Mel Kiper, Jr. sends out a final warning to the NFL about Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

The VFL should go in the draft’s first three rounds, but one notable draft pundit thinks Brazzell will prove a lot of folks wrong and outperform where he is selected.

Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell has been a bit of a draft enigma among the pundits and mock draft producers over the last few months.

There’s zero doubt the physical attributes are jumping off the page at evaluators. Brazzell dropped jaws at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis back at the end of February when he blazed a 4.37 40-yard dash with a 1.52 second 10-yard split at 6-4, 198 pounds.

But Brazzell hasn’t gotten the love that lead-pipe lock first round picks Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon have gotten, among other WR prospects.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. says beware to those who overlook Brazzell in the draft this year. Kiper believes Brazzell will go on Day 2 of the draft (Rounds 2 and 3), but listed him as one of two wide receivers (along with Georgia’s Zacharius Branch) who will outperform his draft spot this year.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. says Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II will outperform likely Day 2 draft spot

“Brazzell might come off the board slightly after Branch — think late Round 2 or sometime during Round 3,” Kiper wrote. “But he has all the traits coaches want. He’s 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds. He runs a 4.37-second 40. He has a wide catch radius and knows how to adjust to poorly thrown balls to still make the grab. And the stats spell out all that: Brazzell caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine TDs last season, averaging 16.4 yards per reception.”

Kiper isn’t the only one who’s sung Brazzell’s praises among notable draft pundits. Todd McShay was smitten with Brazzell’s route running ability when he looked back on his performance in the Vols’ 44-41 overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs last season. Brazzell finished with six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns.