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Tennessee football 2019 NFL Draft projections: Where will former Vols go?

By Caleb Calhoun

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 13: Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer celebrates with defensive lineman Kyle Phillips #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers after defeating the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 13: Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer celebrates with defensive lineman Kyle Phillips #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers after defeating the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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Who goes undrafted gets signed?

Alexis Johnson, Defensive Tackle

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Nobody needs to bolster their defensive line more than the Atlanta Falcons, and they desperately need help at all the positions all the way down the line. So they want to find talent and build depth, meaning they’ll be looking to sign guys in the offseason. Alexis Johnson is better fit to be a nose tackle, but he can work in Atlanta’s system and is another huge body. A proven playmaker last year, they’ll want to jump at Johnson.

Shy Tuttle, Defensive Tackle

Team: Miami Dolphins

Shy Tuttle had the less glamorous role of playing nose tackle in Jeremy Pruitt’s new scheme this year, so he didn’t shine the way Alexis Johnson and Kyle Phillips did. But he still showed versatility being able to play nose tackle and thriving as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 before that. As a result, the Miami Dolphins will likely go for him. They run a multiple set and need help at defensive tackle, so they’ll sign Tuttle, even if they don’t use a draft pick on him.

Jonathan Kongbo, Edge Rusher

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Yes, we’re not stopping with our love for the Atlanta Falcons signing defensive linemen. It’s clear they need help up front, and that also includes a pass rusher. Jonathan Kongbo also clearly needs to be in a 4-3 up on the line, as he was too much of a bit of a tweener last year. The two are a great fit as a result. Kongbo’s NFL Draft stock clearly plummeted after a season-ending injury, but he never got a chance to thrive with Tennessee football. Matt Simms was a guy like that who still made it with the Falcons, so this could happen again.

Quart’e Sapp, Linebacker

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Quart’e Sapp has to have an in somewhere to leave early. The best guess is that he knows he’ll get signed even if he doesn’t get drafted. A logical assumption by that point would be the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s clear linebacker is their biggest need, and they probably scout UT players more than most given their proximity to Knoxville. So they might just take a chance on the injury-prone Sapp.

Micah Abernathy, Safety

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A regular solid player for Tennessee football over the course of four years, Micah Abernathy is a smart player who struggled at times with consistency. However, it wasn’t always his fault. He showed enough intelligence for some team to go for him, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help now at defensive back. As a result, they’re going to sign him.

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