With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, teams and pundits are starting to narrow in on who the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft are. This includes a handful of former Tennessee football players.
According to ESPN’s updated mock draft by Jordan Reid, three Vols could go in the opening two rounds. He has Jermod McCoy going to the Chiefs at pick 29, Colton Hood to the Seahawks at 32 and Chris Brazzell to the Broncos in the second round at 62.
While McCoy’s stock is a bit up in the air after not participating in drills at the combine, he has slipped in some mock drafts. However, he said he plans to do more at the team’s Pro Day at the end of March, which could push him back up boards.
The star cornerback did not play this past season as he recovered from an ACL injury. However, he was a lockdown piece in 2024 as a sophomore in his first year with Tennessee after transferring in from Oregon State.
“If we’re going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class,” Reid wrote. “But he hasn’t played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We’re still not sure where he’s at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine. But McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique. All eyes will be on Tennessee’s pro day on March 31, when McCoy is expected to participate in a full workout.”
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If Hood slips all the way to 32, the final pick of the first round, he’d join the Seahawks in their Super Bowl defense. However, a lot of mock drafts have the cornerback going well higher. He tested well at the combine and produced elite tape in 2025.
That was Hood’s first season at Tennessee. He started his career at Auburn, before transferring to Colorado, then UT.
“Hood is a scheme-versatile player who can thrive in press man while also having the fluidity to excel in zone,” Reid wrote. “A former all-state center fielder in high school, Hood’s ball skills frequently show up on tape (10 pass breakups and an interception last season). With his poised technique and wrap-up-and-finish tackling, he would fit well on the outside of Mike Macdonald’s secondary.”
Brazzell also tested well at the combine after a strong season. He was the top receiving threat, particularly down the field, for Josh Heupel’s offense, leading the SEC in receiving yards per game.
This was his second season at Tennessee, after beginning his career at Tulane.
