NFL executive describes the Tennessee Vols’ offense in a vulgar and disrespectful way ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
The Tennessee Vols’ offense has been heavily criticized by the national media over the last several years. Many analysts don’t believe Josh Heupel’s offense translates to the NFL.
The Tennessee Vols’ offense has been heavily criticized over the last several years, with numerous outlets suggesting it doesn’t adequately prepare players for the NFL.
Earlier this offseason, ESPN’s Field Yates became one of the latest national analysts to question Tennessee’s offense.
“Tennessee, to their success and credit during the college seasons — not as much during the pro development stage — has had a few of these guys come out as super long, fast, twitchy, athletic perimeter receivers that, at least to this point, haven’t really panned out that much at the NFL level,” said Yates. “So I do think that will be part of the conversation (with former Vols WR Chris Brazzell). A lot of the route tree at Tennessee is run far, run fast, run straight. Or run far, fast, straight, and then come back to the football. Guys like Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt a few years ago. Remember, they were the talk of the town during that breakout year for Tennessee, and they have not become, at least to this point, super consistent contributors for their respective teams.”
The comments from Yates are nothing compared to the scathing comments an AFC executive made recently about the Vols’ offense.
NFL executive gets vulgar while describing Tennessee’s offense
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero recently spoke with various NFL executives, scouts and coaches about the 19 quarterbacks that have a chance to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While discussing Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar, a potential late round selection, an AFC executive described Tennessee’s offense in a colorful way.
“At least he’s got some size,” said the AFC executive of Aguilar. “The first game I watched, I liked. But the longer I watched him, the worse it got. And he plays in that chickens–t offense. Those guys never translate.”
Ouch.
An AFC scout who spoke with Pelissero was also concerned about how Aguilar will fare in a pro-style offense, though he wasn’t as explicit.
“He’s kind of in the similar framework of a Cade Klubnik – the vision, understanding, seeing the field. There’s a lot of basic built in, half-field routes and reads. Can he operate in a pro-style offense?” said the AFC scout. “If you put a lot on him, I’m not sure how much he’s going to be able to grasp and show that he can do some of those things. But he’s got a strong arm, he’s got enough size, he’s got some resiliency because he’s bounced around quite a bit and taken his lumps. So, you do like that about him, too. And he’s tough. When he takes off, he’ll take off on some runs and he’s got to protect himself more because he takes some big-time hits.”
Aguilar, for what it’s worth, said at the combine in February that Tennessee’s offense had pro-style elements in 2025.
“Honestly, I think the offense in general, if you go back and watch film, we went a little less option game (in 2025),” said Aguilar. “A lot more pro-style offense [with] pure progression reads and things like that. So, I think the offense that we ran this year was different from the past few years. And I’m excited for this journey and these next steps. And [I’m] prepared [because of] the way they threw me in there, in this offense, and kind of switched it all around.”
Former Vols wide receiver Chris Brazzell made a similar comment at the combine.
“This last year was a completely different offense than what y’all think Tennessee’s offense is,” said Brazzell. “2024 and 2025 were almost two different offenses with Nico (Iamaleava) and Joey (Aguilar). So I was really playing in a more regular, traditional offense this last year versus any other year at Tennessee.”
Despite what players and coaches say about the offense, it’s clearly going to take a former Vol from the Heupel system becoming a star in the NFL to finally end this narrative.