KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 2025 NFL Draft may have come and gone, but the fallout is only beginning to settle in Rocky Top — and it’s raising some serious alarms inside the Tennessee football program.
Yes, a handful of former Volunteers signed undrafted free agent deals in the hours after the final round concluded. On the surface, that sounds like a win. These young men are getting a shot at the pros — living their dream, just as it should be.
But look deeper, and there’s a much more troubling picture forming. Not a single one of these Vols heard their name called during the draft. And now, even worse, many of them are signing with teams already overloaded at their positions. Translation? The path to the 53-man roster is not just narrow — it’s nearly impossible.
Multiple NFL insiders have quietly pointed to a disturbing trend: Tennessee’s top-end talent isn’t translating. Scouts loved the raw ability, but concerns about discipline, consistency, and scheme fit kept these Vol hopefuls off draft boards. And now, those concerns are turning into obstacles that could derail professional dreams before they begin.
What makes the situation even more dire is the perception this casts on the Vols’ program development. How is it possible that players once dominating SEC Saturdays — in front of 100,000 screaming fans — can’t convince NFL teams they’re worth a Day 3 flyer?
This isn’t just about bad luck. It’s about reputation. And Tennessee’s reputation among NFL front offices appears to have taken a hit.
Even more worrying, recruits are paying attention.
High school stars across the South and beyond aren’t just watching what happens on Saturdays. They’re watching what happens in April. And when they see former Tennessee starters left scrambling for a UDFA invite, it raises the kind of questions no coaching staff wants to answer.
The Vols must now reckon with a very real crisis of development perception. Are they preparing players for the next level? Are they maximizing talent? Are they creating pros?
Meanwhile, fans who once celebrated bowl wins and top-25 finishes are now having uncomfortable conversations. What looked like a renaissance under Josh Heupel is now showing cracks in the foundation. And unless Tennessee can fix the disconnect between college production and pro projection, these UDFA deals might become the norm — not the exception.
For now, the former Vols who’ve signed will give it their all, fighting through rookie mini-camps, trying to survive cuts and camp battles. But the road is steep. And for Tennessee, the spotlight is now brighter than ever.
From celebration to concern — what began as good news may very well end in disaster unless major changes come fast on Rocky Top.