NFL Draft

It wasn’t a good week for two former members of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Safety Jaylen Key was waived by The New York Jets. The team picked the former Alabama player with the last pick of this year’s NFL Draft, making him known as the annual “Mr. Irrelevant.” There was also bad news for former Tide linebacker Ronnie Harrison.

It took six rounds and a whole lot of waiting, but former Alabama kicker Will Reichard made Crimson Tide history during the 2024 NFL draft. The Minnesota Vikings picked the one position where former Head Coach Nick Saban saw no players join the NFL during his career at Alabama. Reichard is the first Tide kicker to be drafted since 1966, and reportedly only the third chosen by the Vikings in the last forty five years.

The historic run on offensive players, especially quarterbacks, in the first round of the NFL draft pushed plenty of talented defenders down the board. It also pushed some first-round worthy defensive players into Round 2 on Friday. Those include Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Texas A&M inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The former Crimson Tide player was picked by the New Orleans Saints.

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, the popular pick to be the number one selection overall, will be among thirteen prospects attending the first round of the NFL draft in Detroit on April 25. Former players from the Alabama Crimson Tide are also on that list.

It’s going to be a good night for one of two former star players of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Former Alabama player Isaiah Buggs is a defensive lineman for the Chiefs. Kansas City scooped Buggs up after he struggled to find a home with the Steelers, and he’s now heading to the Super Bowl. On the 49er’s side, former Alabama standout Cameron Latu is a tight end for San Francisco. If he gets a Super Bowl ring, it will be from the sidelines. Latu injured his knee and missed the whole season during his recovery. He was selected, by the 49ers, in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham plans to enter the NFL draft. Latham, a two-year starter at right tackle, announced his decision in a post on Instagram. Alabama center Seth McLaughlin, who struggled with errant snaps against Michigan in the College Football Playoffs, has entered the transfer portal.

Auburn All-Southeastern Conference defensive tackle Marcus Harris says he will skip his final season to enter the NFL draft. Harris made the announcement in a social media post Tuesday night.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs tore the ACL in his left knee in practice Thursday, a major setback for a defense off to a great start in 2023. The team said an MRI confirmed the ACL tear for the former Crimson Tide player, and that while there was no timetable for a return, the 2021 All-Pro was expected to miss the rest of the season.

Houston Texans receiver John Metchie III returned to practice, the first day of training camp, after missing his entire rookie season following a leukemia diagnosis. The former Alabama standout was a full participant in the almost two-hour workout after being cleared to return a little more than a year after revealing he had acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The Carolina Panthers have their QB1.Coach Frank Reich wasted no time naming rookie Bryce Young, the number one overall pick in the NFL draft and former Crimson Tide star, the team's starting quarterback for the September 10th season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.