The 2025 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 24.
Prior to that, ESPN has released its updated seven-round mock draft. This features multiple Tennessee standouts who are making the jump to the next level.
Here's where they wound up.
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James Pearce Jr.: 2nd Round - Pick 43 (49ers)
Although many mock drafts still have James Pearce Jr. going in the first round, ESPN has him slipping to the second.
ESPN has Pearce going to the 49ers toward the top of the second round, though. This would put him on a team that is looking to get back to competing for a Super Bowl after a down year. It would also give him the chance to play on the other side of one of the best edge rushers in the league, Nick Bosa.
Pearce earns this high mark after being rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and the No. 160 player in the 2022 class. He played three years at Tennessee with his role growing in each season.
What ESPN said:
"The 49ers need edge help opposite Nick Bosa, and Pearce's 19.0% pressure rate was second in the FBS last season. His draft stock is all over the place, with the scouts I've talked to having Pearce going off the board anywhere from the late teens to the late second round."
Dylan Sampson: Round 3 - Pick 88 (Jaguars)
ESPN is seemingly high on Dylan Sampson. while some have him slipping past the third round, they have him early in the third.
This makes Sampson the sixth-picked back on ESPN's mock draft. With a running back heavy class, this is a pretty impressive spot to be in. He'd also join a Jaguars room with Travis Etienne. With Tank Bigsby as the No. 2 guy at the moment, it'd give Sampson the shot to play a lot as a rookie.
Sampson was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Louisiana. He was the No. 9 all-purpose back and No. 21 player in the state. He played all three seasons with the Vols and set the program single-season rushing yard record at 1,491 and single-season touchdown record at 22.
What ESPN said:
"With Travis Etienne Jr. in the final year of his contract, this would be a good place to pick Sampson. He's an efficient zone runner with excellent contact balance."
Omarr Norman-Lott: Round 3 - Pick 97 (Vikings)
The next pick out of Tennessee is projected to be defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott. Another player who has the upside to be picked higher, a third-round selection would still be an impressive mark.
The Vikings have good defensive tackles at the top of the depth chart, but Norman-Lott could slide in to be a key piece in the rotation. Coming from the Vols who rotated a lot, he could be predisposed to being comfortable in this role.
Norman-Lott was a four-star in the 2020 class out of Sacramento, California. He was the No. 30 player in the state. He began his career at Arizona State before playing his final two years with the Vols.
What ESPN said:
"The Vikings signed defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, but Norman-Lott would provide young depth along the defensive line as a designated pass rusher."
Dont'e Thornton Jr.: Round 5 - Pick 141 (Titans)
In the fifth round, ESPN has Dont'e Thornton Jr. being taken off the board. He has a high ceiling but is a bit of a project player as he showed flashes with Tennessee but couldn't find much consistency.
Thornton has top-end speed and elite size making him intriguing to many NFL teams, though. ESPN has the former Vol staying in the state of Tennessee. There, he would join a depleted wide receiver room with the chance to impress early.
Out of Baltimore, Thornton was a four-star prospect and No. 62 player in the 2021 class. Ranked as the No. 9 receiver in the class, he played at Oregon before finishing career with two years at Tennessee.
Bru McCoy: Undrafted
In ESPN's previous edition of the seven-round mock draft, it had Bru McCoy going in the fifth round. However, he slipped out of the list of projected picks less than a week before the draft begins.
McCoy brings a physicality a lot of receivers don't have. If things go well, he could play a similar role to what Jauan Jennings, another former Vol, brings to the 49ers.
He was a five-star prospect out of high school and the No. 12 overall player in the 2019 class. He initially signed with Texas before joining USC and ultimately finishing his career at Tennessee for three seasons.
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