Alabama Football 2016 NFL Draft Tracker, Analysis and Results
Another year, another loaded NFL draft class for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Head coach Nick Saban led the Tide to his fourth national championship at the school this season, and now he will say goodbye to another crop of NFL talent.
Let's break down each projected draft choice for the Crimson Tide, as well as discuss the replacements for those players at Alabama next season.
Note: This NFL draft tracker will be updated as players are selected.
C Ryan Kelly
1 of 10
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 18 to Indianapolis
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 311 lbs
Analysis: The top center in this draft, the Colts will get a great leader in Ryan Kelly. Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com notes that Andrew Luck has been through five centers in his NFL career, so this pick will provide Indianapolis with some stability at the heart of the offensive line.
Replacement: Per John Talty of AL.com, Ross Pierschbacher will make the move from left guard to center and will be Kelly's replacement this fall. J.C. Hassenauer and Brandon Kennedy have also gotten snaps this spring and will likely battle for the backup spot.
LB Reggie Ragland
2 of 10
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 41 to Buffalo
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 247 lbs
Analysis: Per Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, some teams were weary of Ragland's recently flagged enlarged aorta, but the Bills added a great middle piece to their defense with this pick. They selected Shaq Lawson in the first round, so it's clear defense is what they were after with this draft. While not the most athletic guy in coverage, Ragland is an explosive tackler that will make plays at the next level.
Replacement: Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans could both see time at middle linebacker next season, but it's Hamilton who is projected as the starter at this point. The Tide almost always have a major contributor in the middle of the defense at the "Mike" spot, so it will be interesting to see how the position is handled this fall.
RB Derrick Henry
3 of 10
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 45 to Tennessee
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 247 lbs
Analysis: The Titans, who traded for DeMarco Murray this offseason, will add another powerful back to their roster with Alabama's Derrick Henry. The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, Henry is a downhill runner that is hard to bring down because of his size. While there may be concerns over his initial quickness, Henry has great acceleration once he gets to the second level of the defense. It will be interesting to see how the Titans handle carries with two talented running backs.
Replacement: The starting job is up for grabs between Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, two highly recruited players. Scarbrough may end up winning the job, but the Tide will have plenty of talented options to choose from at running back.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
DT A'Shawn Robinson
4 of 10
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 46 to Detroit
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 307 lbs
Analysis: A staple of Alabama's top defense in 2015, Robinson will try to add some strength and power to the middle of Detroit's defensive line. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes that Robinson has some leverage issues, but his size and power will help out the Lions defense right away.
Replacement: It will be Daron Payne's turn to shine this fall after sitting behind a lot of talent last year. Payne was a highly recruited player, and his talent will make it seem like the Tide haven't missed a beat.
DT Jarran Reed
5 of 10
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 49 to Seattle
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 307 lbs
Analysis: The No. 27 player on Matt Miller's (Bleacher Report) big board, Jarran Reed is a steal for Seattle in the middle of the second round. The Seahawks already have a talented defense, but they needed to add a defensive tackle and did just that. Reed was a bit overshadowed by the other talent on Alabama's defense, but he could very easily be the best Crimson Tide player to come out of this class.
Replacement: Along with Payne, Da'Shawn Hand and Jonathan Allen will make for another tough defensive line. For this slideshow, the word "replace" could almost be switched with "reload," because the Tide have a lot of talent on the bench waiting for an opportunity.
CB Cyrus Jones
6 of 10
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 60 to New England
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 197 lbs
Analysis: Per ESPN, New England lost their first round pick because of penalties from the "Deflategate" scandal, but it used its first pick on cornerback Cyrus Jones. We know what Jones can do as a punt returner, and that may have boosted his draft stock a bit. The Patriots have a No. 1 corner in Malcolm Butler, but getting Jones gives them more depth at the position. Zierlein of NFL.com projects the former Alabama star as a nickel cornerback in the NFL.
Replacement: Like most positions, the Tide have plenty of depth behind Jones. Marlon Humphrey and Minkah Fitzpatrick will be the starters at cornerback for Alabama this season. Nick Saban and company will miss Jones most of all in the punt return game.
RB Kenyan Drake
7 of 10
Drafted: Round 3, Pick 73 to Miami
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs
Analysis: Drake never got the majority of the spotlight playing behind guys like T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, but his quickness makes him a dangerous player at the next level. He also has good size and, after losing Lamar Miller to free agency, Miami filled a position of need with this pick.
Replacement: The starting job is up for grabs, so obviously the backup role is too. The running back position won't be as deep as it was a year ago, but the guys at the top still possess a lot of talent.
OG Dominick Jackson
8 of 10
Drafted: Undrafted
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 313 lbs
Analysis: Jackson, the former junior college transfer, earned second-team All-SEC honors in his first full season as Alabama's starter. Scouts feel like he translates better as a guard at the next level, but teams have to respect his ability to play both guard and tackle well. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote that "Jackson lacks the athleticism and length to play tackle and will likely have to bump down inside, but with his thick trunk, core strength and body control, Jackson should be able to come in as a backup and may be an eventual starter in the league."
Replacement: Junior college transfer Charles Baldwin and Jonah Williams will battle it out for the right tackle position, and it isn't clear who the edge belongs to at this point. Lester Cotton is another guy that could compete at right tackle, but he will more than likely battle for a guard position.
DT D.J. Pettway
9 of 10
Drafted: Undrafted
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 265 lbs
Analysis: Last season's defensive line was one of the best we've seen in college football in some time, and D.J. Pettway is another product of that. CBSSports.com's Rob Rang said that his "compact frame and core strength make him surprisingly difficult to move at the point of attack," also saying that he should likely be drafted at the beginning of Day 3.
Replacement: Pettway was part of a fierce Crimson Tide defensive line, and next season it will reload and likely be just as good. Hand, Payne and Allen will be one of the toughest groups in the country, especially with Tim Williams coming off the edge.
QB Jake Coker
10 of 10
Drafted: Undrafted
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 236 lbs
Analysis: ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (via SEC Country's Alex Martin Smith) thinks Coker's stellar performance in the College Football Playoff helped him move up draft boards. Unfortunately for Coker, though, he still isn't high on anyone's list. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein summarized by saying that his size and build are ideal for an NFL quarterback, but that his mechanics and delivery are too slow for the next level, also noting that he tends to stare down targets. Some team will draft Coker late because of his size and arm strength, but his ceiling in the NFL probably isn't higher than a solid backup.
Replacement: Cooper Bateman seems like the logical answer considering his experience under Saban and the fact that he started the Ole Miss game a year ago, but there's something special about Blake Barnett that may make it tough for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to keep him off the field.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
