Category: Bama in NFL

Pro Bowl CB Patrick Surtain has fifth-year option picked up by Denver Broncos

Patrick Surtain has fifth-year option exercised by the Denver Broncos

The move comes as a surprise to nobody, but the Denver Broncos have officially picked up former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Patrick Surtain’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

Surtain has been arguably the best corner in the NFL over the past season or two with back-to-back Pro Bowl selections as well as a First-Team All-Pro nomination in 2022. Denver’s 2024 campaign will be Surtain’s fourth year in the NFL, so the fifth-year extension will technically be for the 2025 season.

The Broncos and Surtain will agree to a long-term deal later on down the road, but as of right now, Denver will happily keep him in town on a rookie deal. Once the two sides start talking about a new deal, Denver is going to need to be ready to open their wallets because he will likely reset the market.

When you are a lockdown corner it is hard to really quantify your value because teams generally avoid throwing in your direction, and last season Surtain only had 69 total tackles and one pick because teams were so afraid of his side of the field.

Great corners are a very rare commodity in the NFL and the Broncos are fortunate to have one of the few. The wildest part is that Surtain just turned 24 years old two weeks ago and is still yet to hit his prime.

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Former Alabama DB Levi Wallace signs with Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos announce they have signed former Alabama cornerback Levi Wallace.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football defensive back Levi Wallace has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos and has signed on with the franchise to a one-year deal.

Wallace was a former walk-on at Alabama and has an inspiring story. Though he was not drafted, he found his way onto the Buffalo Bills roster in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. After four seasons in Buffalo, Wallace signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, he stays in the AFC and moves out west to play for the Broncos.

In a video shared to social media, found below, Wallace describes his excitement in playing for Denver, stating that it’s “a dream come true” to play for his dad’s favorite team.

In 2023, Wallace recorded 36 total tackles and 11 defended passes. He looks to increase his production and serve in a larger role for the broncos in 2024.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Wallace and other former Alabama football players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Miami Dolphins expected to pick up Jaylen Waddle’s fifth-year option

Former Alabama wide receiver and Miami Dolphins star is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was the sixth overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Pairing him with his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a very smart move. Now, Waddle is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up by the Dolphins.

Waddle broke the NFL record for most receptions by a receiver in his rookie season. Since then, star receiver Tyreek Hill has joined the team, which led to Waddle’s role on the offense shrinking some. However, that has not prevented him from being a valuable member of the team’s receiving corps.

In 2023, Waddle reeled in 72 passes on 104 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He and Hill are often considered to be one of the strongest receiving duos in the entire league.

Miami’s general manager, Chris Grier, shared with reporters that the franchise plans on picking up his fifth-year option before the upcoming deadline to do so.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Waddle and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles agree to contract extension

WR DeVonta Smith and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year extension. The former Alabama receiver gets PAID.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver DeVonta Smith has received a hefty contract extension from the Philadelphia Eagles, according to NFL network insider Ian Rapoport. Smith’s new deal is worth $75 million over three seasons.

Smith was a star player for the Crimson Tide during his time in Tuscaloosa, and finished his collegiate career with a national championship and a Heisman Trophy, a rare instance where a wide receiver won the coveted award.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Eagles, Smith immediately became a valuable offensive weapon for the franchise. Through three seasons, he has a per-season average of 80 receptions for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns.

His time in the NFL is just getting started, and the front office in Philadelphia wanted to make sure he stays a member of the Eagles.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Smith and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Cleveland Browns, Jerry Jeudy agree to contract extension

Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland Browns have agreed to a large contract extension following his trade from the Denver Broncos.

Former Alabama standout wide receiver was selected No. 15 overall in the 2020 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Though he was a star at the collegiate level, the former Biletnikoff Award recipient had been relatively quiet in his first four seasons.

His lackluster numbers could be credited to inconsistent quarterback play. However, many still believe the young receiver has what it takes to be an elite pass-catcher in the league.

The Cleveland Browns front office is a believer. Roughly a week ago, the Browns sent a 2024 fifth and six-round picks to the Broncos to acquire Jeudy. Now, Cleveland has him under contract for the next three years thanks to an agreed-to contract extension.

The extension, reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is for three years and is worth up to $58 million with $41 million being fully guaranteed.

Jeudy has yet to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season, but came close in 2022. In that season, he reeled in 67 receptions for 972 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.

