By Anthony Cloud
Vols Weekly
Tennessee has put its fair share of players in the NFL. From Jamal Lewis to Al Wilson to the legendary Peyton Manning, there have been plenty of Vols who’ve left their mark in the league before ending their career. In 2023, Tennessee will continue to be well represented in the NFL.
From starters to rotation guys, we thought it would be a fun exercise to give Vol fans a preview of the names you will be hearing when the regular season kicks off on Thursday. We’ve separated these players into three tiers. For the sake of time, we will name the top three for each tier.
Tier I will consist of players who have a great opportunity to make an All-Pro team or, at the very least, be a major difference-maker on a playoff team.
Tier II players are those who are quality starters who raise the overall floor of their team. These players may not be All-Pro material, but their respective teams are lost without them.
Tier III players are the role player guys. These guys may be rotation guys, glue guys or possess the ability to climb the tier ladder of the next year or so.
Let’s get started!
Tier I
Alvin Kamara – Running Back – New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara has been a consistent force in the backfield for New Orleans since they drafted him in the third round of the 2017 draft. Last year was a little bit shaky at times for the long-time Saint. Last season, he finished the year with 897 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. A dual-threat option, Kamara also ended 2022 with 490 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
While being suspended for the first three games, New Orleans will continue to lean on him despite the addition of Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller. While he won’t receive the focus that he had over the past few years, Kamara possesses the tools to make a Pro Bowl. With the NFC South being terrible, Kamara can return to form this year.
Joshua Palmer – Wide Receiver – San Diego Chargers
When you have Justin Herbert as your starting QB, it’s hard not to make this list. Joshua Palmer carved out a nice spot for himself last year in the San Diego offense. Taking advantage of periodic injuries to Kennan Allen and Mike Williams, the former third-round pick hauled in 72 catches on 107 targets en route to 769 yards and three touchdowns.
With Allen and Williams firmly slotted as the starters on the team, Palmer will likely resume his role as WR3, but that doesn’t mean his production will fall off. Allen is a regular when it comes to the injury report, so it’s likely he will miss some time this year. That’s where Palmer will shine. An All-Pro team may be a stretch, but he’s definitely a key factor for the Chargers’ offense.
Trey Smith – Guard – Kansas City Chiefs
It didn’t take long for Trey Smith to make his mark on Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid. Falling to the sixth round, in large part due to medical concerns, Smith has helped power Kansas City’s offense for the past two years. Last year, the Chiefs were top in the NFL in scoring offense and top overall offense. Smith was only credited with two sacks allowed and six penalties in over 1,000 snaps a year ago. While the tackles get all the credit on the offense line, Smith is doing his part in keeping Patrick Mahomes near the top of the NFL MVP discussion every year.
Tier II
Cam Sutton – Defensive Back – Detroit Lions
After spending his entire career in Pittsburg, Cam Sutton is on the move to Detroit. A team that is getting a lot of buzz this offseason after an impressive showing a year ago, the Lions were looking to upgrade their defense in an attempt to make a push for the playoffs. After finishing at the end of the pack in pass yards allowed, Sutton is a nice addition to the secondary.
Sutton finished last year with a career-high three interceptions while tallying 43 tackles before signing with Detroit as an unrestricted free agent. If the Lions make the playoffs in 2023, Sutton will play a big role in that.
Cordarrelle Patterson – Wide Receiver/Running Back/Joker – Atlanta Falcons
Is there a bigger surprise than Cordarrelle Patterson? Probably, but it’s still shocking the amount of success he has had throughout his career. He is a seven-time All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler. He also has more kickoff return touchdowns than anyone in history with nine. Yes, that’s even more than Devin Hester.
A Swiss Army knife since joining Atlanta, last year he rushed for 695 yards and eight touchdowns. In addition, he hauled in 21 catches for 122 yards. With Bijan Robinson slated to start in the backfield, Patterson is looking to make his impact in the newly named “Joker” position. He is still a dynamic player who can find the end zone in many ways. Regardless of the depth chart, he will be an asset this season.
Alontae Taylor – Defensive Back – New Orleans Saints
The Saints have been a rollercoaster ever since Sean Peyton decided to “retire.” With former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as the head coach, defense continues to be a primary focus. In 2022, New Orleans was second in the league in pass yards allowed. While Marshon Lattimore is the face of the Saints’ secondary, Alontae Taylor has proven that he could be the next in line.
After being drafted in the second round, Taylor had an excellent rookie season in 2022. He appeared in 13 games and tallied 46 tackles with 11 passes defended. In the pass-heavy NFL, I expect Taylor to take another leap this year for New Orleans.
Tier III
Josh Dobbs – Quarterback – Arizona Cardinals
How crazy can an NFL offseason be? Just ask Josh Dobbs. He knows. Just hours after officially being named Deshaun Watson’s backup in Cleveland, he was traded to Arizona. Then he had to compete with rookie quarterback Clayton Tune. Then on Wednesday, he was named the starting QB for the Cardinals. Now that’s a crazy turn of events.
The glaring question may be “Why is Dobbs not in Tier II?” The only reason he is down here is because we don’t know how much he will affect Arizona’s endgame. Will Kyler Murray come back this year? We don’t know, but what we do know is Dobbs will take snaps for the Cardinals for the time being.
A journeyman in the NFL, Dobbs earned reps as a late-season starter for the Titans last year. In two games for Tennessee, Dobbs went 40-for-68 for 411 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 44 yards. In limited action, he showed flashes of what he could do as a starter. Now, he will have about four or five games to prove his worth.
Jauan Jennings – Wide Receiver – San Francisco 49ers
Oh, how we remember the Hail Mary catch Jauan Jennings made to help the Vols beat Georgia in 2016. It feels like yesterday, only it wasn’t because Jennings has made a name for himself on the 49ers offense since then. A seventh-round pick in the 2020 draft, Jennings has the heart of a lion. His impact can be felt in his passion for the game.
Jennings finished 2022 with 416 and a touchdown on 35 receptions. Even more so than his ability to catch the ball, Jennings also makes an impact in his ability to run block on the outside. He may fall in line behind Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, but he remains a solid receiver that will help the 49ers offense this year.
Darnell Wright – Offensive Tackle – Chicago Bears
If there is a rookie offensive lineman that can make a difference next year, it’s Darnell Wright. With Justin Fields behind center, it will be important for him to stay protected. Slated to start at right tackle, Wright will have a lot of responsibility out the gate. We will have to wait and see if he makes a Trey Smith-type of impact this year, but he will have the opportunity.
Just missed the list
Velus Jones Jr. – Specialist – Chicago Bears
Byron Young – Edge Rusher – L.A. Rams
Jalin Hyatt – Wide Receiver – Detroit Lions
Shy Tuttle – Defensive Tackle – Carolina Panthers
Cedric Tillman – Wide Receiver – Cleveland Browns
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