Tennessee’s Undrafted Free Agents Find NFL Homes After 2026 Draft

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 2026 NFL Draft may have concluded, but Tennessee football’s pipeline to the professional ranks did not stop when the final pick was made. While five former Volunteers heard their names called over three days in Pittsburgh, several more wasted no time finding NFL homes as un -drafted free agents. And for some, the opportunity ahead may be greater than any late-round pick could have offered.

Joey Aguilar - Jacksonville Jaguars

No signing generated more buzz than quarterback Joey Aguilar, who was one of the first players signed following the conclusion of the draft, inking a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The journey to this moment was anything but conventional. The SEC leading passer started at Tennessee in 2025 after an offseason transfer saga that involved Nico Iamaleava bolting over disagreements on the NIL front.

He answered the call, leading the SEC in passing yards during the 2025 regular season and finishing his college career with 13,317 yards and 101 touchdowns across five college seasons.

In Jacksonville, the opportunity is real. Joey Aguilar joins a team that went 13-4 last season, won the AFC South, and earned the 3-seed in the AFC playoffs.

His primary competition for the backup role behind Trevor Lawrence will be Nick Mullens, who appeared in only five games and threw just three passes last season.

NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Aguilar as a “compact, durable quarterback who has climbed levels twice and had success,” while noting his ability to dissect zone defenses with adequate processing speed and decisiveness.

On the QB situation in Jacksonville from Head Coach Liam Coen:

“Yeah, not many in depth by any means. Probably blanked a few of those guys… I’ve watched Simpson, I’ve watched a little bit of Mendoza.” This shows Jacksonville wasn’t heavily invested in the drafted QBs, making the Aguilar signing feel even more intentional.

Joey also rehabbed from a January surgery to remove a benign tumor in his throwing arm, which interrupted his preparation and impacted his play late in 2025. It’s a detail that adds real depth to his story and next chapters.

Bryson Eason - San Francisco 49ers

Bryson Eason spent six seasons at Tennessee after initially joining the Vols in 2020, finishing his career with 105 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 61 games, adding five passes defended and two fumble recoveries. He lands with one of the most defensively sophisticated organizations in the NFL, where his versatility and experience as a multi-year starter give him a legitimate shot at a practice squad role.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg spotlighted Eason before the draft:

“Eason came to Tennessee as an inside linebacker and moved to the edge before eventually finding his home at defensive tackle. He stood out for a nationally elite Vols defense in 2024, finishing third on the team in tackles for loss with seven. Eason finished his career with more than 1,500 snaps.”

Rittenberg also noted his combine athleticism that tied for fifth in the broad jump among defensive tackles at 9 feet, 4 inches, and clocking a 5.09 in the 40-yard dash.

Dominic Bailey - Houston Texans

Bailey also spent six seasons in Knoxville, wrapping up his career with 76 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks. He heads to Houston, where defensive coordinator play-making depth is always in demand. Bailey’s veteran presence and familiarity with SEC-level competition should serve him well during training camp.

Jalen McMurray - Tennessee Titans

In a fitting landing spot, McMurray stays in the state of Tennessee. He transferred to UT in 2024 after three seasons at Temple, and in his most productive year posted 56 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks. Signing with the hometown Titans gives McMurray added motivation heading into what figures to be a competitive training camp battle.

Jalen McMurray was one of the most valued players in the UDFA pool and was off the board less than 30 minutes after the draft concluded. In Nashville, he joins a Titans team that already has former Vol cornerback Alontae Taylor on the roster.

Miles Kitselman - Detroit Lions

Miles Kitselman caught 48 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns in 24 games over two seasons at Tennessee, including 26 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns in his final season. He joins a Detroit Lions team fresh off drafting fellow Vol Tyre West, giving the Lions two Knoxville products in camp simultaneously.

In Detroit, Kitselman joins his Tennessee teammate Tyre West, who the Lions selected in the seventh round. This gives Detroit two Knoxville products heading into training camp together. Kitselman’s size and physicality allowed him to impact the game in multiple ways, handling responsibilities both as a receiver and in the run game throughout his time in Knoxville.

Lance Zierlein said:

“ Miles has good size and will play as a connected tight end on the next level,” adding that he “has above-average play speed in space and showed an ability to run a variety of routes.” Zierlein projected him as having “Day 3 draft value” who “could find work as a TE3/4.”

Jaxson Moi - Los Angeles Rams

Moi spent two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Tennessee in 2024, tallying 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks in 22 games with the Vols while dealing with injury. The Rams represent a strong landing spot for a pass rusher with his upside.

William Wright - Denver Broncos

Wright’s story is one of the best in the entire class. William Wright spent all six years of his career at Tennessee, primarily on special teams, before carving out a defensive role at cornerback in 2025. He played significant snaps in the Music City Bowl with Colton Hood sitting out in anticipation of the draft. Wright spent the entirety of his six-year collegiate career at Tennessee as a walk-on. Wright has the chance to prove his worth after sticking it out with the Vols as a walk-on prospect. Denver gets a special teams-first player with an underdog story worth rooting for.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Specific contract financial terms for UDFA signings are typically not disclosed publicly, as these are standard rookie minimum contracts. However, the significance of these signings goes beyond dollars. Each contract represents a chance to earn a 53-man roster spot or at minimum a practice squad position heading into the 2026 season.

Agents for some UDFAs will leak flashy guaranteed-salary figures, but such earnings are almost always subject to offsetting payment rules that include practice squad salary. Reports of a UDFA receiving $250,000 in guaranteed money are better interpreted as a team betting that a player will very likely be on a practice squad, rather than as active-roster security.

For a program like Tennessee, sending 12 players to the NFL in a single draft cycle shows the pipeline is there. There were five drafted and six signed as UDFAs. It is a testament to the depth Josh Heupel has built in Knoxville.