The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2021 Music City Bowl.
*Edge Rusher George Karlaftis has opted out of the Musci City Bowl. He is a projected top 20 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
*Wide receiver David Bell has opted out of the Music City Bowl. He is a projected first or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
*Safety Cory Trice will be out of this game with an injury. He is a projected undrafted free agent in the 2022 NFL Draft.
*Quarterback Aidan O’Connell has already announced his intention to return to school for another season.
Velus Jones Jr., WR
Jones started his career out at USC before transferring to Tennessee to finish his college career. He has 110 receptions for 1,349 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. This season, he has played his best with 52 receptions for 722 yards and six touchdowns. He has also returned kicks in his career with two touchdowns on kick returns in his career.
At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Jones has average size for an NFL wide receiver. He has only one big year of production at wide receiver, but does provide extra value as a returner. Jones is a projected day three pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cade Mays, OG/C
Mays started his career at Georgia before transferring to Tennessee. As a freshman for the Bulldogs, he was a Freshman All-American. He started all games for Georgia as a sophomore before transferring to Tennessee. In 2020, his first year at Tennessee, he started games at guard and tackle. For his play in 2021, he was named Second Team All-SEC.
He has good size for the NFL at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds. Mays will likely be a guard at the NFL level, but his ability to fill in at tackle in a pinch will help his draft stock. There is a chance he returns to school for 2022 because he is a projected late-round pick or undrafted free agent in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Sixth Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
*Cornerback Alontae Taylor has opted out of the Music City Bowl. He is a projected mid-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
*Quarterback Hendon Hooker has already announced his intention to return to school for another season.
Other Draft Prospects: DL Matthew Butler (UFA), WR Cedric Tillman (UFA), DL Aubrey Solomon (UFA)
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