Now, he gets paired with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who Cleveland traded for ahead of the 2023 season, but had been sidelined for most of the season with an injury. The goal is to have Jeudy, and fellow former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, be a dangerous duo while catching passes from Watson.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. re-signs with Indianapolis Colts

Former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.

The Indianapolis Colts decided to bring back one former Alabama safety on Thursday. The Colts agreed to terms with safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. The Florida native spent the 2023 season with the Colts.

In 2023, Harrison Jr. played in seven games for the Colts. He made three starts on the year. Altogether, Harrison Jr. recorded 20 tackles and two interceptions. The Colts use Harrison Jr. at linebacker as well as at safety.

The Colts recently signed former Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis. Now, Harrison Jr. and Davis will be reunited in Indianpolis next season. Both figure to be key pieces on the Colts defense.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama football program and its former players in the NFL.

Former Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson signs two-year deal with Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers sign DT A’Shawn Robinson to a three-year $22.5 million deal

After spending the 2023 season with the New York Giants, former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle [autotag]A’Shawn Robinson[/autotag] will be joining the Carolina Panthers for the upcoming season on a three-year deal worth $22.5 million. The Panthers will be the fourth stop of Robinson’s career after being drafted to the Detroit Lions out of college.

Robinson had one of the most productive NFL seasons of his career in New York as he started 13 of 17 games and accounted for 62 total tackles and two passes defended. At this point in his career, Robinson is already Super Bowl Champion and securing his families financial freedom is probably his top priority.

The Panthers and Robinson had a ton of mutual interest as Carolina’s DC Ejiro Evero and Robinson worked together in Los Angeles. Robinson will be a key piece of Carolina’s defense that is now in the middle of a rebuild after trading away Brian Burns yesterday.

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Star RB Derrick Henry to sign with Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Henry has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, it will be the first time he’s with a team other than the Titans in nearly a decade.

At 30 years old, star running back Derrick Henry will start a new chapter in his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. After playing eight seasons in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans, Henry has swapped teams in the AFC.

The former Heisman Trophy recipient was a second-round selection in 2016 by the Titans. He has led the league in carries four times and twice led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Though many consider him to be old for his position, he has shown no signs of slowing down, which is surprising considering his style of play is rather physical as a downhill runner. In 2023, he had a league-high 280 carries for 1,167 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. On top of that, he added 28 receptions for 214 receiving yards, while completing two of three passing attempts for 14 yards and two touchdowns.

Baltimore looks to compete with the elites of the AFC, having one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Lamar Jackson. Adding Henry is huge for their quest to build a strong offensive presence that extends beyond Jackson.

The deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter is for two years worth up to $20 million with $9 million guaranteed.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Henry and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Landon Dickerson and Eagles agree on four-year contract extension

Former Alabama OL Landon Dickerson becomes highest paid guard in the NFL

NFL free agency is finally here and things are moving at a million miles per hour. Over the past couple of years, the Philadelphia Eagles have found a ton of success in the offseason, and 2024 seems to be no different. Obviously the retirements of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox are tough ones, but general manager Howie Roseman always has a plan.

The Eagles landed running back Saquon Barkley which was their splashy move, however, re-signing former Alabama guard [autotag]Landon Dickerson[/autotag] to an extension is nearly as important. Dickerson’s extension is good for four-years and will be worth around $84 million, making him the highest-paid guard in league history. $50 million of it will be guaranteed with $20 million coming as a signing bonus.

Dickerson has been a guard ever since he stepped into the league, but with Kelce’s retirement, it will be interesting to see if he moves back over to center. During his time with Alabama and Florida State, Dickerson was almost exclusively a center.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Josh Jacobs to sign with Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs will be making the move from Las Vegas to Green Bay as he plans to sign with the Packers in free agency.

Former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs will be leaving Las Vegas, after spending his entire career with the Raiders. The 2019 first-round selection will be heading to Green Bay, as reports state he will sign with the Packers.

Jacobs is one of the top ball carriers in the NFL and has continued to improve. Green Bay’s offense has pivoted away from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and has moved on to Jordan Love. The new-look offense performed well in 2023 and the addition of Jacobs could make it one to watch out for next season.

Last season, Green Bay utilized running backs AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones. Since this signing, the Packers have released Jones and have not yet decided on the future of impending free agent, Dillon.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Jacobs and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason heats up.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM.