DETROIT — The 2024 NFL Draft will kick off on Thursday night in Detroit with the first round only, and there are a handful of Tennessee football products who hope to hear their name called over the three-day event.
Three Vols were invited to this year's NFL Scouting Combine, but a few players beyond that trio have an outside chance of being selected at some point in the seven-round process.
The first Vol expected to be taken in the NFL Draft this year is standout running back Jaylen Wright, but he will probably have to wait until the second day of the NFL Draft (second and third rounds) to hear his name called.
Wright was Tennessee's leading rusher each of the last two seasons and became the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 when he amassed 1,013 yards on the ground in 2023. He also ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, which was the second-fastest time for running backs at the combine.
Quarterback Joe Milton also received an NFL Combine invite, and will likely be selected at some point on day three of the NFL Draft (rounds 4-7) to be selected. In his lone season as the Vols' full-time starter, Milton completed 65% of his passes with 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, while also rushing for 299 yards and seven touchdowns.
Milton elected not to play in the Citrus Bowl but did take part in the Reese's Senior Bowl and threw two interceptions in the showcase. Milton is still a physical specimen with a big arm, and a team will likely take a chance on him in the later rounds.
Defensive back Kamal Hadden rounds out the NFL Scouting Combine invitees, and will also very likely be a day three pick in the later rounds. Hadden graded out well at his position last season and did not allow a touchdown catch, but only played seven games and missed the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury in October. Hadden totaled six interceptions in his three years at Tennessee and also returned an interception for a touchdown this past season.
Tennessee players who were not invited to the combine, but still have an outside chance to be drafted, include tight end McCallan Castles, running back Jabari Small and return specialist Dee Williams.
Castles impressed at Tennessee's Pro Day and the UC Davis transfer made 22 catches for 285 yards and five touchdowns in his lone year at Tennessee. Castles could also be a player teams may try and use at fullback at the NFL level.
Small's stats took a step back this past season compared to the two seasons prior. He rushed for 475 yards and two touchdowns as a senior compared to 734 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022 and 796 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021.
Return specialist Dee Williams projects more as an undrafted free agent due to his specialization and the way the kick return game has changed at the NFL level. Williams was an electric returner for the Vols, and scored a kick return touchdown in each of the last two seasons with Tennessee. Williams averaged a school-record 15.4 yards per punt return and also ranked third in the SEC with 14 yards per punt return in 2023.
The 2024 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 4 and will start at 8 p.m. with round one coverage only. The next two rounds will begin on Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m. followed by rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 8. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN.
