Alabama Football: Crimson Tide's Top 2016 NFL Draft Prospects

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s seven-man showing at the NFL draft over the weekend was basically par for the course for the Crimson Tide, who have now sent 48 players to the league over the last seven years.

That likely won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Nick Saban’s tireless recruiting has stocked Tuscaloosa with NFL-ready talent that should make for another impressive draft crop next season. Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller right now has Alabama with three first-round draft picks in his 2016 mock draft, which would top its first-round totals of the last two years.

Let’s take an early look at Alabama’s top 2016 prospects.

A'Shawn Robinson

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Right now, A’Shawn Robinson is the near-consensus top 2016 Alabama draft prospect—and for good reason.

As a freshman in 2013, Robinson led Alabama with 5.5 sacks. He didn’t contribute in that department in 2014, but the 6’4”, 213-pound Robinson was seventh on the entire team with 49 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss.

Miller made Robinson his first Alabama player off the board in his 2016 mock draft. He can play inside or outside, depending on the situation like he did at Alabama, and would be a major get for a team looking to beef up on the defensive line should he decide to go pro.

Derrick Henry

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The running back isn’t quite dead yet.

Two were taken in the first round this year with another two going right after them in the second. Teams are still showing that they’re willing to go after the position in the early rounds of the draft.

Derrick Henry likely won’t top Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott for the top back in this class, but he’ll be close and could land in the first round. Miller puts Henry as a late first-rounder.

His on-field production speaks for itself, and he should have a big junior year leading to an early draft declaration. But his off-field measurables will have NFL scouts salivating.

According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Henry measured in at 6’3”, 242 pounds during spring testing and ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash with that big frame. That’s the kind of combine showing that will rocket him up draft boards come spring.

Reggie Ragland

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Alabama has sent some talented middle linebackers to the NFL in recent years such as Rolando McClain, Dont’a Hightower and C.J. Mosley.

Reggie Ragland looks poised to be the next to join that group.

Miller raved about Ragland: “One of my favorite players in the 2016 class, linebacker Reggie Ragland hits everything that moves. He's a shark playing middle linebacker at Alabama.”

With Landon Collins gone, Ragland will be counted on to be the heart and soul of the Crimson Tide defense and should show that he has what it takes to be a top NFL draft pick in the process.

O.J. Howard

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O.J. Howard may not be used that much in the passing game at Alabama for various reasons, but some NFL team will find a way to.

Despite catching just 31 passes for 529 yards and two touchdowns during his first two years on campus, the 6’6”, 242-pound Howard seemingly fits the prototypical NFL tight end-wide receiver hybrid that is so coveted in the league, which could entice him to jump a year early.

And Saban says Howard will be used more this year.

“O.J. had a really good spring, and I think should have a really good year next year,” Saban said. “I think some of the things that we’re doing offensively is, we’re not doing a lot that requires a big ol’ tight end to block in what I call the C-area or the tight end area beside the tackle. Part of the reason for that is we have more athletic tight ends, and we don’t have a thumper right now.”

A big year on the field would almost certainly mean an early exit for Alabama’s tight end.

Kenyan Drake

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Kenyan Drake was a potential 2015 draftee before a broken leg ended a promising junior season. He’ll almost certainly find a spot after his senior season and another year of production under his belt.

Drake won’t command a top draft pick like Henry, but his speed and quickness will give him value to a team in the middle rounds as a third-down back or kick returner.

Wide receiver Chris Black compared him to Reggie Bush, as a guy who can hit home runs carrying the ball, catch out of the backfield or even line up as a wide receiver. (And, coincidentally, they both share a collegiate offensive coordinator in Lane Kiffin.)

Kiffin used Drake in all of those different ways before his injury last year and is expected to take full advantage of his skills again in 2015.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.