KNOXVILLE—The dust has settled from the NFL Draft and it’s time to examine where every Vol landed and what role they’ll play on their respective teams.

— Cordarelle Patterson 1st round, 29th pick, to the Vikings: Patterson became the first Vol selected in the first-round since 2010 (Eric Berry and Dan Williams) and steps into a situation where he’ll be expected to contribute in multiple ways. The Vikings traded Percy Harvin to Seattle in the offseason and desperately need a playmaker at receiver and in the return game—Patterson should be that playmaker. Look for him to step in and return punts/kicks immediately and work his way into the rotation at receiver. There’s no question he’s one of the most dynamic players in the league and has the highest ceiling of any receiver in the draft, but he’ll have to work on his routes and ability to read defenses to realize his potential and have a long career.

— Justin Hunter 2nd round, 34th pick, to the Titans: Like the Vikings with Patterson, the Titans traded up to select Hunter. Tennessee needs a true deep threat and Hunter certainly has the ability to fill that hole. His combination of length, speed, agility, and leaping ability will be hard to keep off the field, especially for an offense which struggles to stretch the field. Look for him to make several big plays this year, but he’ll need to improve his physicality and learn to catch with his hands (instead of his body) to be trusted as a consistent target and have a long career. If he addresses his weaknesses, he’ll be among the best receivers in the league.

— Dallas Thomas 3rd round, 77th pick, to the Dolphins: Miami got a versatile player who can play either tackle or guard. Thomas was a three-year starter for the Vols, with 25 starts at left tackle and 12 at left guard. The Dolphins lost left tackle Jake Long in free agency and thus have an opening on their offensive line. They’ll probably move right tackle Jonathan Martin to left tackle and plug Dallas Thomas in at right guard or right tackle. Either way, he’ll be in the mix for a starting spot somewhere on the
offensive line. He has some technique issues to correct,
but is in position to have a lengthy pro career.

— Montori Hughes 5th round, 139th pick, to the Colts: The former Vol played last season at Tennessee-Martin and shot up draft boards after an impressive Senior Bowl and pro day. Hughes has all the tools to be a successful defensive tackle, plus has excellent quickness for his size and can slide outside if needed. He has strong hands, is difficult to move, and can be disruptive when he wants to be. Hughes has more potential than most tackles in the draft, and if the Colts can keep him motivated, he’ll be a consistent contributor and could develop into a star. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said it best, “He’s a height-weight speed freak. This kid has more talent than fifth rounders have, it’s just a matter of getting it out.”

— Mychal Rivera 6th round, 184th pick, to the Raiders: Rivera broke Jason Witten’s single-season yardage record last year and finished his two-year UT career with 76 receptions for 1018 yards and 6 touchdowns. Though he lacks the flashy athletic abilities of some tight ends, he has soft hands, runs developed routes, and reads defenses well. He won’t scare opponents with his speed, but should be a productive player for years to come.

— Tyler Bray undrafted free agent, to the Chiefs: Tyler Bray was the talk of the NFL Combine as scouts were wowed by his arm strength and ability to “make all the throws.” Attitude concerns and several mechanical flaws surprisingly resulted in his name not being called.  Bray has tremendous potential, but has a long way to go to see that potential realized. After taking the reins of the Tennessee offense halfway through his freshman year, he didn’t progress at the rate most expected (if he progressed at all). He’ll have to tame his emotions, mature, work on his mechanics, and drastically improve his footwork to have a long pro career. Fortunately for him, if he has a good showing in camp and earns a roster spot, he can sit behind Alex Smith and learn from veteran NFL coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs don’t have an experienced backup on the roster and Bray has a good chance of earning the No. 2 or 3 QB spot this year.

— Da’Rick Rogers undrafted free agent, to the Bills: Despite several scouts considering him the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft, attitude and maturity issues resulted in his name not being called. Rogers is a physical receiver who uses his strength and upper body well. He’s not afraid to run across the middle and is an underrated deep threat. The Bills are always in need of playmakers and got an absolute steal in Rogers. As long as he stays out of trouble he should be in the receiver rotation for Buffalo this season.

— Zach Rogers undrafted free agent, to the Jets: Of the undrafted free agents listed, Rogers might be the best bet to contribute early. He works hard, runs sharp routes, and has above average speed (he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at UT’s Pro Day). The Jets are thin at receiver and Rogers should earn a roster spot and see some action in four or five receiver sets.

— Ben Bartholomew undrafted free agent, to the Patriots: An under-the-radar talent, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Bartholomew earns a roster spot. He can play fullback or tight end and was drastically underutilized during his Tennessee career. Bartholomew possesses good quickness for a player of his size (he ran a faster 40 than Te’o), is a physical blocker, and has decent hands.

— Prentiss Waggner undrafted free agent, to the Cardinals: Waggner can play corner or safety and his versatile skill-set certainly won’t hurt his chances of making a roster. He’ll get a good look in camp.

Early entry Darrington Sentimore has not signed a deal at this point, neither has Herman Lathers.