NFL Draft 2025: Full list of every Alabama football player selected in the last 25 years
NFL Draft 2025: Full list of every Alabama football player selected in the last 25 years Tyler Booker, Jihaad Campbell, Jalen Milroe all players hoping to be first-round additions to Alabama's vast list of impressive NFL Draft totals.
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially upon us, and the Alabama Crimson Tide are set to see another player or players taken in the first round.
Exactly how many Alabama football players will go in this year's draft is up in the air, but offensive lineman Tyler Booker, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, and perhaps even quarterback Jalen Milroe are all names to watch on Day 1, which gets underway at 7 p.m. CT from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft will be televised on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
Since 2014 alone, Alabama leads the way among all college football programs with 33 players drafted in the first round alone. They've had 100 players drafted overall in that span. Alabama's gaudy numbers are hardly surprising considering the success of Nick Saban teams, which produced six national championships in his 17 seasons and turned Tuscaloosa into an NFL factory.
Roll Tide Wire is taking a look at the year-by-year breakdown of former Alabama players selected in the NFL Draft. Beginning with the year 2000, here's every Crimson Tide football player taken in an NFL Draft over the past 25 years.
Alabama football players taken in 2000 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
OT Chris Samuels : first round, third overall pick by Washington Redskins
: first round, third overall pick by Washington Redskins RB Shaun Alexander : first round, 19th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
: first round, 19th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks DT Cornelius Griffin: second round, 42nd overall pick by New York Giants
Once the Seahawks unleashed Alexander in 2001 after a year behind veteran tailback Ricky Watters, the Alabama star went on to a great career. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in five straight seasons from 2001-05, including his career-best 2005 campaign. Alexander led the league that year with a franchise record 1,880 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns on 370 carries (117.5 per game) en route to being named NFL MVP. For his career, he rushed for 9,453 yards and 100 touchdowns over nine seasons.
Alabama football players taken in 2001 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
DB Tony Dixon : second round, 56th overall pick by Dallas Cowboys
: second round, 56th overall pick by Dallas Cowboys DL Kenny Smith : third round, 81st overall pick by New Orleans Saints
: third round, 81st overall pick by New Orleans Saints TE Shawn Draper: fifth round, 156th overall pick by Miami Dolphins
Of the three Alabama players selected in 2001, Dixon played in the most games with 56 across four seasons with the Cowboys. He started seven games for Bill Parcells' 2004 team and finished his four-year career with 126 tackles, six sacks and one interception.
Alabama football players taken in 2002 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
LB Saleem Rasheed : third round, 69th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: third round, 69th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers WR Jason McAddley : fifth round, 149th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals
: fifth round, 149th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals TE: Terry Jones : fifth round, 155th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: fifth round, 155th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens WR Freddie Milons: fifth round, 162nd overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles
Jones caught 59 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons, primarily with the Ravens. McAddley caught 38 passes for 578 yards and a touchdown in four years with the Cardinals. A once-promising recruit at Alabama, Milons was drafted but never played a down in an NFL game.
Alabama football players taken in 2003 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
DL Jarret Johnson : fourth round, 109th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: fourth round, 109th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens DL Kenny King : fifth round, 141st overall pick by Arizona Cardinals
: fifth round, 141st overall pick by Arizona Cardinals DL Kindal Moorehead : fifth round, 145th overall pick by Carolina Panthers
: fifth round, 145th overall pick by Carolina Panthers DB Waine Bacon : sixth round, 202nd overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
: sixth round, 202nd overall pick by Atlanta Falcons RB Ahmaad Galloway: seventh round, 235th overall pick by Denver Broncos
Johnson was a fan favorite at Alabama under Mike DuBose and Dennis "Lady of the Night" Franchione. He turned out to be one of the steals of the 2003 draft in the fourth round, going on to a 12-year NFL career and finishing with 526 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and three interceptions after converting from defensive tackle to linebacker. Between 2007-2011, Johnson started all 16 games each season for the Ravens.
Alabama football players taken in 2004 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
OL Justin Smiley : second round, 46th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: second round, 46th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers DL Antwon Odom : second round, 57th overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: second round, 57th overall pick by Tennessee Titans WR Triandos Luke : sixth round, 171st overall pick by Denver Broncos
: sixth round, 171st overall pick by Denver Broncos LB Derrick Pope: seventh round, 222nd overall pick by Miami Dolphins
Smiley made 78 career starts, including all 16 games for the 49ers in back-to-back years (2005-06) as part of a seven-year career. Odom also spent seven seasons in the league between the Titans and Bengals, making all 16 starts for Tennessee in 2007. He had 132 career tackles, 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles across 74 games.
Alabama football players taken in 2005 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
OL Evan Mathis : third round, 79th overall pick by Carolina Panthers
: third round, 79th overall pick by Carolina Panthers OL Wesley Britt : fifth round, 164th overall pick by San Diego Chargers
: fifth round, 164th overall pick by San Diego Chargers DL Anthony Bryant : sixth round, 178th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
: sixth round, 178th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Cornelius Wortham: seventh round, 235th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
Mathis went on to a 12-year NFL career and won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in what turned out to be his last full season in the league. He was named to the Pro Bowl in back-to-back years (2013, 2014) with the Eagles and was First Team All-Pro in 2013.
Alabama football players taken in 2006 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
LB DeMeco Ryans : second round, 33rd overall pick by Houston Texans
: second round, 33rd overall pick by Houston Texans SS Roman Harper : second round, 43rd overall pick by New Orleans Saints
: second round, 43rd overall pick by New Orleans Saints QB Brodie Croyle : third round, 85th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs
: third round, 85th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs DB Charlie Peprah : fifth round, 158th overall pick by New York Giants
: fifth round, 158th overall pick by New York Giants DE Mark Anderson: fifth round, 159th overall pick by Chicago Bears
Ryans and Harper had a combined 21 years in the NFL after being the first two players drafted from Alabama's talented 2005 defense. Both were named to the Pro Bowl twice, and Harper won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints in 2009 before ending his career with 641 solo tackles, 18 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and 11 interceptions in 156 games. Ryans was AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and finished his career with 735 solo tackles, 13.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and seven interceptions. He's now in his third season as Texans head coach.
Alabama football players taken in 2007 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
FB Le'Ron McClain : fourth round, 137th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: fourth round, 137th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens RB Kenneth Darby : seventh round, 24th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
: seventh round, 24th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB Ramzee Robinson: seventh round, 255th overall pick by Detroit Lions
McClain was another fan favorite at Alabama and spent parts of seven seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Ravens. He rushed for 1,310 yards, 13 touchdowns and 104 first downs in 111 games.
Alabama football players taken in 2008 NFL Draft
No Alabama players were selected in the 2008 NFL draft.
Alabama football players taken in 2009 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
OT Andre Smith : first round, sixth overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: first round, sixth overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals RB Glen Coffee : third round, 74th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: third round, 74th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers OL Antoine Caldwell : third round, 77th overall pick by Houston Texans
: third round, 77th overall pick by Houston Texans S Rashad Johnson: third round, 95th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals
You could make an argument that the best player from Alabama's 2009 draft class might have been the last one selected. While Smith spent parts of 12 seasons in the NFL, he mostly underperformed for a player taken sixth overall. Taking injuries into account, he started 10 or more games only four times in his career. Johnson spent eight years in the league, and his 2015 season with Arizona (61 tackles, 2 TFL, 5 INT) was considered one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs from that year.
Alabama football players taken in 2010 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
LB Rolando McClain : first round, eighth overall pick by Oakland Raiders
: first round, eighth overall pick by Oakland Raiders DB Kareem Jackson : first round, 20th overall pick by Houston Texans
: first round, 20th overall pick by Houston Texans DB Javier Arenas : second round, 50th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs
: second round, 50th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs DT Terrence Cody : second round, 57th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: second round, 57th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens OL Mike Johnson : third round, 98th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
: third round, 98th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons DB Marquis Johnson : seventh round, 211th overall pick by St. Louis Rams
: seventh round, 211th overall pick by St. Louis Rams DE Brandon Deaderick: seventh round, 247th overall pick by New England Patriots
The seven Alabama players taken in this draft would be shattered in the years to come as Saban built an NFL pipeline in Tuscaloosa. While McClain was the highest drafted player from Alabama in 2010, no one would disagree that Kareem Jackson -- who just completed his 15th NFL season -- was the best Crimson Tide player from that year's class.
Alabama football players taken in 2011 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
DL Marcell Dareus : first round, third overall pick by Buffalo Bills
: first round, third overall pick by Buffalo Bills WR Julio Jones : first round, sixth overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
: first round, sixth overall pick by Atlanta Falcons OL James Carpenter : first round, 25th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
: first round, 25th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks RB Mark Ingram : first round, 28th overall pick by New Orleans Saints
: first round, 28th overall pick by New Orleans Saints QB Greg McElroy: seventh round, 208th overall pick by New York Jets
Jones recently retired from the NFL after spending 13 seasons in the league. And what a career it was. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time First Team All Pro and a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. The Falcons' franchise leader in catches and receiving yards, Jones finished with over 1,000 yards in six consecutive seasons (2014-19) and ended his career with 13,703 yards, 66 touchdowns and 646 first downs. A 5-star prospect out of Foley, he was the single most important recruit in Saban's quest to build Alabama into a dynasty.
Alabama football players taken in 2012 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
RB Trent Richardson : first round, third overall pick by Cleveland Browns
: first round, third overall pick by Cleveland Browns DB Mark Barron : first round, seventh overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
: first round, seventh overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Dre Kirkpatrick : first round, 17th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: first round, 17th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals LB Dont'a Hightower : first round, 25th overall pick by New England Patriots
: first round, 25th overall pick by New England Patriots LB Courtney Upshaw : second round, 35th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: second round, 35th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens NT Josh Chapman : fifth round, 136th overall pick by Indianapolis Colts
: fifth round, 136th overall pick by Indianapolis Colts DB DeQuan Menzie : fifth round, 146th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs
: fifth round, 146th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs TE Brad Smelley: seventh round, 247th overall pick by Cleveland Browns
Both Hightower and Upshaw won Super Bowl rings in their respective careers with the Patriots and Ravens. Hightower won three while garnering two Pro Bowl selections in nine years for Bill Belichick. He ended his career with 27 sacks, 353 solo tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. Upshaw and Barron were no slouches, either. Barron had 12 career sacks, five forced fumbles and nine interceptions in eight seasons. Just a year after winning a national championship in the Superdome against LSU, Upshaw won a Super Bowl there with the Ravens in 2013 and spent parts of four seasons as the team's starting outside linebacker.
Alabama football players taken in 2013 NFL Draft
Alabama players drafted:
DB Dee Milliner : first round, ninth overall pick by New York Jets
: first round, ninth overall pick by New York Jets OL Chance Warmack : first round, 10th overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: first round, 10th overall pick by Tennessee Titans OL D.J. Fluker : first round, 11th overall pick by San Diego Chargers
: first round, 11th overall pick by San Diego Chargers RB Eddie Lacy : second round, 61st overall pick by Green Bay Packers
: second round, 61st overall pick by Green Bay Packers LB Nico Johnson : fourth round, 99th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs
: fourth round, 99th overall pick by Kansas City Chiefs OL Barrett Jones : fourth round, 113th overall pick by St. Louis Rams
: fourth round, 113th overall pick by St. Louis Rams DL Jesse Williams : fifth round, 137th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
: fifth round, 137th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks DL Quinton Dial : fifth round, 157th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: fifth round, 157th overall pick by San Francisco 49ers TE Michael Williams: seventh round, 211th overall pick by Detroit Lions
Alabama players were chosen with three consecutive picks in the first round. Fluker had the longest career of any of them, playing in 108 games (96 starts) over eight years between the Chargers, Giants, Seahawks and Ravens. Lacy rushed for 3,614 yards in five seasons, and 23 touchdown in three years with the Packers. He took home NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2013 and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Alabama football players taken in 2014 NFL Draft
LB C.J. Mosley : first round, 17th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: first round, 17th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix : first round, 21st overall pick by Green Bay Packers
: first round, 21st overall pick by Green Bay Packers OL Cyrus Kouandjio : second round, 44th overall pick by Buffalo Bills
: second round, 44th overall pick by Buffalo Bills WR Kevin Norwood : fourth round, 123rd overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
: fourth round, 123rd overall pick by Seattle Seahawks DL Ed Stinson : fifth round, 160th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals
: fifth round, 160th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals QB A.J. McCarron : fifth round, 164th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: fifth round, 164th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals DB Vinnie Sunseri : fifth round, 167th overall pick by New Orleans Saints
: fifth round, 167th overall pick by New Orleans Saints DL Jeoffrey Pagan: sixth round, 177th overall pick by Houston Texans
Mosley has proven he was the best Alabama player chosen in this class with five Pro Bowl selections in a career that has spanned 10 seasons and counting. He has started all but one of his 133 career games between the Ravens and Jets and has racked up over 1,000 combined tackles to go with 12 sacks, 12 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.
Alabama football players taken in 2015 NFL Draft
WR Amari Cooper : first round, fourth overall pick by Oakland Raiders
: first round, fourth overall pick by Oakland Raiders S Landon Collins : second round, 33rd overall pick by New York Giants
: second round, 33rd overall pick by New York Giants RB T.J. Yeldon : second round, 36th overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars
: second round, 36th overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars FB Jalston Fowler : fourth round, 108th overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: fourth round, 108th overall pick by Tennessee Titans OL Arie Kouandjio : fourth round, 112th overall pick by Washington Redskins
: fourth round, 112th overall pick by Washington Redskins OL Austin Shepherd : seventh round, 228th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings
: seventh round, 228th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings LB Xzavier Dickson: seventh round, 253rd overall pick by New England Patriots
A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Cooper has had a far better career than any of the three players -- Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Dante Fowler -- that were drafted ahead of him. He'll enter the 2025 NFL season with 711 catches and 10,033 career receiving yards. Cooper recently topped USA TODAY Sports' list of the 10 best players still remaining in free agency.
Alabama football players taken in 2016 NFL Draft
C Ryan Kelly : first round, 18th overall pick by Indianapolis Colts
: first round, 18th overall pick by Indianapolis Colts LB Reggie Ragland : second round, 41st overall pick by Buffalo Bills
: second round, 41st overall pick by Buffalo Bills RB Derrick Henry : second round, 45th overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: second round, 45th overall pick by Tennessee Titans DL A'Shawn Robinson : second round, 46th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: second round, 46th overall pick by Detroit Lions DL Jarran Reed : second round, 49th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks
: second round, 49th overall pick by Seattle Seahawks CB Cyrus Jones : second round, 60th overall pick by New England Patriots
: second round, 60th overall pick by New England Patriots RB Kenyan Drake: third round, 73rd overall pick by Miami Dolphins
"King Henry" keeps running up the score on anyone who heavily implied that Nick Saban was overusing him in his final season at Alabama (395 carries, 2,219 yards, plus 11 catches for 91 yards). Henry had a monstrous year in 2024, his ninth in the NFL. He rushed for 1,921 yards (5.9 AVG) and 16 touchdowns on 325 carries in the regular season. In the Ravens' playoff win over the Steelers, he popped off for 186 yards and two more scores. Henry will enter the 2025 season with 11,423 career rushing yards.
Alabama football players taken in 2017 NFL Draft
CB Marlon Humphrey : first round, 16th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: first round, 16th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens DL Jonathan Allen : first round, 17th overall pick by Washington Redskins
: first round, 17th overall pick by Washington Redskins TE O.J. Howard : first round, 19th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
: first round, 19th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Reuben Foster : first round, 31st overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: first round, 31st overall pick by San Francisco 49ers OL Cam Robinson : second round, 34th overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars
: second round, 34th overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars LB Ryan Anderson : second round, 49th overall pick by Washington Redskins
: second round, 49th overall pick by Washington Redskins DL Dalvin Tomlinson : second round, 55th overall pick by New York Giants
: second round, 55th overall pick by New York Giants LB Tim Williams : third round, 78th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: third round, 78th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens WR ArDarius Stewart : third round, 79th overall pick by New York Jets
: third round, 79th overall pick by New York Jets S Eddie Jackson: fourth round, 112th overall pick by Chicago Bears
Headlined by future Pro Bowlers Humphrey and Allen, this was the first of five NFL Draft classes to feature 10 Alabama players. Four of them went in the first round while Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl safety, is one of the best late-round steals in recent history.
Alabama football players taken in 2018 NFL Draft
S Minkah Fitzpatrick : first round, 11th overall pick by Miami Dolphins
: first round, 11th overall pick by Miami Dolphins DL Daron Payne : first round, 13th overall pick by Washington Redskins
: first round, 13th overall pick by Washington Redskins LB Rashaan Evans : first round, 22nd overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: first round, 22nd overall pick by Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley : first round, 26th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
: first round, 26th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons S Ronnie Harrison : third round, 93rd overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars
: third round, 93rd overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars DL Da'Shawn Hand : fourth round, 114th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: fourth round, 114th overall pick by Detroit Lions CB Anthony Averett : fourth round, 118th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: fourth round, 118th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens P JK Scott : fifth round, 172nd overall pick by Green Bay Packers
: fifth round, 172nd overall pick by Green Bay Packers LB Shaun Dion Hamilton : sixth round, 197th overall pick by Washington Redskins
: sixth round, 197th overall pick by Washington Redskins C Bradley Bozeman : sixth round, 215th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
: sixth round, 215th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens RB Bo Scarbrough : seventh round, 236th overall pick by Dallas Cowboys
: seventh round, 236th overall pick by Dallas Cowboys DL Joshua Frazier: seventh round, 246th overall pick by Pittsburgh Steelers
A total of 12 Alabama players were selected in the 2018 draft -- the most in program history and, at the time, the second most in NFL history from any one school. Fitzpatrick turned in his third straight Pro Bowl season in 2024 and the fifth of his career. All but three players from this crop of Alabama alums -- Hamilton, Scarbrough and Frazier -- are either still on active rosters or played in 2024.
Alabama football players taken in 2019 NFL Draft
DL Quinnen Williams : first round, third overall pick by New York Jets
: first round, third overall pick by New York Jets OL Jonah Williams : first round, 11th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: first round, 11th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals RB Josh Jacobs : first round, 24th overall pick by Oakland Raiders
: first round, 24th overall pick by Oakland Raiders TE Irv Smith Jr. : second round, 50th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings
: second round, 50th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings RB Damien Harris : third round, 87th overall pick by New England Patriots
: third round, 87th overall pick by New England Patriots LB Christian Miller : fourth round, 115th overall pick by Carolina Panthers
: fourth round, 115th overall pick by Carolina Panthers S Deionte Thompson : fifth round, 139th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals
: fifth round, 139th overall pick by Arizona Cardinals OL Ross Pierschbacher : fifth round, 153rd overall pick by Washington Redskins
: fifth round, 153rd overall pick by Washington Redskins LB Mack Wilson : fifth round, 155th overall pick by Cleveland Browns
: fifth round, 155th overall pick by Cleveland Browns DL Isaiah Buggs: sixth round, 192nd overall pick by Pittsburgh Steelers
Alabama's third straight draft class with at least 10 players was headlined by Williams, the Jets' three-time Pro Bowl lineman who finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022 and was named the 37th best player in the annual NFL Top 100 a year ago. Jacobs has also garnered three Pro Bowl selections, including last year when he ran for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Packers. He led the league in rushing with 1,653 yards in 2022 and was the 2019 Pro Football Writers of America Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Alabama football players taken in 2020 NFL Draft
QB Tua Tagovailoa : first round, fifth overall pick by Miami Dolphins
: first round, fifth overall pick by Miami Dolphins OL Jedrick Wills Jr. : first round, 10th overall pick by Cleveland Browns
: first round, 10th overall pick by Cleveland Browns WR Henry Ruggs III : first round, 12th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders
: first round, 12th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders WR Jerry Jeudy : first round, 15th overall pick by Denver Broncos
: first round, 15th overall pick by Denver Broncos S Xavier McKinney : second round, 36th overall pick by New York Giants
: second round, 36th overall pick by New York Giants CB Trevon Diggs : second round, 51st overall pick by Dallas Cowboys
: second round, 51st overall pick by Dallas Cowboys DL Raekwon Davis : second round, 56th overall pick by Miami Dolphins
: second round, 56th overall pick by Miami Dolphins LB Terrell Lewis : third round, 84th overall pick by Los Angeles Rams
: third round, 84th overall pick by Los Angeles Rams LB Anfernee Jennings: third round, 87th overall pick by New England Patriots
Due to injuries (which don't need rehashing in this space), Tua's career hasn't been what people had hoped for, but the Alabama star will always be No. 1 in many fans' hearts. Others from this year's class include Diggs, who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021, his second season in the league. That year, he was also the NFL's Most Improved Player. McKinney made his first Pro Bowl a year ago and finished eighth in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting. He had a career-high eight interceptions and tied his career-best with 11 pass breakups.
Alabama football players taken in 2021 NFL Draft
WR Jaylen Waddle : first round, sixth overall pick by Miami Dolphins
: first round, sixth overall pick by Miami Dolphins DB Patrick Surtain II : first round, ninth overall pick by Denver Broncos
: first round, ninth overall pick by Denver Broncos WR DeVonta Smith : first round, 10th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles
: first round, 10th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles QB Mac Jones : first round, 15th overall pick by New England Patriots
: first round, 15th overall pick by New England Patriots OL Alex Leatherwood : first round, 17th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders
: first round, 17th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders RB Najee Harris : first round, 24th overall pick by Pittsburgh Steelers
: first round, 24th overall pick by Pittsburgh Steelers OL Landon Dickerson : second round, 37th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles
: second round, 37th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles DL Christian Barmore : second round, 38th overall pick by New England Patriots
: second round, 38th overall pick by New England Patriots CB Deonte Brown : sixth round, 193rd overall pick by Carolina Panthers
: sixth round, 193rd overall pick by Carolina Panthers LS Thomas Fletcher: sixth round, 222nd overall pick by Carolina Panthers
Alabama shattered its previous record of first-round picks with this class, which saw six Crimson Tide players chosen in the opening round. That total tied the Miami Hurricanes' record from the 2004 draft. Among them, Surtain has been an absolute star for the Broncos and was named the AP and PFWA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Smith recently helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl title with former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts taking home MVP honors. Harris could be the next great Steelers running back and has four 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in as many seasons.
Alabama football players taken in 2022 NFL Draft
OL Evan Neal : first round, seventh overall pick by New York Giants
: first round, seventh overall pick by New York Giants WR Jameson Williams : first round, 12th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: first round, 12th overall pick by Detroit Lions WR John Metchie : second round, 44th overall pick by Houston Texans
: second round, 44th overall pick by Houston Texans DL Phidarian Mathis : second round, 47th overall pick by Washington Commanders
: second round, 47th overall pick by Washington Commanders LB Christian Harris : third round, 75h overall pick by Houston Texans
: third round, 75h overall pick by Houston Texans RB Brian Robinson Jr. : third round, 98th overall pick by Washington Commanders
: third round, 98th overall pick by Washington Commanders DB Jalyn Armour-Davis: fourth round, 119th overall pick by Baltimore Ravens
Williams totaled his first 1,000-yard season in 2024, hauling in 58 catches and seven touchdowns in what was hopefully the first of many big seasons for the former Alabama standout.
