The NFL Draft is coming up at the end of April and the Alabama Crimson Tide has a total of 16 prospects eligible to get drafted in 2024. The first five Tide players projected to get picked off the board are mostly defensive players, so let’s take a look and go over these players’ strengths and weaknesses to see where they might end up in the NFL, and what teams could draft these five elite defensive players to improve their defense going forward.
Alabama Crimson Tide #1 Defensive Player Dallas Turner Projected First Off The Board For The Tide In 2024 NFL Draft
Dallas Turner arrived in Tuscaloosa with a reputation as one of the nation’s most elite prospects out of high school, earning him a five-star rating. He chose to attend Alabama, where he quickly make an impact on the field. In Turner’s freshman year, he played 15 games, getting 18 solo tackles, three assists, nine sacks, and 25 pressures showing his ability to disrupt the quarterback.
In his sophomore year, Turner’s role increased, playing 609 snaps over 12 games. Improving his tackle count to 23 solo tackles and nine assists, with five sacks and 35 total pressures. His skill set as a pass rusher has kept him in the spotlight as an NFL prospect being projected by many analysts like Mel Kiper Jr, Field Yates, and others to be selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the Falcons’ eighth overall pick.
#1 Offensive Lineman For The Crimson Tide Projected Next Off The Board For Alabama
Number one offensive lineman for the Tide, and product of IMG Academy High School JC Latham is next up off the board for the tide. Latham was a standout athlete, earning him a five-star recruit status from ESPN and a five-star grade from 247 Sports with a grade of 100, which is absolutely insane and unheard of. Upon joining Alabama, Latham saw significant playing time as a freshman in 2021.
Over the course of nine games, he took part in 142 snaps mostly at right guard, allowing just two quarterback hits, with no sacks conceded. That performance set a foundation for his collegiate career, showcasing his ability to adapt to the collegiate level very quickly and effectively. In 2022 Latham’s role expanded significantly playing 12 games and taking on 821 snaps at right tackle.
Playing right tackle, Latham was tasked with the vital role of protecting the quarterback, a job that he executed with precision. Throughout the 2022 season, he allowed 10 quarterback hurries, one quarterback hit, and didn’t allow any sacks, protecting the quarterback at all costs. This switch proved extremely helpful in his development, as he went on to claim the starting right tackle position at Alabama in 2022.
His no sack stats over 13 starts at the right tackle position is a testament to his effectiveness in pass protection. Latham’s consistent performance on the field, highlighted by his ability to maintain a clean record pass blocking, establishes his credentials as he makes his transition to the NFL. A team that makes perfect sense for a player like Latham is the Cincinnati Bengals, this is the perfect pick for the Bengals to fix their offensive line problem.
Next Up Rank Off The Board For The Tide #1 Cornerback Terrion Arnold
Arguably the best DB in the 2024 draft class Terrion Arnold was a 4four-star recruit according to ESPN and received a five-star grade from 247 Sports. In 2022, Arnold played in nine games, taking 549 snaps at corner. His season included 35 tackles, eight assists, seven stops, even pass breakups, and an interception. Just last season in 2023, he increased his playing time to 13 games with 780 snaps.
His performance also improved with 47 tackles, 13 assists, and 21 stops. With 12 pass breakups, and five interceptions. This above-average performance will have any team comfortable deploying him as their number-one corner on defense. Arnold could go anywhere, teams like the Raiders, Falcons, and even the Saints, but the best fit for Arnold is the Indianapolis Colts who plenty of other analysts would agree, but Arnold could be picked up by any team needing a corner in the first round considering he’s the number-two corner in the draft behind Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell.
Projected Next Up Off The Board For The Tide Another Defensive Back?
Ga’Quincy McKinstry, otherwise known as “Kool-Aid”, made a name for himself at Pinson Valley High School. With a four-star recruit rating from ESPN and a five-star from 247 Sports. In his freshman year at Alabama, he played 11 games and had 10 tackles, 13 assists, three stops, a pass breakup, and an interception.
In 2022, McKinstry upped his game in his sophomore campaign, playing 12 games totaling 794 snaps 300 more than the previous year. He recorded 29 tackles, six assists, seven stops, 13 pass breakups, and another interception, though his quarterback rating when thrown his way dropped. McKinstry is known for his cool persona, hence the nickname “Kool-Aid” given to him by his grandmother.
He was the best defensive back on Alabama alongside Terrion Arnold in the time he played there. Now, the question is what team could he fit well with in the NFL? McKinstry should go in the first round to a team that needs help in that position like the Jacksonville Jaguars, for example.The Jaguars would be a perfect fit for McKinstry and they need to go ahead and draft him with their 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
5th Alabama Crimson Tide Player Projected Off The Board In Day 2
The fifth out of the 16 Alabama players in the NFL draft is projected to be drafted on day two. In 2021 Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell joined the Tide as a freshman and saw action in 12 games, recording nine tackles and three assists while adding eight stops. In his sophomore year in 2022, Braswell played in another 12 games, and recorded 11 tackles and two assists, while adding 11 stops, and four sacks.
In 2023 as a junior Braswell played in 13 games and recorded 21 tackles and 14 assists, while making 24 stops. He also recorded 31 quarterback hurries, 10 quarterback hits, and an astounding 13 sacks on the year. He may not get drafted on day one but Braswell is an easy early day two pick, the most plausible is most likely the Bills, Lions, or Buccaneers according to the NFLMockDraftDatabase.