ESPN recently ranked the top 100 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft and a pair of former Tennessee Vols were ranked inside the top 70 picks.
The Kansas City Chiefs' selection of Vols cornerback Kamal Hadden was ranked as No. 61 best pick in the draft by ESPN.
Note from ESPN's Matt Miller on how he crafted his top 100 rankings: "To create our ranking, we factored in value (where a player was drafted vs. where he was ranked pre-draft), scheme fit, how the selection addressed a need, what the prospect brings on the field and whether additional assets were gained or lost in draft-day trades to acquire him."
From ESPN: The Chiefs are one of the NFL's best teams at finding defensive backs on Day 3, and Hadden might be the next in that line. He has excellent size at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, and he showed the ball skills to be a key NFL player in college (three interceptions in 2023). With L'Jarius Sneed traded to Tennessee, Hadden has a path to early playing time.
ESPN ranked the Miami Dolphins' selection of Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright as the No. 69 best pick in the draft.
From ESPN: Miami selecting one of the fastest running backs in the class should surprise no one. Wright will pair with 2023 third-rounder De'Von Achane to be the team's future in the backfield with Raheem Mostert recently turning 32 years old.
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton was the only other former Vol selected in this year's draft (Round six by the New England Patriots).
Wright and Hadden certainly landed in ideal situations for their skillsets.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is a run-game savant. And Wright's strengths (patience, vision, pass protection, speed) perfectly align with McDaniel's zone-blocking philosophies.
Hadden, meanwhile, landed with a franchise that's developed a strong reputation in recent years for developing defensive backs.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce get all of the headlines for the Chiefs, but it's Kansas City's ability to consistently develop defensive backs that's been a major factor in KC's success in the playoffs over the last several years.
Hadden could be the next "out of nowhere" cornerback that develops into a key defender for the Chiefs.
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