Alabama football players taken in 2023 NFL Draft
QB Bryce Young : first round, first overall pick by Carolina Panthers
: first round, first overall pick by Carolina Panthers LB Will Anderson : first round, third overall pick by Houston Texans
: first round, third overall pick by Houston Texans RB Jahmyr Gibbs : first round, 12th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: first round, 12th overall pick by Detroit Lions DB Brian Branch : second round, 45th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: second round, 45th overall pick by Detroit Lions OL Tyler Steen : third round, 65th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles
: third round, 65th overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles DL Byron Young : third round, 70th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders
: third round, 70th overall pick by Las Vegas Raiders S Jordan Battle : third round, 95th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: third round, 95th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals TE Cameron Latu : third round, 101st overall pick by San Francisco 49ers
: third round, 101st overall pick by San Francisco 49ers LB Henry To'oTo'o : fifth round, 167th overall pick by Houston Texans
: fifth round, 167th overall pick by Houston Texans S DeMarcco Hellams: seventh round, 224th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
Young became the first quarterback in Crimson Tide history to go first overall in the draft. A change of scenery could benefit him -- preferably with an organization that isn't high in the running for worst-run franchise in professional sports. Anderson made an immediate impact with the Texans, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023. In two seasons, he has 18 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. Gibbs has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first two seasons and led the league in rushing touchdowns (16) last season while running for 1,412 yards on 250 carries.
Alabama football players taken in 2024 NFL Draft
OL JC Latham : first round, seventh overall pick by Tennessee Titans
: first round, seventh overall pick by Tennessee Titans LB Dallas Turner : first round, 17th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings
: first round, 17th overall pick by Minnesota Vikings DB Terrion Arnold : first round, 24th overall pick by Detroit Lions
: first round, 24th overall pick by Detroit Lions CB Kool-Aid McKinstry : second round, 41st overall pick by New Orleans Saints
: second round, 41st overall pick by New Orleans Saints LB Chris Braswell : second round, 57th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
: second round, 57th overall pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jermaine Burton : third round, 80th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals
: third round, 80th overall pick by Cincinnati Bengals DL Justin Eboigbe : fourth round, 105th overall pick by Los Angeles Chargers
: fourth round, 105th overall pick by Los Angeles Chargers RB Jase McClellan : sixth round, 186th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons
: sixth round, 186th overall pick by Atlanta Falcons K Will Reichard : sixth round, 203rd overall pick by Minnesota Vikings
: sixth round, 203rd overall pick by Minnesota Vikings S Jaylen Key: seventh round, 257th overall pick by New York Jets
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Za'Darius Smith: 'Hopefully,' I'm back with the Detroit Lions
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith remains a free agent, but, in the end, he wants to be back with the team that he went to the playoffs with last season, that being the Detroit Lions — who cut him in March. "Hopefully, I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "When I'm there, I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully, I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit." Smith split the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns and Lions, who acquired him at the NFL trade deadline after suffering a myriad of defensive injuries, including to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, a 2023 Pro Bowler. In all, Smith finished the 2024 regular season with a combined nine sacks and 35 combined tackles. Smith ranked 21st among edge defenders in pass-rush grade (76.5), 33rd in overall grade (74.7) and 85th in run-defense grade (62.8) according to Pro Football Focus. Now, should Smith return to Detroit, there are some changes on the coaching side, as the Lions lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — who became the new head coach of the New York Jets — and promoted former linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to the position. They also have a new defensive line coach in Kacy Rodgers, among many other coaching changes. The 32-year-old Smith, who expressed that he's focused on "getting a ring now and winning a championship," thinks he and Hutchinson could be a special duo off the edge. "I'm still a veteran. He's [Hutchinson] still a young guy. I can help him with a lot of things. He's already great, but as a player, there are some tools that I know that I can help him with," Smith said. "And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with." Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-18), followed by a three-year stint with the Green Bay Packers (2019-21), one season with the Minnesota Vikings (2022) and a season-plus with the Browns before being acquired by the Lions during the 2024 season. Elsewhere, Detroit re-signed defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebacker Ezekiel Turner to one-year deals apiece, while adding defensive tackle Roy Lopez and selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season, the Lions went 15-2 and claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round. Detroit's defense surrendered 244.0 passing yards (30th in the NFL), 98.4 rushing yards (fifth), 342.4 total yards (20th) and 20.1 points (seventh) per game. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Joe Flacco talks about 'embarrassing' TikTok dances: 'Be an adult'
