KNOXVILLE — The Vols had six players taken in the 2017 NFL Draft and three in 2018: Rashaan Gaulden (Panthers), John Kelly (Rams) and Kahlil McKenzie (Chiefs).

Veteran tight end Jason Witten might be eyeing retirement as he decides on playing a 16th NFL season. But for now, Witten is placed in the category of best VFLs currently in the NFL. Who else joins him?

10. P Dustin Colquitt (Chiefs)

The 13-year pro has been a steady presence for the Chiefs. A two-time Pro Bowler, Colquitt has played in 206 games and has 1,031 punts. He has at least a 62-yard punt in each season, including 77-yard punt in 2017. He averages 44.9 yards per punt with a career-long of 81 yards.

9. WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Patriots)

Patterson has been a do-it-all player during his 5-year NFL career with the Vikings and Raiders. Now he looks to use his skills for the New England Patriots.

Patterson has scored 7 receiving touchdowns, 6 rushing touchdowns and 5 kick-return touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro has 163 receptions for 1,625 receiving yards, 454 rushing yards and 4,490 kick-return yards with a 109-yard return being his career-long.

8. LB Robert Ayers (Buccaneers)

Ayers has produced a steady NFL career since joining the league in 2009. He has played for the Broncos, Giants and now the Buccaneers. Ayers has played in 120 games, starting 59. He has 35 sacks, 192 tackles, 14 pass deflections and nine forced fumbles.

7. DE Derek Barnett (Eagles)

Barnett played a vital role in making key plays as a rookie in the Eagles’ first Super Bowl championship in 2017. Just a rookie, the Vols’ all-time career sack leader produced 21 tackles, 5 sacks, forced 1 fumble, recovered 2 and scored a touchdown with the Eagles. His biggest play was a fourth-quarter fumble recovery against New England in the Super Bowl.

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6. OL Ja’Wuan James (Dolphins)

James has solidified his role as the Dolphins’ starting right tackle. James has started in all 47 games that he has appeared in since his 2014 rookie season.

5. OL Ramon Foster (Steelers)

Foster has played 130 NFL games, all with the Steelers. Foster has started 115 games since 2009 and has held the left guard starting position over the past five seasons after playing both left and right guard in his first four seasons.

4. DT Malik Jackson (Jaguars)

A Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Jackson has been a factor for Denver and now Jacksonville as he made the Pro Bowl in 2017. He has 28.5 sacks, 206 tackles, 22 pass defections and 6 forced fumbles in six seasons.

3. DB Eric Berry (Chiefs)

Berry showed his courageous efforts overcoming cancer a couple years ago.

A Pro Bowl starter at safety as a rookie in 2010, Berry has been a workhorse and team leader for the Kansas City Chiefs ever since. He proved his toughness and resolve coming back from an ACL injury that cost him almost all of the 2011 season and then returning from his 2014 battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in less than a year. Now he battles back from an ACL injury suffered in the season-opener at New England in 2017.

Berry has produced 14 interceptions, five touchdowns and 434 tackles.

2. TE Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Witten is an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end in 15 NFL seasons. He has 1,152 receptions, 12,448 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns in a career played solely with the Dallas Cowboys. In March 2016, he signed a four-year contract extension through 2021, but TV networks are trying to lure him to the booth as an analyst.

1. RB Alvin Kamara (Saints)

Kamara entered the NFL in 2017 and quickly made a name for himself. He was productive early in his rookie campaign, which led to the Saints moving on from running back Adrian Peterson and establishing a one-two punch in Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Kamara.

Kamara’s 728 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs, along with 81 receptions for 826 yards and 5 TDs – and a kickoff return TD – earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.