2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

Name: Chris Brazzell II

Position: Wide Receiver

School: University of Tennessee

Height/Weight: 6’5”, 200 lbs

Class: Junior (2025 season)

Hometown: Midland, TX

High School: Midland Lee High School

Recruiting Rank: 3-star recruit, #150 WR nationally, #148 in TX in 2022 class (247Sports Composite)

Draft Projections (as of January 2026):

•  Pro Football Network (PFSN Big Board, crawled January 21, 2026) → 3rd round, WR9 (#78 overall)

•  PFF (Big Board, published January 12, 2026) → 3rd round, WR10 (#81 overall)

•  NFL Draft Buzz (profile, updated January 15, 2026) → 2nd-3rd round, #9 WR (#74 overall)

•  NFL.com (Senior Bowl prospects, published December 5, 2025) → Day 3 projection

•  ESPN (Mel Kiper Big Board, updated January 16, 2026) → #6 WR (no overall rank)

•  Consensus (NFL Mock Draft Database, updated January 21, 2026) → #73 overall (WR9 average)

Career Background

A three-star recruit, Chris Brazzell II starred at Midland Lee High School, earning All-District honors as a senior with 43 receptions for 729 yards and 8 TDs. He committed to Tulane, redshirting in 2022 due to a shoulder injury before a breakout freshman year in 2023 with 44 catches for 711 yards and 5 TDs. Brazzell transferred to Tennessee in 2024, contributing 29 receptions for 333 yards and 2 TDs in a rotational role. In 2025, as a primary target, he led the Vols with 61 receptions for 1,006 yards and 9 TDs, showcasing deep-threat ability. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on December 17, 2025, aiming to build on his SEC experience.

Career Stats

•  2022 (Freshman, Tulane) → 1 rec/ 2 tar (50.0%), 11 yards (11.0 avg/rec), 0 TD

•  2023 (RS Freshman, Tulane) → 44 rec/ 70 tar (62.9%), 711 yards (16.2 avg/rec), 5 TDs

•  2024 (Sophomore, Tennessee) → 29 rec/ 50 tar (58.0%), 333 yards (11.5 avg/rec), 2 TDs

•  2025 (Junior, Tennessee) → 61 rec/ 87 tar (70.1%), 1,006 yards (16.5 avg/rec), 9 TDs

•  Career Totals (4 Seasons) → 135 rec/ 209 tar (64.6%), 2,061 yards (15.3 avg/rec), 16 TDs

Advanced Stats (2025, PFF):

• PFF OFF Grade → 79.3 (mid-tier among qualified FBS WRs)

• PFF RECV Grade → 80.5

•  Snaps Wide 94.3%/SLOT 5.7%

•  Yards After Catch → 244 (4.0 per reception/ 24% of total yardage)

• Missed Tackles Forced → 8 (0.13/rec)

• 7/16 contested catch (43.8%)

• Drops → 2 (3.2%)

• QB RTG → 133.6 (top-tier among qualified WRs)

Awards and Accolades

High School:

•  All-District honors

•  Three-star recruit

College:

•  All-SEC Third Team (2025)

•  SEC leaderboard ranks: Top-10 in receiving yards (1,006), tied-3rd in receiving TDs (9)

Character and Leadership

Brazzell garners respect for his competitive fire and honesty, as Tennessee coach Josh Heupel describes him as a “gamer” who brings “rare traits” and elevates practice intensity with his edge. Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope praises his daily battles against DBs, noting how his mentality “comes out on the field” to inspire the group. No major off-field concerns emerged, though a August 2025 arrest for speeding and suspended license (charges dismissed) drew brief scrutiny; analysts portray him as focused and resilient. Academic details are limited, with no major or GPA reported.

Injuries

Brazzell missed most of his true freshman season at Tulane in 2022 due to a shoulder injury, redshirting after playing just two games. He returned fully healthy in 2023, playing all contests without issues. In 2024 at Tennessee, no injuries were reported, as he appeared in all 13 games with nine starts. During 2025 preseason camp, Brazzell dealt with a leg injury that sidelined him for several weeks, delaying his integration but not causing game absences. He played the full season, though coaches monitored his load late-year amid minor nicks. The shoulder history raises slight flags for scouts on upper-body durability. No surgeries or chronic conditions noted, with full pre-draft participation expected.

Play Style

Brazzell deploys as a lanky deep-threat X-receiver who uses stride length to separate vertically and contest passes at their highest point, often climbing the ladder for acrobatic grabs. His frame allows shielding on go routes, paired with soft hands that adjust to off-target balls mid-air. Suits air-raid concepts that bomb downfield; comps include Marquez Valdes-Scantling (explosive stretch). RAC comes from long-arm stiff-arms, not quick cuts.

Strengths

1.  Vertical Explosion — Builds elite speed to blow past coverage; stresses safeties deep.

2.  Ball Adjustment — Tracks and contorts for imperfect throws; wins at catch point.

3.  Release Variety — Mixes hesitations and swims to defeat press; maintains momentum.

4.  Red-Zone Magnet — Height dominates fades; high-points scores routinely.

5.  Focus in Traffic — Secures through contact; minimal concentration lapses.

Weaknesses

1.  Press Resistance — Lean build absorbs bumps; disrupts timing occasionally.

2.  Short-Area Burst — Gradual acceleration; struggles in quick-hitch patterns.

3.  After-Catch Shiftiness — Powers ahead but evades minimally.

4.  Injury Log — Shoulder setback early; monitor upper-body resilience.

5.  Route Tree Depth — Linear specialist; limited in complex stems.

Final Evaluation

Chris Brazzell II slots as a developmental WR9-10 in 2026, providing deep-field stretch and contested reliability that could complement balanced passing games. Analysis from PFN, PFF, and NFL Draft Buzz spotlights his yards-per-catch efficiency and low drops as building blocks, though broader route polish would heighten impact. Fitted for vertical attacks akin to Valdes-Scantling, Brazzell offers Day 2 intrigue—might extend Tennessee’s receiver legacy if traits coalesce. He profiles as a situational deep shot ready to expand roles over time.

Sources

•  Pro Football Network (2025 scouting reports, draft projections)

•  PFF (2025 grades, mock drafts, player analysis)

•  NFL Draft Buzz (full profile/scouting report)

•  ESPN (stats, awards, rankings)

•  NFL.com (declaration/projection coverage)

•  Sports-Reference (career stats compilation)

•  Tennessee Athletics/Wikipedia (bio, accolades)