The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft will take place on Thursday night at 8 p.m. and run for three days.
Detroit A few Tennessee football products are hoping to hear their names called during the three-day event of the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night in Detroit with only the first round.
A few players beyond the three Vols who were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year may be selected at some point during the seven-round process.
Star running back Jaylen Wright is the first Vol predicted to be selected in this year’s NFL Draft; yet, he will likely have to wait until the second day of the draft (second and third rounds) to hear his name called.
Throughout the previous two seasons, Wright led Tennessee in rushes and eventually
Joe Milton, the quarterback, was also invited to the NFL Combine. It is expected that he will be chosen sometime on the third day of the NFL Draft (rounds 4-7). Milton completed 65% of his throws for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his one and only season as the Vols’ full-time starter. He also ran for 299 yards and seven touchdowns.
Milton participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and threw two interceptions in the showcase, but he decided not to play in the Citrus Bowl. Milton is still a big-arm physical specimen, so in the latter rounds, a team will probably take a chance on him.
The final invitee to the NFL Scouting Combine is defensive back Kamal Hadden, who will also very
Three Tennessee players—tight end McCallan Castles, running back Jabari Small, and return specialist Dee Williams—were not invited to the combine but still have a chance to be selected.
During Tennessee’s Pro Day, Castles made an impression. In his one year at Tennessee, the UC Davis transfer caught 22 passes for 285 yards and five touchdowns. Castles is another athlete who NFL teams might try to deploy at fullback.
Compared to the previous two seasons, Small’s stats declined during the most recent campaign. In contrast to his 2022 and 2021 totals of 734 yards and 13 touchdowns and 796 yards and nine touchdowns, he ran for 475 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.
Because of his expertise and the way the NFL kick return game has evolved, return specialist Dee Williams projects more as an undrafted free agency. Williams was a standout returner for the Vols, having scored a touchdown on a kick return in each of his final two Tennessee seasons. In 2023, Williams set a school record with an average of 15.4 yards per punt return and finished third in the SEC with 14 yards per return.
On Thursday, April 4, the 2024 NFL Draft will get underway at 8 p.m., exclusively covering the first round. Rounds 4–7 will take place on Saturday, April 8, after the next two rounds start at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 5. ESPN will broadcast the draft.
