2025 NFL mock draft: Where will Tennessee football players land in NFL draft

The 2024 college football season resulted in the first College Football Playoff appearance for Tennessee football.

The Vols looked poised to build on that strong season with a strong returning core, however, quarterback Nico Iamaleava departed the program after seeking a bigger NIL deal from Tennessee and will now end up at UCLA.

While the main offensive position on the field will have question marks for the Vols as we head out of the spring practices and into the summer workouts, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel still returns a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, as the Vols are not losing much talent to the NFL.

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The 2025 NFL draft gets going on Thursday night with the first round at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tennessee is projected to lose two key players in edge James Pearce Jr. and running back Dylan Sampson.

Can Pearce be the first Vols player selected in the first round since tackle Darnell Wright in 2023? Who else will join Pearce and Sampson as players selected?

Here’s a look at how Tennessee players project to fare in the 2025 NFL Draft:

Tennessee football players in 2025 NFL Mock Drafts

USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurt-Schwartz:

DE James Pearce Jr.: Round 1, No. 32 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles

“Howie Roseman returned to his usual tactics in free agency by buying the dip with one-year deals for a couple of talented edge rushers in Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche. Here, he can employ the same strategy to find a long-term solution at one of his most coveted spots, with Pearce having the explosive initial burst and closing speed of a top pick despite his occasionally uneven results.”

Michigan football players eligible for 2025 NFL Draft

Here’s a list of eligible Tennessee football players for this year’s NFL draft. Projections are based on The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s seven-round NFL mock draft:

• Edge James Pearce Jr.: Round 2 to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 52 overall)
• RB Dylan Sampson: Round 3 to the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 83 overall)
• WR Dont’e Thornton Jr.: Round 6 to the Baltimore Ravens (No. 203 overall)
• DT Elijah Simmons: Round 7 to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 252 overall)

Most Tennessee players selected in NFL draft

The 2025 NFL draft will not be among the most active drafts for the Vols, but it could be the fifth straight year with multiple Tennessee players drafted. For context, no Vols players were selected during the 2015, 2016 and 2019 drafts.

Here’s a look at the most Tennessee players selected in a single NFL draft:

• 1. 2002: 10 draft picks
• T-2. 1987: 9 draft picks
• T-2. 1991: 9 draft picks
• T-2. 1992: 9 draft picks
• T-2. 1995: 9 draft picks
• T-2. 2000: 9 draft picks

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