Nick Saban has built a football factory in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama coach wins national championships and sends players to the NFL with regularity. Twenty-eight members of the Crimson Tide were first-round selections in the NFL Draft in the 2010s decade. How did they produce? The picks are by year, when they were selected and by what team.
2010: 8. Rolando McClain (Raiders)
The Raiders got 38 starts, 6.5 sacks and one interception out of linebacker Rolando McClain. After a series of off-the-field incidents, he was waived by the Raiders on April 5, 2013. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens and retired at age 23. He decided to come back and Dallas acquired McClain. It didn’t pan out there, either. There were multiple suspensions. He was reinstated by the NFL, but Dallas released the LB in 2019. Grade: F
20. Kareem Jackson (Texans)
Kareem Jackson spent nine seasons in Houston before moving to Denver this year. Jackson started 124 of the 132 games as a Texan and had 16 picks, returning three for TDs. He has one pick as a starter for Denver in the secondary. Grade: B
2011: 3. Marcel Dareus (Bills)
Defensive tackle Marcel Dareus spent seven-plus seasons in Buffalo before being dealt to Jacksonville, where he plays currently. Thirty-five of Dareus’ sacks came in Buffalo. He still is chasing the 40 mark. He has multiple suspensions for being in violation of the NFL substance abuse policy. Dareus also has made the Pro Bowl twice. Grade: C-plus
6. Julio Jones (Falcons)
The Falcons moved up in the draft to take Julio Jones. The pick has panned out splendidly as he one of the top wideouts in the game. Jones is a six-time Pro Bowler and has led the league in catches once and receiving yards twice. An absolute gem. Grade: A-plus
25. James Carpenter (Seahawks)
James Carpenter spent four seasons on Seattle’s offensive line. He played in 45 games, making 39 starts. The team declined his fifth-year option and Carpenter signed a four-year contract with the Jets. In 2019, Carpenter signed with Atlanta. Grade: C
28. Mark Ingram (Saints)
A Heisman winner for the Crimson Tide, Mark Ingram was taken by the Saints and enjoyed eight seasons in New Orleans, rushing for 6,007 yards. This offseason he left the Saints for the Baltimore Ravens and is off to a solid start. Grade: B-plus
2012: 3. Trent Richardson (Browns)
Trent Richardson had a great first year in Cleveland, rushing for 950 yards. It all came apart after that. The running back was traded to the Colts in 2013 and he was gone after 2014. He has played in the CFL and AAF since but was not chosen in the recent XFL draft. Grade: F
7. Mark Barron (Buccaneers)
Mark Barron spent two-plus seasons in Tampa Bay. He started all 37 games before being shipped to the St. Louis Rams. Barron spent four-plus years with the Rams’ franchise. He currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grade: C-plus
17. Dre Kirkpatrick: Cincinnati Bengals
DB Dre Kirkpatrick has been a mainstay with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started five games in his first three seasons but has been called on consistently since 2015. Kirkpatrick has 10 picks, two returned for TDs, and three sacks in his career. Grade: B
25. Dont’a Hightower (Patriots)
There is no surprise when Bill Belichick makes a smart pick. He landed a strong one in linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who has played his entire career in New England. Hightower has 22 sacks and has started more than 90 percent of his games as a Patriot. Grade: A
2013: 9. Dee Milliner (Jets)
Dee Milliner made 12 starts as a rookie in the Jets’ secondary. It went downhill from there. He was injury prone after that season and played in only eight more games before the team released him in 2016. Grade: F
10. Chance Warmack: Tennessee Titans
Chance Warmack started 48 games over three-plus seasons on Tennessee’s offensive line. He moved on to Philadelphia, where he earned a Super Bowl ring for the 2017 season. Grade: C-minus
11. D.J. Fluker: San Diego Chargers
Another offensive lineman to go in 2013’s first round from the Crimson Tide was D.J. Fluker, who was taken by the then-San Diego Chargers. Fluker started four seasons with the Bolts, went to the Giants for a year and is currently in his second season with Seattle. Grade: C-minus
2014: 17. C.J. Mosely (Ravens)
Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens came up with a sharp pick in LB C.J. Mosely. He was a four-time Pro Bowler in Baltimore before moving on to the New York Jets, with a massive, free-agent contract. Mosely has been bothered by injuries in 2019. Grade: A
21. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Packers)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was a fixture in the Packers’ secondary until being traded to Washington mid-season last year. He left Washington and is currently on a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Grade: B
2015 4. Amari Cooper (Raiders)
Amari Cooper had two wonderful years in Oakland, making 155 catches and going over 1,000 yards in each season. The bottom fell out in 2017, when he made 48 grabs. He was traded to Dallas for a first-round pick last season and proceeded to have 53 catches in nine games as a Cowboy, more than he had in the entire 2017 season as a Raider. Grade: A-minus
2016: 18. Ryan Kelly (Colts)
Ryan Kelly has started every game he has played in for Indianapolis and is the anchor in the middle of the Colts’ line. Indy has picked up his fifth-year option. Grade: B
2017: 16. Marlon Humphrey (Ravens)
Marlon Humphrey has Alabama genes as his father was a star running back for the Tide. Marlon has been a strong piece in the Baltimore secondary. He has six interceptions in two-plus seasons. Grade: B
17. Jonathan Allen (Washington)
Jonathan Allen saw the most action in 2018 for Washington. He returned from Lisfranc surgery that disrupted his rookie season for a solid year. The team has been lackluster this season and Allen is not seeing fulltime action. Grade: C-minus
19. O.J. Howard: (Buccaneers)
The Bucs were looking for a franchise TE when they selected O.J. Howard. The tight end has 60 catches and 11 TDs in his first two seasons. Grade: C
31. Reuben Foster: San Francisco 49ers
Reuben Foster found plenty of trouble in the short time he was in the NFL. A domestic incident led to his being cut by the Niners and controversially being picked up by Washington. The LB blew out his Achilles in the offseason and is done for 2019. Grade: F
2018: 11. Minkah Fitzpatrick (Dolphins)
Minkah Fitzpatrick was dealt from Miami to Pittsburgh in 2019 after requesting a trade. The DB has three career interceptions. Grade: B-plus
13. Daron Payne: (Washington)
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Daron Payne has started every game for Washington in his one-plus year career. He had five sacks as a rookie. Grade: B
22. Rashaan Evans: Tennessee Titans
Rashaan Evans has moved into the Tennessee starting linebacker corps after playing in 15 games and starting seven as a rookie. Grade: C-plus
Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley found an immediate home with fellow Crimson Tide WR Julio Jones in Atlanta. He had 10 TDs on 64 grabs for better than 800 yards as a rookie. Grade: B-plus
2019: 3. Quinnen Williams (Jets)
It has been a sluggish start for Quinnen Williams as a member of the New York Jets. He was derailed by injury and has missed a couple games while making one start. Grade: Incomplete
11. Jonah Williams (Bengals)
Jonah Williams’ rookie season ended before it started. He suffered a torn labrum and that ended his first season with the Bengals. Grade: Incomplete.
24. Josh Jacobs (Raiders)
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Josh Jacobs has delivered big time for the Raiders in his rookie season. Jon Gruden was hoping to get a franchise back with the selection of Jacobs and thus far he has delivered precisely what the Silver and Black coveted. Grade; B-plus
