Tennessee has produced two first-round NFL Draft picks under Josh Heupel, and the Vols are in position to add to that total – and potentially match or surpass it – come 2026. The latest mock draft for next year from Pro Football Focus includes four Vols as first-round picks: Cornerbacks Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy, wide receiver Chris Brazzell II and edge Joshua Josephs. While McCoy positioned himself to be among the top cornerback prospects in this class with his strong play 2024, the other three Tennessee players have emerged this season and helped the Vols to a 5-1 start heading into Saturday night’s showdown at Alabama.
After having a breakout year thanks to his run defense last season, Josephs has rounded out his game with his improvement as a pass-rusher, racking up 5.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles while leading the Vols in pressures. Hood, a transfer from Colorado, has been a playmaker and has 23 tackles, three tackles for loss and six pass breakups with two defensive scores – a pick-six at Mississippi State and scoop-and-score against Syracuse. Brazzell has broken out so far in 2025, ranking third in the SEC in catches (32), second in receiving yards (536) and first in touchdown catches (seven).
McCoy is yet to play this season after tearing his ACL in January, but was an All-SEC performer last season when he was excellent in coverage and had nine pass breakups and four interceptions.
Here is where PFF NFL Draft analyst Trevor Sikkema has the Tennessee quartet going in his 2026 mock draft and his breakdown of each player.
CB Colton Hood – 17th overall to the Rams
Sikkema: “Hood spent some time at Colorado as a backup to Travis Hunter and DJ McKinney last season. Now at Tennessee, he’s been one of the FBS’ more impactful players at that position. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he has good size for the position with good explosiveness as well. He’s earned a 78.2 coverage grade this season with seven forced incompletions and two interceptions. He has the all-around game to play in press and off coverage alignments.”
WR Chris Brazzell II – 24th overall to the Seahawks
Sikkema: “I do not know if Brazzell will be a first-rounder when it’s all said and done, but I can tell you he’s looked like one through this 2025 season. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he has rare explosiveness and one-cut ability paired with a frame and length that is reminiscent of Martavis Bryant. He’s earned an 80.1 receiving grade this season with some very impressive contested catches (5-for-9) deep down the field as a vertical receiver. Consistency will be key for him to be a first-round type of prospect.”
CB Jermod McCoy – 25th overall to the Patriots
Sikkema: “If McCoy were draft-eligible last season, he would have been a first-round pick. On 393 coverage snaps, he earned an 89.6 coverage grade in addition to 13 forced completions and four interceptions. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he is an experienced and talented press-man cornerback. He has yet to play this year, as he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the offseason, but as long as that knee is good to go in 2026, he should remain a first-round pick.”
EDGE Joshua Josephs – 27th overall to the 49ers
Sikkema: “Josephs has really stepped up this season while taking the torch from James Pearce Jr., who is now on the Atlanta Falcons. Joseph, at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, has very long arms that he uses as the baseline for an impactful pass-rush profile, which has yielded a 90.8 pass-rush grade and a 21.5% pass-rush win rate. His game is also more well-rounded this season, posting a 75.7 run-defense grade as an outside linebacker-type of edge defender.”
