Tennessee football prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, including Arion Carter and Mike Matthews, are currently under the radar. CBS Sports highlights 32 players to watch, but none are from Tennessee.
Key points
Tennessee had five players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
CBS Sports listed 32 players to know for the 2027 NFL Draft.
None of the listed players are from Tennessee.
Tennessee prospects are currently under the radar.
Arion Carter and Mike Matthews are notable prospects.
TennesseeArion CarterMike Matthews
Tennessee prospects in 2027 NFL Draft, including Arion Carter, Mike Matthews
Five Tennessee players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there are unknowns surrounding the Vols prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.
CBS Sports listed 32 players to know in the 2027 draft class, including 19 from the SEC but none from Tennessee. A lot can change over the next year, but the draft-eligible Vols are under the radar heading into the 2026 season.
Tennessee 2027 NFL Draft prospects
Tennessee was expected to have multiple first-round picks in the 2026 draft. But cornerback Colton Hood went in the second round. Cornerback Jermod McCoy dropped to the fourth round due to concerns over his knee injury. And wide receiver Chris Brazzell went in the third round.
All three arrived at Tennessee as transfers.
Q&A
Who are the top Tennessee prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft?
The notable Tennessee prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft include Arion Carter and Mike Matthews.
How many players from Tennessee were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Five players from Tennessee were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why are Tennessee players not featured in CBS Sports' 2027 draft list?
CBS Sports listed 32 players to know for the 2027 draft, but none from Tennessee, indicating that the Vols' prospects are currently under the radar.
What changes could affect Tennessee's prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft?
A lot can change over the next year as the players develop during the 2026 season, potentially impacting their draft stock.
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Tennessee’s prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft could be a mixture of transfers and players who came to UT as high school recruits. Here’s an early look at Tennessee players who could be drafted in 2027.
Arion Carter, LB, senior
Arion Carter initially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but he withdrew and returned to Tennessee to rehab multiple foot injuries. If he’s healthy, Carter could be an early or mid-round pick. He is an explosive 6-foot-1, 235-pounder who earned All-SEC honors in 2025. But his injury status is his biggest question mark.
Amare Campbell, LB, senior
Amare Campbell, a Penn State transfer, isn’t as athletic as Carter. But he’s productive and experienced. He started 27 games at North Carolina and Penn State with almost 200 tackles, and he projects as a key player for the Vols. How he transitions to the SEC will dictate his draft stock.
Wendell Moe, OL, fifth-year senior
Wendell Moe is a powerful 6-2, 330-pounder. He was All-Pac-12 at Arizona and then All-SEC in his first season at Tennessee in 2025. He’s a little short for an NFL guard, so he might project as a center at the next level. But playing well in the SEC for another season should give him a shot.
Ethan Davis, TE, redshirt junior
Ethan Davis has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but this is sort of a contract year on two fronts. He needs to stay healthy and produce to either bolster his NFL draft stock or his NIL value if he returns to Tennessee in 2027. Davis has good size (6-5, 245 pounds) and athleticism, but he’s battled injuries. He had 21 receptions for 257 yards and two TDs in nine games in 2025. He flashes NFL potential, but he needs to do it consistently.
TJ Metcalf, DB, senior
TJ Metcalf is a 6-1, 205-pounder who started at Arkansas and Michigan, and now he’ll get one season at Tennessee. He can play nickelback or safety. Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme relies heavily on safety play, which helped Caleb Downs show off his first-round talent at Ohio State in 2024. Metcalf could fill that role for the Vols to make his NFL pitch. But fellow UT safety Edrees Farooq, only a junior, ultimately may be a better NFL prospect.
Kayin Lee, CB, senior
Like Metcalf, Kayin Lee is a transfer who must win a starting job at Tennessee before thinking about next year’s draft. He is competing with sophomore Ty Redmond, a future NFL prospect, and other transfers at cornerback. Nevertheless, Lee started 25 games at Auburn, and he should be in the rotation for the Vols. He is undersized at 5-11, 183 pounds. But a good season could make him draftable.
Daevin Hobbs, DL, senior
Daevin Hobbs has appeared on 2027 draft prospect lists, mostly because of his potential. The 6-4, 290-pounder is talented and athletic. He likely would test well at the combine or pro day. And he was productive last season with 30 tackles, three sacks and some dynamic plays on the ball. But he missed five games in 2025 and spring practice due to separate foot injuries. Hobbs needs to be healthy for a full season to show his true talent.
Mike Matthews, WR, junior
Mike Matthews has two seasons of eligibility, so it’s reasonable to believe that he’ll wait until the 2028 draft. However, he is the No. 8 receiver on the NFLDraftBuzz.com rankings. That’s the highest of any UT player eligible for the 2027 draft. Matthews had 813 yards and four TDs as UT’s third receiver in 2025, behind Brazzell (All-SEC) and Braylon Staley (SEC Freshman of the Year). If Matthews takes the next step as a go-to receiver, he could jump into the 2027 draft.
