No program has become more synonymous with the first round than Alabama. Since 2000, 31 different Crimson Tide players have been taken on the first day.
That crop has had some major successes, a few major busts and a lot of players who fall somewhere in between. Here’s how we think all 31 rank:
31. Reuben Foster
Linebacker — Drafted 31st by the 49ers in 2017
If we were ranking this list by sheer talent, Foster might be near the top. Unfortunately his behavior has ensured he’ll stay near the bottom of this ranking. Though considered a can’t-miss prospect at linebacker, Foster fell in the draft after arguing with a student hospital worker at the combine and then turning in a diluted drug test. After an impressive rookie campaign, he was arrested for a weapons and drug offense in June 2018 before being arrested for domestic violence in November 18. He was claimed off waivers by the Redskins in November 2018 but tore his ACL in May 2019 and missed the entire ensuing season.
30. Rolando McClain
Drafted eighth by the Raiders in 2010
McClain was blessed a wealth of talent and had big games with both the Raiders and Cowboys, but his professional career was mostly a mess of missteps. His NFL career effectively ended in 2016 after his third violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
29. Dee Milliner
Drafted ninth by the Jets in 2013
Milliner is one of the only straight-up busts on this list. He played in the NFL for only three seasons: a lackluster rookie campaign for the Jets in 2013, followed by injury-marred seasons in 2014 and 2015. He was waived by the Jets in 2016 and never played in the league again.
28. Trent Richardson
Drafted third by the Browns in 2012
Trent Richardson busted out of the league after just three seasons with the Browns and Colts. His final tallies: 614 carries for 2,032 yards (3.3 YPC) and 17 touchdowns.
27. Jonah Williams
Drafted 21st by the Bengals in 2019
Williams missed all of his rookie season in 2019 after injuring his left shoulder before the season. He’ll get a chance to start moving up this list in the fall.
26. Chance Warmack
Drafted 10th by the Titans in 2013
Warmack never justified the high pick the Titans used on him. The team failed to pick up his fifth-year option. He’s since played for the Eagles and recently signed a one-year deal with Seattle.
25. Dre Kirkpatrick
Cornerback — Drafted 17th by the Bengals in 2012
Injuries hampered Kirkpatrick in his rookie season and he didn’t become a full-time starer for the Bengals until his fourth season. He was limited to just six games in 2019 because of a knee injury and is currently a free agent after being released by the Bengals on March 31.
24. DJ Fluker
Drafted 11th by the Chargers in 2013
Fluker is an outsized personality and someone you want in your locker room. He’d like to work at Microsoft one day. Now with the Seahawks, he’s been a solid pro, starting 88 games since 2013.
23. James Carpenter
Offensive lineman — Drafted 25th by the Seahawks in 2011
Injuries prevented Carpenter from being a true difference maker for the Seahawks. And while he started all 48 games for the Jets between 2015-17, he’s never made a Pro Bowl.
22. Quinnen Williams
Defensive lineman — Drafted third by the Jets in 2019
Williams had a so-so rookie season with the Jets, but it’s still early.
21. Kareem Jackson
Drafted 20th by the Texans in 2010
Jackson was a solid if not spectacular presence in the Texans for most of last decade. He signed a three-year deal with Denver just before the 2019 season.
20. Rashaan Evans
Inside linebacker — Drafted 22nd by the Titans in 2018
Evans has only been in the league two seasons, but he has a lot of room to move up this list. His play was a big reason the Titans were able to beat the Patriots in the playoffs. Tennessee made a good move trading up to draft him.
19. Andre Smith
Offensive lineman — Drafted sixth by the Bengals in 2009
Smith has had a good NFL career, but has never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, something you’d like to see from a player drafted sixth overall.
18. Mark Barron
Linebacker/safety — Drafted seventh by the Buccaneers in 2012
The Bucs used a high draft pick on Barron, but he only lasted a little over two seasons in Tampa Bay before being dealt to the Rams. He was a member of the NFC title squad in 2018 before landing with the Steelers a year later. He has nine interceptions and 12 sacks in his career.
17. Marcell Dareus
Defensive lineman — Drafted third by the Bills in 2011
Dareus had a great start to his career, making the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 before earning a six-year, $95 million contract extension with Buffalo. But he’s also been suspended twice for substance-abuse violations and has struggled with injury. He is currently a free agent after having the Jaguars decline his option last February.
