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Tennessee football: Top 10 former Vols in NFL for 2022 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) walks off the field for the final time after a SEC game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A&M Aggies held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, December 19, 2020.Kns Vols Football Texas A M Bp
Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) walks off the field for the final time after a SEC game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A&M Aggies held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, December 19, 2020.Kns Vols Football Texas A M Bp /
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Nov 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett (96) in action against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett (96) in action against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Derek Barnett. 54. Pick Analysis. Philadelphia Eagles. 8. player. Scouting Report. Defensive end

6th year in NFL

Sticking with Tennessee football players from the 2017 NFL Draft, Derek Barnett had much greater expectations than everybody else in that class. He remains the last player from UT to go in the first round, and he certainly had the biggest early splash, winning a Super Bowl his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Honestly, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who is now with the Houston Texans, also emerged last year, starting 11 games with the Detroit Lions, and Joshua Dobbs could be a threat at quarterback with the Cleveland Browns. Neither has performed enough to make this list, though.

Although he hasn’t been the potential superstar many expected after breaking Reggie White’s career sacks record with Tennessee football and then following in his footsteps to Philly, Barnett has still be solid. He just signed a two-year $14 million contract with $13 million guaranteed.

Last year, Barnett started 15 games. He did have a career low in sacks with two, but he had seven tackles for a loss and a career-high in total tackles with 46, 20 of which were solo. Playing for a new head coach in a new system changed up his roles a bit, but Barnett is still a key part of the defense, so he clearly belongs on this list.

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