Joe Flacco is the elder statesman of the Cleveland Browns quarterback room. Having just turned 40 in January, Flacco has morphed into the "back in my day guy" and is now just one step away from telling the young whippersnappers to get off his lawn. Flacco has embraced that youthful energy in the twilight of his NFL career, taking the opportunity to pose for a fun photo at media day with rookie, Dillon Gabriel. Advertisement Regardless, he continued to provide plenty of entertainment for the media following Wednesday's minicamp practices, turning the session into a chat about social media, TikTok and posting dancing videos online. Flacco began discussing Twitter, now known as X, as it has evolved into a primary source of news. "The difference now is, everybody's getting their stuff from there, and it's treated a little bit more seriously because that is the main news source," Flacco said, via 92.3 The Fan's Daryl Ruiter. "You still have the same thing you always had, which is a million different opinions, but it kind of blends your actual news source with a bunch of other stuff." The quarterback went on to say that Instagram is the only social media platform he's used and made one thing clear –don't expect him to show up in a TikTok dancing video anytime soon. Advertisement "No TikTok dances," Flacco said. "The fact that people want to get on their phones and show people. That's embarrassing! You're an adult. Be an adult. I can't wrap my head around that." He followed up with some advice for the parents. "I get it, you have kids and you wanna have fun with your kids," Flacco added. "Like, have fun with your kids in private." Flacco appears to be no fan of the current social media landscape, but he also extended his media availability to discuss the good old days. While he wasn't walking up and down the rolling hills in 10 feet of snow to school, the quarterback did end up speaking about players who think offseason activities are too hard in the modern NFL. Advertisement "We're out there for an hour 15 minutes and guys think it's hard," Flacco said via Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein, referencing the two-a-days that used to be commonplace in the NFL. He went on to add that organized team activities (OTAs) used to be over two hours, highlighting just how much has changed since he entered the league in 2008. In other words, Flacco was in a reminiscing mood as the Super Bowl champion prepares for his 18th season in the league. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Browns' QB Joe Flacco calls TikTok dances 'embarrassing'
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
New Jets OC Tanner Engstrand is already winning over players: Minicamp observations
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Tanner Engstrand walked into the press conference room on Wednesday with a smile on his face and a pep in his step. They all do in the beginning. Most don't last, not around here. Offensive coordinators, play-callers, they've shuffled through these halls and many, most, have failed to meet the expectations set out when they were hired. This is an organization that hasn't finished a season even in the Top-20 in scoring offense since 2015, when they were 11th. In the nine seasons since, they've ranked in the NFL's bottom-five six times. Advertisement In recent years, the Jets' star players have had a decidedly harder time biting their tongue. Mike LaFleur was fired after the 2022 season when some players made it clear in exit meetings they didn't think he was the right man for the job. It got worse — way worse — with Nathaniel Hackett, hand-picked to help guide an Aaron Rodgers-led scheme. It was a disaster, until he was demoted last season and replaced by Todd Downing. It got slightly better, but not much. Now the Jets are resting their hopes on the shoulders of Engstrand, who — like LaFleur before him — has never called plays in the NFL before. He does have experience as a playcaller at the University of San Diego (2011-17) and in the XFL (2020). He learned under Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson with the Detroit Lions over the last few years, and both Campbell and Johnson insist Engstrand was a crucial piece of one of the most creative and explosive offenses in the NFL. So far, Engstrand is winning over the best players in his Jets offense, namely running back Breece Hall, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and quarterback Justin Fields. Engstrand, together with head coach Aaron Glenn, has cultivated an offensive scheme built around Fields' skillset as a dual threat. 'I see a smart guy,' Fields said. 'He's very smart, very intellectual about the game. He knows what he's talking about, for sure, with all the positions. Quarterback, receiver, running backs. He knows ball and he wants (us) to be the most explosive offense in the NFL and we're going to work to be that.' The plan is to run the ball — a lot, and certainly a lot more than they did last year. (It would be hard to run it less; they were 32nd in rush attempts.) 'I feel like a lot of offenses in the NFL are pretty similar,' Hall said. 