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Tennessee football: Ranking Vols by NFL landing spots after 2022 draft

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) celebrates a touchdown with Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) celebrates a touchdown with Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) runs up the sideline after making a wide-open catch he will run for a touchdown during the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 25, 2021.Flgai 092521 Ufvs Tennesseefb 26
Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) runs up the sideline after making a wide-open catch he will run for a touchdown during the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 25, 2021.Flgai 092521 Ufvs Tennesseefb 26 /

Wide receiver. JaVonta Payton. 1. 32. Pick Analysis. Scouting Report. Arizona Cardinals. player

Undrafted free agent

Related Story. Who gets the most credit for Vols' successful 2022 NFL Draft?. light

Yes, the one player who ended up not going drafted landed in the best place of all former Tennessee football players. JaVonta Payton, Ja’Quain Blakely, Caleb Tremblay and Kenneth George Jr. were all undrafted members of the Vols’ 2022 draft class. Payton is the only one who managed to ink a deal with a franchise.

As the Vols’ big play receiver, Payton’s calling card was scoring the few times he touched the ball. He had six touchdowns and over 400 yards last year on just 18 catches, playing as the No. 2 wideout to Cedric Tillman and as the No. 3 target behind Velus Jones Jr. and Tilman.

Going to play in Kliff Kingsbury’s system with the Arizona Cardinals only further helps him. Payton spent a year with Mike Leach while playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, so he knows the air raid that Kingsbury runs. He then spent a year in with the Vols, so he understands tempo.

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Taking those two things into account, it makes sense that Arizona went after Payton specifically. His production with Tennessee football was a part of it, but producing while developing experience in these type of systems helps his case even further. Regardless of Arizona’s quarterback situation, Payton is a great fit for them.

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