We’re a day away from the 2025 NFL Draft with a number of former Tennessee football players hoping to hear their named called. Six Tennessee players are candidates to be selected in this year’s draft with one capable of going in the first round.
ESPN released its final seven-round mock draft on Tuesday, projecting four Tennessee players to go in the 2025 NFL Draft.
According to ESPN, James Pearce Jr will be the first Tennessee player off the board but won’t go in the first round. ESPN has the San Fransisco 49ers taking Pearce in the second round with the No. 43 overall pick in this week’s NFL Draft.
“The 49ers need edge help opposite Nick Bosa, and Pearce’s 19.0% pressure rate was second in the FBS last season,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote. “His draft stock is all over the place, with the scouts I’ve talked to having Pearce going off the board anywhere from the late teens to the late second round.”
Pearce totaled 65 tackles, 17 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception as a key piece of Tennessee’s defense in 2023 and 2024.
No Tennessee player was more productive last season than Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson. ESPN projects the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Sampson with the No. 88 overall pick of the draft in the third round. Sampson broke Tennessee football’s single-season rushing yards and touchdown record last season, totaling 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.
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“With Travis Etienne Jr. in the final year of his contract, this would be a good place to pick Sampson,” Reid wrote. “He’s an efficient zone runner with excellent contact balance.”
Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott projects as a third round pick too, going with the No. 97 pick to the Minnesota Vikings. Norman-Lott came to Tennessee by way of junior college and Arizona State. He totaled 44 tackles and 9.5 sacks in two seasons in Knoxville.
“The Vikings signed defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, but Norman-Lott would provide young depth along the defensive line as a designated pass rusher,” Reid said.
Tennessee receiver Dont’e Thornton is the final Vol projected to go in the 2025 NFL Draft. ESPN has the Tennessee Titans selecting the Volunteer receiver with the No. 141 overall pick in the fifth round. Thornton had a breakout senior season at Tennessee, catching 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. His 4.30-second 40-yard dash time was the second best amongst receivers at the NFL Combine.
Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy and Elijah Simmons both went to the NFL Combine and Indianapolis and are potential draft picks as well though ESPN did not include them in their seven-round mock draft.
