6 win over Akron in September at Neyland Stadium. He caught 37 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns over his final six games with the Vols.

“Whether or not DeAndre Hopkins gets traded,” McShay wrote, “the Cardinals could use additional receiver help. And Tillman is a big pass-catcher with strong hands, downfield ability and really good body control. Injuries held him back a bit last season, but Tillman would be a good get in the third round.”

Young in two seasons at Tennessee had 83 total tackles with 23.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He had a breakout junior season in 2021, with 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and an interception in 10 games. He had 34 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks in 12 games last season.

“At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds,” Kiper wrote, “Young is undersized, but he has a nose for pressuring quarterbacks. This is Denver’s first pick in this draft, and it should focus on the front seven with one of these selections.”