A number of Vols on radar for NFL draft
KNOXVILLE — The NFL draft stock of Derek Barnett and Josh Dobbs has generated plenty of chatter around Tennessee and beyond since the college football season ended.
But a handful of other Volunteers are earning praise from high-level draft analysts as the big weekend approaches.
Mel Kiper, an ESPN NFL draft analyst for more than three decades, told reporters in a
Monday conference call that receiver
Josh Malone could be selected in the third round.
Malone’s ascent on some draft boards positions Tennessee to have up to five players selected in the draft’s first two days.
Barnett is nearly assured to be a first-round pick, while Dobbs, Malone, Alvin Kamara and Cam Sutton appear to be candidates for Friday’s second and third rounds.
It’s possible some of that group could slide to Saturday’s rounds 4-7, but draft experts have used some of their final projections to offer favorable outlooks for the crew of former Vols. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin also is considered a probable late-round selection, and defensive end Corey Vereen could creep onto some draft boards late Saturday.
ESPN’s Todd McShay lathered praise on Kamara by listing him this week as the third-best pass catcher among running backs in the draft class and second-best in agility/ acceleration.
In McShay’s all-position list of “Best fit for today’s NFL,” Kamara came in sixth.
“Kamara regularly makes defenders miss in the hole and in the open field,” McShay wrote.
Malone’s breakout junior year in 2017 provided him a major jolt, according to Kiper, who said “there is a distinct possibility he goes high.”
“He’s got ability and he was a guy that got in sync with Dobbs and had a really good year,” Kiper said. “I wouldn’t say he came out of nowhere, but I think when you look at the wide receivers in this draft, Malone probably helped himself as much as anybody. He averaged almost 20 yards a catch.
“This is a guy that, going into the year, he wasn’t really on the radar to be any more than a late-round possibility at best.”
Unlike Malone, Sutton and Reeves-Maybin returned to Knoxville for their senior seasons. Both suffered injuries that caused them to miss extended time in the 2017 campaign, which Kiper noted in his assessment of Reeves-Maybin.
“Reeves-Maybin, when you look at him, he’s not a wow-factor guy who is going to jump out at you,” Kiper said. “But he does a lot of things very well. He’s got some versatility.”
Kiper ranked Reeves-Maybin the 11th-best linebacker in the draft, while McShay ranked him third in the “best instincts” category at linebacker.
“Reeves-Maybin shows good reaction skills as a run defender and when he sees a screen being set up,” McShay wrote.
Kiper designated Sutton the 18th best cornerback in the draft class and the No. 108 overall player.
“Needs to become more consistent in run support,” reads ESPN’s most recent assessment of the Jonesboro, Ga. native. “Sutton projects a fringe day-two pick who could end up finding a home as starting NB (nickel back) in the NFL.”
Vereen is listed as the No. 263 overall player by Kiper and the No. 21 defensive end. Jason Croom, who played tight end at the close of his Tennessee career, is listed at the No. 31 wide receiver. Dylan Wiesman is listed as the No. 20 center.