The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and with the first round on Thursday night, 32 lives will be changed forever in the first round of the NFL Draft.
As always, many of Alabama's players are hoping to hear their name called by the commissioner on draft night, but how many Crimson Tiders will be among Nick Saban's final group of draft targets on draft day?
Let's be realistic and say there is a real chance that five players from Alabama could be drafted in the first round — eight or nine overall, but only five whose names could be heard on Thursday. Let's rank them in order of likelihood:
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There seem to be only two surefire picks from Alabama in the first round, and both of those guys are from one of the best 2023 defenses in the country.
Pass rusher Dallas Turner is not only likely to be a first-round draft pick, but also the first defensive player selected in an offensive-minded high draft. Turner is the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and could be selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons.
Dallas Turner is a monster.
It's almost unfair
— Steven (@stevenxvision) December 12, 2023
Another player who seems like a sure thing is cornerback Terrion Arnold. Before the season, Arnold's counterpart, Kool-Aid McKinstry, was projected as a potential top-10 pick, but Arnold's impressive performance in 2023 has him above McKinstry in most mock drafts. He's a potential top-15 pick.
Terrion Arnold! 🔒🔒🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iHJdQMlDYb
— WeAreDBnation (@WeAreDBNation1) November 11, 2023
Most likely:
It might be a bit disappointing for both right tackle JC Latham and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry that there isn't complete certainty given how they're evaluated before 2023. That's not to say they had bad seasons, but that's the nature of the NFL Draft.
Latham has allowed just four sacks in three years, but he has been dropped on some mock boards due to concerns about his ability to achieve NFL stardom. He could climb all the way up to the top 15, but it wouldn't be too surprising if he drops a bit.
Alabama RT 65 JC Latham's grip is real. He locks on and sinks to the ground, preventing the defender from getting any closer to the QB. pic.twitter.com/3ElqMRFRor
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 7, 2023
Prospect fatigue is not out of the question for McKinstry. He's done his thing for three years, put up solid film, and will probably be a first-round pick, but significantly lower than where he was projected to be at this time a year ago. He'll be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
A great angle of University of Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry speaking to reporters. Currently ranked as a top 20 prospect in the TDN Top 100. #QualifiedProspects
pic.twitter.com/4QRlUVil3j— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) October 21, 2023
Applicant:
The final player who could be a first-round draft pick is pass rusher Chris Braswell, who was named to the Associated Press second-team All-SEC after his best season at Alabama in 2023 with eight sacks.
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if he were drafted later Thursday night, but it seems more likely he'll be selected early in the second round on Friday.
Tim Smith, Chris Braswell…elite hands. pic.twitter.com/j5yf8BEiUd
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) October 23, 2023
Other Alabama prospects:
- Jermaine Burton, WR
- Justin Eboige, DL
- Jace McClellan, RB
- Jalen Keay, S
- Darian Dalcourt, C
Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation:
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