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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL players to open 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 9, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs after a catch against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs after a catch against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 9, 2021; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith (65) runs drills during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2021; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith (65) runs drills during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 124. Offensive lineman. Kansas City Chiefs. Trey Smith. 8

NFL experience: Rookie

Welcome to another projection, but one that’s obvious. Trey Smith is going to be the biggest steal of the NFL Draft, and he joins lots of former Tennessee football players who have been steals in the draft in recent years.

Despite being a three-time first team All-SEC guard who would have made it a fourth time as a tackle in 2018 were his season not cut short, Smith fell to the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Concerns about blood clots in his lungs, an issue that hasn’t come up since he put together a medical plan to play at the start of the 2019 season, hurt him.

Well, the Kansas City Chiefs finally decided to take a chance on the 6’5″ 329-pound elite blocker with the 226th overall pick. All Smith did after that was dominate in practice and while on the field, and it was enough for him to earn a starting spot immediately, something that’s not very common for any player who falls that late in the draft.

Developing under Andy Reid and blocking for Patrick Mahomes puts Smith in the perfect position to become a star early, and our projection for him to do that is why he makes this list. He is a great teammate and in the perfect situation.

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