Derek Barnett to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 is the last time Tennessee football had a first-round draft pick. Dating back to Johnny Majors’ first year on Rocky Top, the Vols had a habit of seeing guys go in the first round of the NFL Draft. Even when they were bad or just mediocre, they churned out first-round talent.
Although they wouldn’t produce a first-rounder every year, they would never go a long period of time without one. Until Thursday night, only once since that year had the Vols gone three straight years without a first-round pick.