Tennessee football: Five takeaways from NFL Draft 2022

1. Willie Martinez and Rodney Garner continue to develop pros.

Welcoming back Willie Martinez and Rodney Garner was huge for Tennessee football. The Vols haven’t had a defensive back drafted since players primarily coached by Martinez left. Rashaan Gaulden was their most recent secondary draft pick. Cam Sutton was drafted the year before him.

Garner, meanwhile, has an SEC reputation of putting out draft picks. Matthew Butler was the 31st player primarily coached by him to end up in the pros. His tenure with the Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers before heading back to Rocky Top demonstrates his ability to develop talent, so he deserves a ton of credit for Butler being drafted.

Kodi Burns, who recently departed, deserves some credit for Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton. However, Payton wasn’t drafted, and Jones was the one player likely drafted more on his measurables, so that was more about his potential in the right system.

Glen Elarbee can also claim credit for Cade Mays, but again, Mays was drafted because of his versatility over a four-year period in college. You can credit Jim Chaney more than Elarbee or Josh Heupel for Mays being selected.

However, Alontae Taylor, Theo Jackson and Butler all emerged specifically playing for Martinez and Garner. We can also credit Tim Banks for the two defensive backs as well. Anyway, the reputation of those other two guys held up in this draft, and Tennessee football is lucky to have them.