The NFL draft will kick off Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and will conclude Saturday after seven rounds.

Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason is ranked as the No. 171 best available player for the 2026 NFL draft, according to ESPN.

Ayrton Ostly of USA TODAY projects the 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive lineman to be selected in the seventh round to Pittsburgh (No. 224 overall).

Eason played at Tennessee from 2020-25, appearing in 61 games (34 starts) and totaling 1,520 defensive snaps. He recorded 105 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, five pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one block.

The former Vol is from Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee in Dec. 2024.

17 former Vols have been selected in the NFL draft during the Josh Heupel era as Tennessee’s head coach. Tennessee has produced 391 all-time NFL draft picks, including the AFL draft.

More: 2026 NFL draft: Tennessee football best available players

More: Where former Vols are projected in 2026 seven-round NFL mock draft

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason 2026 NFL draft preview