ESPN Mocks Three Volunteers As Top Draft Picks

Three Tennessee Volunteers made ESPN's latest NFL mock draft; quarterback Hendon Hooker, offensive tackle Darnell Wright, and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.

Draft analysts are beginning to release their first round of mocks after the Reese's Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl. Both all-star games allowed them to get up close and evaluate some of the biggest names in the class and let them speak with sources to gauge where the league is at.

ESPN's Matt Miller released a two-round mock draft after both games. The mock included a trade; the Indianapolis Colts traded up to No. 1 overall to select their quarterback of the future, Bryce Young. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears, the current holder of the top selection, moved back to No. 4 overall, gaining a second-round pick and drafting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at the fourth spot.

MOCK draft MONDAY

A full 2-round mock draft with a trade that makes too much sense.

Check it out.https://t.co/6LnwatpVlP

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 6, 2023

Tennessee likely has no top-ten selections in this draft cycle, but several draft hopefuls could find their way into the first round. ESPN's Mel Kiper mocked Tennessee defensive lineman Byron Young in the first round last week, though that was a bit of an outlier. The two Tennessee candidates for a day-one selection are wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Wright wasn't a consensus first-rounder entering the week, but a strong showing at the Senior Bowl has changed that.

The public is still split on Hyatt. Despite carrying a listed size of 6-1 and 185 lbs., he appears to have a slender frame on tape, which was a concern for Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, Hyatt has impressive downfield speed and can track the football well, making him a natural fit for any downfield passing offense. The NFL Combine and team visits will be critical for him.

Miller had Wright coming off the board first at No. 24 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wright would pair with star quarterback Trevor Lawerence, who had a second-season breakout while leading Jacksonville to the postseason.

"Perhaps the most surprising team of this NFL season was the Jaguars, going from the No. 1 overall pick to AFC South champions. One such area of need is right tackle, where Jawaan Taylor might price himself out of the Jaguars' comfort zone. The 6-5, 342-pound tackle just turned in a fantastic Senior Bowl performance, showing great power, length, quickness and balance for his size. He's a plug-and-play starter on the right side. Wright allowed only one sack this season, and he didn't have a single blown run block."

It didn't take long for the next Volunteer to come off the board. The New York Giants opted to take Hyatt with the No. 25 overall pick, bolstering a depleted wide receiver room that was once considered plentiful.

"Hyatt exploded onto the scene in Tennessee's vertical tempo offense, catching 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, all while averaging a clean 18.9 yards per catch. He is a certified deep threat, with one area scout telling me at the Senior Bowl that he'll likely run in the low-4.3-second range in the 40-yard dash. The Giants are desperate for a receiver who can stretch the field and be Jones' version of Stefon Diggs, whom coach Brian Daboll used so well while in Buffalo. Hyatt has the vertical speed to fit that role."

One of the most polarizing players in the class is former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. He had a fantastic week interviewing at the Senior Bowl, though he is still mending an ACL injury that will hold him out until the start of training camp. However, public perception is beginning to heat up, and Miller had him going No. 52 to the Seattle Seahawks.

"Seattle makes a move toward the future at quarterback, landing Hooker, who is arguably the best deep-ball thrower in the draft. He is an older prospect (25) and is coming off a November ACL injury, but over the past two seasons at Tennessee, he has thrown 58 touchdown passes to just five interceptions while constantly challenging defenses down the field. Hooker is no sure thing, but he's a great investment at pick No. 52 to learn behind Geno Smith (assuming Seattle re-signs its starter) while getting healthy."

You Might Also Like:

• Boo Carter, An Athletic Freak Worth Pursuing
• Derrick Henry Has Respect For Joe Milton
• Daniel Calhoun Narrows Recruitment

Join the community:

Follow Evan Crowell on Twitter: @EvanVCrowell

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.