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Tennessee football’s five longest NFL Draft first-round droughts

By Caleb Calhoun

Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Detailed view of neon NFL shield logo during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in downtown Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Detailed view of neon NFL shield logo during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in downtown Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof
Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof /

4. 1936-1939

Although 1936-1939 and 2018-2021 are the same number of years, we moved this one up because this NFL Draft drought saw fewer players taken overall. Only four were taken during those four drafts, while five Vols have been taken since 2018. To be fair, there were fewer selections back then, but there was also less competition from colleges.

Anyway, this run serves as proof that not having players drafted is not always reflective of the program. Tennessee football historians know that this was the best run in school history on the field. Robert Neyland returned from military service for his second stint in 1936, following W.H. Britton. He loaded his team up with talent over the next two years.

When 1938 came, the Vols had arrived. They went 11-0 that year and didn’t lose a regular season game over the next three years, including going undefeated, untied and unscored on in their 1939 regular season. In the four years preceding these drafts, 1935 to 1938, the Vols 27-10-3 with just one losing season, two top 20 finishes and an SEC and national title.

After the 1939 season, George Cafego broke the streak by becoming the Vols’ first first-round pick ever in the draft, going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Cardinals. The Vols still went 10-1 in 1940 and won another national championship. Simply put, this run was amazing, and it required no run of draft picks at the time.

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