2023 NFL Draft: Final mock draft projections for Tennessee's top players

Where Tennessee football prospects stand in the latest NFL mock drafts before the 2023 NFL Draft starts with tonight’s first round in Kansas City at 7 Eastern Time on ESPN and NFL Network:

Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle

Charles Davis, NFL.com | No. 9, Chicago Bears: “Helping QB Justin Fields is a priority, and Wright has been steadily impressing teams along the run up to the draft.”

Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports | No. 13, Green Bay Packers

Albert Breer, SI.com | No. 11, Tennessee Titans: “This would be a meat-and-potatoes pick for a team that’s doing a roster reset with a new GM. Also, that GM, Ran Carthon, is coming from a place (San Francisco) with a strong emphasis on building through the line of scrimmage. And some of Wright’s tape from Tennessee, particularly the stuff against Anderson in the Vols’ win over Bama, is as impressive as any of the soon-to-be draftees.”

Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic | No. 15, New York Jets: “This wound up being close to a worst-case scenario at No. 15. All three top offensive tackles were picked, plus other potential targets such as (Jaxon) Smith-Njigba. There were no takers for a trade back — which is understandable because all the top QBs had already been taken, too. So I settled for the next best offensive tackle prospect, addressing arguably the biggest need the Jets have right now.”

ESPN NFL Nation | No. 16, Washington Commanders: “There’s a good chance Washington will aggressively look to trade back, knowing there are other linemen and players the Commanders like still on the board. However, with Wright, they land a player who is considered physically gifted and has what the Commanders love: position flexibility.”

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 17, Pittsburgh Steelers: “Wright is the best right tackle in the class and an immediate plug-and-play option. Coming from Tennessee’s up-tempo, air-it-out system, he’s ready in pass protection but has toughness in the run game. An NFL area scout said, ‘Wright was one of the most improved players in the country and he did that with it being his first year at a new position.’”

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com | No. 17, Pittsburgh Steelers: “Mike Tomlin’s desire to play bully ball could make Wright the perfect pick at this spot. The mammoth edge blocker (6-foot-5, 333 pounds) knocks defenders around at the point of attack.”

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com | No. 31, Kansas City Chiefs: “The Chiefs have a need at tackle, and the board falls their way. Wright is one of the top players at the position in this year’s draft.”

ESPN Rankings	Mel Kiper Jr.	Todd McShay	Matt Miller	Jordan Reid
Darnell Wright	24	18	20	17
Hendon Hooker	54	33	27	51
Jalin Hyatt	44	49	26	31
Cedric Tillman	48	59	41	71
Byron Young	51	76	100	133
Jeremy Banks	n/a	227	186	214
Jerome Carvin	n/a	n/a	333	276
Princeton Fant	n/a	n/a	350	366

Hendon Hooker, Quarterback

Charles Davis, NFL.com | No. 16, Washington Commanders: “New ownership(?), a fresh sense of direction and a bold selection! The fastest rising QB in the 2023 draft finds his new home in D.C.”

Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports | No. 16 Washington Commanders

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 23, Minnesota Vikings: “One of the most popular texts I’ve gotten from evaluators throughout the past 10 days has been some form of “Watch the Vikings for Hendon Hooker.” That could be NFL scouts connecting dots, but the Round 1 talk for Hooker has been red hot since the combine and the Vikings do make sense for the dynamic passer.”

The Athletic | No. 30, Las Vegas Raiders

Jalin Hyatt, Wide Receiver

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 35, Indianapolis Colts: “The fleet-footed Hyatt is a perfect asset to combine with C.J. Stroud to restart the Colts’ offense. Hyatt, who won the 2022 Biletnikoff Award, had 15 touchdowns on 67 catches while averaging 18.9 yards per catch.”

Cedric Tillman, Wide Receiver

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 39: Carolina Panthers: “The Panthers added Adam Thielen and DJ Chark in free agency, but they still need long-term options. Tillman was red-hot early in the 2022 season (37 catches, three TDs in six games) before a high ankle sprain shut him down. He is a possession receiver who wins on breaking routes like slants and comebacks — which can boost a young quarterback like Bryce Young.”

Byron Young, Outside Linebacker

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 72, Tennessee Titans: “There’s no denying the Titans need another pass-rusher, and the speedy Young could be a great fit opposite Harold Landry III. The 250-pound Young ran an eye-opening 4.43-second 40-yard dash and jumped 11 feet in the broad — both among the best ever for a defensive end.”

Trevon Flowers, Safety

Matt Miller, ESPN | No. 255, San Francisco 49ers

NFL Draft Schedule

The NFL Draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time with the first round on both ESPN and NFL Network. Round 2 and Round 3 will be held Friday night, starting at 7 ET and Rounds 4-7 will take place Saturday, starting at Noon ET.