Chris Brazzell II is one of the Tennessee Volunteers’ most intriguing NFL draft prospects. He led the Vols in receiving in 2025, with 62 catches for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He was part of one of the most dynamic receiving corps in the nation, which saw three players post at least 800 yards.
For the first half of 2025, Brazzell was in the conversation for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding wide receiver in college football. In his first five games, Brazzell averaged 106.2 receiving yards and 1.4 touchdowns per game.
However, things changed after the Arkansas Razorbacks limited him to one catch for five yards. After that matchup, Brazzell had only one game with at least 100 receiving yards (138 yards against Kentucky). After the Kentucky game, Brazzell had three straight games without a touchdown catch, and he averaged only 62 yards per game in those contests.
Whether it was the emergence of Tennessee receiver Braylon Staley, who was named SEC Freshman of the Year, or quarterback Joey Aguilar’s dip in production, it was evident that Brazzell lost a step. However, Brazzell was one of 13 receivers named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, so it’s not as if his season was a bust. Speaking of the Biletnikoff Award, Brazzell was the first Volunteer receiver to register 1,000 receiving yards since Jalin Hyatt won the award in 2023.
So, how does Brazzell stack up as an NFL draft prospect?
Chris Brazzell II’s Pros:
One of the biggest things Brazzell has going for him is his height — no pun intended. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Brazzell’s official height was 6-foot-4. Additionally, his wingspan measured 6 feet, 8 1/8 inches, which is about the height of LeBron James.
His stature alone should catch the eyes of NFL scouts, especially considering he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. That time tied him for eighth among wide receivers at this year’s combine.
Besides his height, Brazzell is exceptionally gifted in the deep passing game. He excels in the vertical passing game, and he has a natural ability to track deep passes with patience. He illustrated this skill well in his 177-yard, three-touchdown game against Georgia.
Brazzell is also a talented route runner for a wide receiver of his size. Although his main strength is his vertical ability, he’s more than capable of making catches in the middle of the field and has burned defenders in zone coverage on curl routes. Given his size, his route tree makes him an intriguing prospect.
He’s also not afraid to block, which is an underrated aspect for a wide receiver. He isn’t afraid to contribute to the run game through his blocking. He can get his hands dirty if needed, which further enhances his value to NFL teams.
Arguably, Brazzell’s best quality is his production against SEC-level competition. As mentioned earlier, he had 177 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia. However, he also had 91 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt, which finished 10-2 during the regular season and narrowly missed the College Football Playoff.
Chris Brazzell II’s Cons:
Although Brazzell has elite speed and was one of the most productive receivers in 2025, there are a few concerns with his game. One of his weaknesses is that he didn’t face much tight coverage in the short passing game. Although he has proven himself as a deep threat, there are not many examples of him defeating defenders on short throws.
Also, Brazzell is not the most elusive player once he catches the ball. As mentioned, he is a very fast and explosive player, but this doesn’t always translate to him shaking off defenders. However, this is something NFL coaches can likely correct once he gets into the league.
Another concern with Brazzell is his weight. It definitely helps that he already has great length, but he does have a fairly lean frame. This could become a concern, considering how physical the NFL is. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Brazzell measured 198 pounds. That makes him 31 pounds lighter than his college quarterback, Aguilar, who is also an inch shorter than him. If Brazzell wants to have a long-lasting NFL career, he’ll need to gain at least 15 pounds.
NFL Draft Projection:
The consensus is that Brazzell could go anywhere from the first to the third round of the NFL draft. Before the combine, he likely would have gone in the third round, but based on his performance, don’t be shocked if he goes in the second round. Sometimes speed alone is enough to entice teams into drafting a player earlier than expected.
Take former NFL wide receiver John Ross, for example. In 2017, Ross ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash and was taken ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in that year’s draft largely because of his speed. However, Ross was 5-foot-10 — not 6-foot-4 like Brazzell — so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Brazzell go in the first round.
On Monday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. mentioned that he wouldn’t be surprised if Brazzell sneaks into the first round of this year’s draft:
“In our preview of the workouts last Thursday, I predicted that Brazzell would ‘run something in the ballpark of 4.47 in the 40-yard dash and push himself into the first-round conversation,'” said Kiper. “Well, he ran a 4.37. At his 6-foot-4 size, that’s really something. I’ve been a fan of Brazzell throughout the process, and I had him in my first Round 1 mock draft in January. Scouts will start to take notice; it’s hard to find receivers with that body type who can run and move as he does.”
Although Brazzell’s speed could elevate him to the first round, he’ll more than likely be drafted in either the second or third round, depending on which teams are desperate for a bigger receiver.
