Welcome to the NFL, Chris Brazzell. The former Tennessee wide receiver has officially been selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night. The Carolina Panthers took Brazzell with the 83rd overall pick. Brazzell has widely been projected as a third-round draft pick in the weeks leading up to the event, and landed in his projected range on Friday.
Brazzell is the second Tennessee player to be selected in the draft this weekend, following cornerback Colton Hood (No. 37 to the New York Giants)
Brazzell is the Panthers’ third overall pick in the draft so far. Carolina took Georgia OT Monroe Freeling 19th overall and Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter 49th overall.
Brazzell is the 19th player to be drafted from Tennessee during the Josh Heupel era, and the fifth wide receiver during the same four-year span. Brazzell sits alongside Velus Jones Jr. (2022), Jalin Hyatt (2023), Cedric Tillman (2023), and Dont’e Thornton (2025).
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Brazzell played his first two seasons at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2024 season. He only produced 333 yards and two touchdowns during his first season in Knoxville, but then broke out as one of the SEC’s best pass-catchers in 2025. With Joey Aguilar as the Vols’ quarterback, Brazzell racked up 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions. He had the second-most receiving yards in the SEC last season.
Brazzell didn’t just produce against lower-tier competition, either. His best game of the season came against No. 6 Georgia, when he recorded 177 yards and three touchdowns on six catches. He also posted 125 yards against ETSU, 138 yards against Kentucky, and 105 yards against Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-5 Texas native now gives the Carolina a solid longball threat down the field. Brazzell had already been known for his deep threat prowess and contested catch ability, but he also flashed his straight-line speed with an impressive 40-yard dash mark at the NFL Combine in March.
Brazzell is a great pick for Carolina and will be part of the Panthers’ young, revamped offense.