'It's just, I know Tanner loves to run the ball. For me, just getting ready for that. He also knows how I can be effective in the pass game. He and (Glenn) always tell me: Breece, you're going to do everything. So for me it's just getting ready to do everything. I have to be ready to be a three-down back.' Advertisement That last part is crucial: Late in 2023, Hackett admitted he had no idea that Hall had the ability to be a contributor in the passing game until midway through the season. The Jets, it seems, won't have that issue with Engstrand. 'He has natural hands like a receiver,' Fields said of Hall. And then there's Wilson, never afraid to hide his frustrations with Hackett and LaFleur over the last few years. Too often last year, Wilson was ignored in crucial situations, specifically in the red zone. If OTAs and minicamp are any indication, that won't happen anymore. Fields has been targeting Wilson early and often throughout the spring — and Wilson has caught just about all of those throws, often in acrobatic fashion. 'I know AG talked about, 'Hey, what are we going to do with Garrett? We're going to give him the ball as much as we can,'' Engstrand said during OTAs. 'And you know what, I'm in on it.' The Jets have lacked an explosive, high-scoring offense and they're banking on Engstrand (and Fields) being the ones to change that. Tuesday and Wednesday were two of the more productive days for the Jets' passing offense, moving quickly during team drills and making those explosive plays down the field. Here are some observations from Wednesday's practice: Fields had probably his best day of the spring on Wednesday — at least in terms of highlight reel-worthy throws. On Tuesday, Glenn called out a play on which Fields moved outside the pocket and then threw it away when nobody was open rather than forcing it, something he's had some trouble with throughout his career. Wednesday was more about the throws he did make. Fields connected with Wilson on a deep ball — probably a 40-yard completion — getting it to his star receiver despite tight coverage from cornerback Brandon Stephens. Fields dropped it right into a place where only Wilson could get. Advertisement A couple plays later, Fields one-upped himself: As multiple pass rushers neared, clouding his vision, Fields calmly connected with wide receiver Josh Reynolds, covered by safety Andre Cisco, on a corner route with perfect accuracy for a short touchdown. To that point, Fields had completed 5 of 7 passes — one incompletion thrown just a little too far for tight end Mason Taylor, the other broken up by cornerback Michael Carter II, intended for Reynolds. His last drive was less impressive. He completed a pass to Taylor who then had it poked away for a fumble out of bounds, then he overthrew Reynolds and missed Wilson on a goal line pass to end the drive. But overall it was a good day for the Jets quarterback, who has been much more decisive after he had been holding onto the ball a touch too long during OTAs open to the media. In total, Fields completed three passes to Wilson, one to Braelon Allen, one to Reynolds and one to Taylor. Safety Tony Adams — competing with rookie Malachi Moore to start — did stop Fields at the goal line on a run and made sure to let him know about it, loudly, in the immediate aftermath. 'I know he can run, but I can run too,' Adams said afterward. 'It's fun. I can't wait for training camp because it's going to get real.' Wednesday was the first time Hall spoke publicly since trade rumors surfaced around the NFL Draft suggesting that the Jets were looking to move him. Those turned out to be unfounded. Hall said he saw the rumors for the first time on social media and thought, 'we'll see what happens.' 'If people feel like you aren't doing your job, you're going to be replaced,' He said on Wednesday. The logic: He was coming off a down year in 2024 and 2025 is a contract year. But the Jets were never actually shopping him — Glenn made sure to call Hall when the rumors started to make sure he understood that too. Advertisement '[Glenn] told me: 'You think I want to trade you?' I was like 'I don't know.' He's like 'Breece, I don't want to trade you, you're going to be here, you're our running back. That felt really good.' Hall is highly motivated coming off a down year — he averaged 4.2 yards per carry, a career-worst, and never had 20 carries in a game — and admitted that he was dealing with a 'pretty serious' knee injury down the stretch of the season. He's completely healed now, he said. • Defensive end Micheal Clemons opened 11-on-11 drills with a tackle for loss on a Fields designed run. Clemons is the early favorite to fill in for Jermaine Johnson until Johnson returns from his Achilles injury. Glenn said on Tuesday that Johnson could start training camp on the PUP list but should be ready to return for Week 1. • Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Jamien Sherwood would have had sacks against Fields if the Jets were counting them. With the reserve units, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (on Tyrod Taylor), defensive tackle Fatorma Mulba (on rookie Brady Cook) and edge Braiden McGregor (on Adrian Martinez) also had sacks. • Defensive back Isaiah Oliver was the one to force a fumble on Taylor. Oliver has stood out as a playmaker this spring. • Wide receiver Allen Lazard made a nice play on a jump ball on a pass from Taylor during team drills. Engstrand lauded Lazard for his effort to learn a new system and to fit into a scheme he's never played before. • Taylor scrambled for a touchdown during team drills and celebrated with Fields after the play. They've cultivated a handshake that ends with them pretending to shoot a basketball. • Undrafted rookie receiver Jamaal Pritchett made a nice play on a deep ball from Martinez during team drills. Pritchett (listed at 5-foot-8) is also competing for the punt returner job with Xavier Gipson and others.
