KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee VFL wide receiver JaVonta Payton was one of 12 free agents the Arizona Cardinals signed following the 2022 NFL Draft, the organization announced on Monday night.
Payton, a Mississippi State transfer who played one season for the Vols, is the second wide receiver from the 2022 Tennessee senior class to join a club. Teammate Velus Jones Jr. was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the No. 71 overall pick in the third round on Friday.
Payton was part of a group that produced three wide receivers with at least six touchdowns in 2021, as Tennessee became the only team in the SEC to achieve that feat. The Nashville native led the league with 22.9 yards per catch, and he was second in the SEC and third in the FBS with two 70+ yard catches.
Payton started 12 of 13 games and logged 18 catches for 413 yards and six scores, which ranked 12th in the SEC.
The Volunteers completed the 2022 NFL Draft with five selections, ranking top 11 in the nation and top five in the SEC. Tennessee was one of 10 programs nationally with at least five selections through the first six rounds.
View an updated list of VFLs in the NFL following the 2022 NFL Draft.
-UT Athletics