16. OJ Howard
Tight end — Drafted 19th by the Buccaneers in 2017
Howard hasn’t been a bust by any means, but he also hasn’t put together the production you’d like when you spend the 19th pick on a tight end. Through three season, he’s caught 12 touchdown passes and gained 1,456 receiving yards in an offense where everyone is eating.
15. Da’Ron Payne
Defensive tackle — Drafted 13th by Redskins in 2018
Payne has been an effective run-stopper in a division that includes Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley. His pass rushing is another matter.
14. Calvin Ridley
Wide receiver — Drafted 26th by the Falcons in 2018
Ridley has had a great start to his career: Two seasons over 800 yards and 17 total touchdowns. Julio Jones’ presence on the other side of the line hurts his numbers, but Ridley will skyrocket up this chart if he ever gets the chance to prove himself as a No. 1 receiver.
13. Jonathan Allen
Defensive end — Drafted 17th by the Redskins in 2017
Allen has had a strong start to his career — 15 sacks through three seasons— and is an anchor on a team that includes 10 Alabama alums.
12. Ryan Kelly
Offensive lineman — Drafted 18th by the Colts in 2016
Andrew Luck called him the most underrated offensive lineman in the league, but the Colts have certainly noticed. Though he’s signed through the 2020 season, he’s in line for a big extension.
11. Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
Safety — Drafted 21st by the Packers in 2014
Clinton-Dix made the Pro Bowl for the Packers in 2016 after notching five interceptions. After one season with the Bears, he’s now with the Cowboys.
10. Josh Jacobs
Running back — Drafted 24th by the Raiders in 2019
Jacobs was amazing in his rookie season for the Raiders, rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in just 13 games. He’s set a high bar for himself going forward and the 262 carries are somewhat worrisome, but you have to give him the benefit of the doubt after that start.
9. Mark Ingram
Running back — Drafted 28th by the Saints in 2011
The former Heisman Trophy winner probably isn’t headed to the Hall of Fame, but he’s put together an awfully impressive career over the last nine seasons: 60 rushing touchdowns, another 10 receiving and almost 9,000 yards from scrimmage.
8. Marlon Humphrey
Cornerback — Drafted 16th by the Ravens in 2017
It seems like the Ravens never make a wrong pick. Humphrey has seven interceptions in three seasons and is coming off his first All-Pro honor.
7. Minkah Fitzpatrick
Safety — Drafted 21st by the Dolphins in 2018
After a strong rookie season, Fitzpatrick requested a trade from a struggling Miami team and landed in Pittsburgh. He was a big difference maker for the Steelers, intercepting five passes and making the All-Pro team in just his second season.
6. Dont’a Hightower
Drafted 25th by the Patriots in 2012
A two-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champ, Hightower has been a cornerstone of the Patriots’ defense for most of the last decade.
5. Amari Cooper
Wide receiver — Drafted fourth by the Cowboys in 2015
The Cowboys just rewarded Cooper with a big new contract and for good reason: He’s caught 33 touchdowns and has 5,097 receiving yards in just five seasons of work.
4. C.J. Mosley
Linebacker — Drafted 17th by the Ravens in 2014
Mosley was a Pro Bowler in four of his five seasons with the Ravens before signing a five-year, $85 million with the Jets. He unfortunately suffered a season-ending groin injury just two games into his Jets career, but he has a lot of time to recover at age 28.
3. Chris Samuels
Offensive lineman — Drafted third by the Redskins in 2000
Samuels was a stalwart on Washington’s o-line for an entire decade, making six Pro Bowls and starting all 141 games that he appeared in.
2. Shaun Alexander
Running back — Drafted 19th by the Seahawks in 2000
Alexander is somewhat of a forgotten superstar, but he was an absolute beast for Seattle in the early part of this century. Alexander played nine seasons in the NFL, rushing for 100 touchdowns and 9,453 yards. He set a then-NFL record with 27 rushing touchdowns in 2005.
1. Julio Jones
Wide receiver — Drafted sixth by the Falcons in 2011
With 57 career touchdowns and over 12,000 receiving years, Jones is on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He’s made the Pro Bowl seven times, the most of any Alabama first-rounder on this list.
