The College Football season has officially wrapped up, meaning it’s full steam ahead with NFL Draft prep for those turning pro. Tennessee has a handful of players taking that route this season, headlined by standout cornerback Jermod McCoy.

With ‘draft season’ upon us, Mel Kiper Jr. has released his first mock draft of the year. The ESPN analyst placed two Volunteers in his first round projection to kick things off.

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No. 13 — Los Angeles Rams — CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

He’s a tough evaluation, as he didn’t play a snap of football in the 2025 season after tearing an ACL last January. Teams are going to have to take that into consideration, and his medical checks at the combine will be key. We saw Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons and Rashawn Slater all go in the top 15 in 2021 without playing at all in 2020, but they were all COVID-19 opt-outs. Recovering from an injury is a little different.

That all said, McCoy is a ball hawk, and he’s still a top-15 prospect for me. He had four interceptions and nine pass breakups back in 2024. Los Angeles has gotten the most out of its cornerbacks this season en route to the NFC Championship Game, but it still needs a true CB1. The Rams gave up 7.6 yards per pass attempt this season, tied for fifth highest.

McCoy played just one season for Tennessee before tearing his ACL during offseason workouts. He made a huge splash in 2024 though, helping the Volunteers produce one of the best defenses in the country. McCoy’s ball-skills were on full display all season long, but particularly in the biggest spots for Tennessee. Key interceptions against Alabama, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt helped the Volunteers to three big wins, each play turning the game completely around.

Teams will now be tasked with trusting their medical evaluations on McCoy, who could have returned to the field late in the season if Tennessee were still in playoff contention.

No. 26 — Buffalo Bills — WR Chris Brazzell, Tennessee

Picking in this range makes it difficult to find impact wideouts, and Brazzell would be the sixth off the board (marking the 10th time this century that six or more wide receivers have gone in Round 1). But he also has the skill set to be a standout in the pros. His 6-foot-5 frame, long arms, sure hands and great concentration make him a big-time target in the end zone and on contested balls. I also see the explosiveness to get out of his breaks and separate. Brazzell tallied 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns this past season.

This would be a fun landing spot for Brazzell, who just oozes NFL talent. His 6-5 frame and downfield ability are mighty enticing, despite just the one big season of production. The Tulane transfer flashed in 2024, but put it all together with Joey Aguilar in 2025 to become one of the best receivers in the SEC. Brazzell’s measurables and 2025 tape should have him off the board somewhere in the top 50 picks, at least. Kiper has him going round one which is a trend that I think continues.

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Tennessee could also see Colton Hood drafted in the first round. The Colorado transfer was forced into a huge role for the Volunteers this season due to immediate injuries. It didn’t take long for the NFL to take notice.

Joshua Josephs will also be drafted, more than likely going on day two. Tight end Miles Kitselman will also have a chance to go late. Linebacker Arion Carter has opted to come back to school after initially declaring.

The NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.