ESPN’s Jordan Reid on Monday released a full-seven round NFL mock draft, predicting all 257 picks ahead of this week’s NFL Draft. Only two Tennessee football players were included in the projection.
Reid had Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright going late in the third round at No. 91 overall to the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Joe Milton III going in the seventh round at No. 248 overall to the Buffalo Bills.
“The Packers signed Josh Jacobs in free agency to replace Aaron Jones,” Reid wrote in the seven-round mock draft, “but Wright would bring a different element. He’s a home-run hitter who averaged 7.4 yards per carry (third in the FBS) and had 35 runs for 10-plus yards last season.”
The NFL Draft starts with the first round Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network) in Detroit. Round 2 and Round 3 is Friday, starting at 7 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4-7 will be Saturday, beginning at Noon ET.
Jaylen Wright last season: 137 attempts, 1,013 yards, 7.4 yards per carry, 4 TDs
Wright last season finished with 1,013 yards on 137 rush attempts. He finished with four rushing touchdowns while averaging the 7.4 yards per carry and caught six passes for 22 yards.
Over the last three seasons Wright totaled 2,297 yards and 18 touchdowns on 368 attempts. He had 409 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2021 and 875 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2021 and 6.0 yards per carry in 2022.
Milton finished last season with 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. Milton in 2022 threw for 971 yards and 10 touchdowns, appearing in nine games as Tennessee’s backup quarterback, playing behind Hendon Hooker.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said last week on a conference call with reporters previewing the NFL Draft that the later rounds were the most realistic opportunities for Milton.
“I think he’s a late-round flyer,” Jeremiah said. “(In) terms of trying to find a (team), I think you just want to go somewhere where they’ve got a good quarterback developer. But I think that will be pretty late in the draft.”
Kamal Hadden could provide ‘some play-making ability’ in NFL Draft
Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February but he was not named in the seven-round mock draft from ESPN.
Jeremiah said on the conference call last week that Hadden, who underwent shoulder surgery after suffering a season-ending injury in Tennessee loss at Alabama in October, would be a late-round pick if he does hear his name called.
Over the last three seasons Hadden recorded 87 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 18 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Hadden had 51 tackles and two interceptions in nine games in 2022 and 17 tackles and one pick in seven games in 2021. Last season he had 13 solo tackles, six assists and had eight passes defended to go with his career-high three interceptions.
“He’s got some play-making ability,” Jeremiah said, “but I think he’s a late (round pick) as well.”
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