Tennessee football: Vols five deepest NFL Draft classes with no first-round picks

1. 2003

Phillip Fulmer

Number of NFL Draft picks: 8

• Eddie Moore, LB (Miami Dolphins: Round 2; Pick 49)
• Kelley Washington, WR (Cincinnati Bengals: Round 3; Pick 65)
• Jason Witten, TE (Dallas Cowboys: Round 3; Pick 69)
• Julian Battle, DB (Kansas City Chiefs: Round 3; Pick 92)
• Aubrayo Franklin, DL (Baltimore Ravens: Round 5; Pick 146)
• Keyon Whiteside, LB (Indianapolis Colts: Round 5; Pick 162)
• Rashad Moore, DL (Seattle Seahawks: Round 6; Pick 183)
• Demetrin Veal, DL (Atlanta Falcons: Round 7; Pick 238)

Again, the 1996 and 2003 classes had the same amount of players taken. However, the average round was the fourth round for the 2003 class and the fifth round for the 1996 class, so this NFL Draft was deeper for Tennessee football with no first-rounders.

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It made sense for this class to have no first-rounders given the previous years. Despite a top five start, the Vols stumbled to an 8-5 record and their first unranked finish in 14 years. However, there was one clear cause of that: injuries. Teams had scouted the talent, and they knew of the injuries. The small level of uncertainty is what led to guys falling.

Still, Jason Witten falling was ridiculous. He was clearly the best tight end in the draft and an easy steal for anybody who watched him. His Hall-of-Fame career proved that. Wide receiver Kelley Washington had a solid eight-year career, defensive lineman Aubrayo Franklin played for 11 years, and the other two defensive linemen, Rashad Moore and Demetrin Veal, each enjoyed five years.

Linebackers Eddie Moore and Keyon Whiteside along with defensive back Julian Battle all played in the league for two years each. So Moore, the highest pick in this class, didn’t have the success many of the other guys had, proving that this class altogether was simply misevaluated.

There’s a reason this is Tennessee football’s best NFL Draft class coming off an unranked bowl season, which we did a profile on as well. It was loaded with pro productivity. Franchises were just too cautious to spend first-round picks on them.