Tennessee football quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) throws a pass against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Cole Moore/RTI
While he didn’t hear his name in the 2026 NFL Draft, Tennessee football quarterback Joey Aguilar is still headed to the NFL. Shortly after the conclusion of the draft, Aguilar announced that he will be joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent.
Will Aguilar crack the roster, though? Typically, teams carry two quarterbacks on their active roster, though some have three on the 53-man squad. However, a quarterback is also usually on the practice squad, making an easy transition to be called up to the active team if needed.
The Jaguars currently have an unquestioned starter in Trevor Lawrence. The former No. 1 overall pick is entering his sixth NFL season after throwing for 4,007 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions a year ago.
While Aguilar won’t usurp the highly-touted and handsomely paid Lawrence anytime soon, he could be in a battle for the backup job. Currently, Nick Mullens is the second-string quarterback, joining the team a year ago. The projected third-string option is Carter Bradley, entering his third NFL season, though he’s yet to record any stats.
A great first step for Aguilar would be entering a competition with Bradley and proving he should be the third option for the Jaguars at quarterback.
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In 2025, Aguilar’s lone season on Rocky Top, the Vols finished 8-5 (4-4 SEC) with a loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl. However, the offense took a big step back in the right direction. Aguilar posted an SEC-high in passing yards at 3,565 with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Prior to his only season at UT, Aguilar played two at Appalachian State. He also played two years at the junior college level. He only had spring practice to get ready for his season with the Vols, though. Initially, he transferred to UCLA, but re-entered the portal after Nico Iamaleava took his spot with the Bruins.
After the season, Aguilar revealed that he was dealing with a benign tumor in his shoulder. He has had a procedure to address it and is undergoing rehab. He did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine as a result, but threw in front of NFL scouts at UT’s Pro Day, despite not being back at 100%.