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Terrion Arnold introduces himself live to Lions fans in electric fashion at 2024 NFL draft

Terrion Arnold shares wholesome moment with Detroit Lions fans after being selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Detroit Lions faithful had to wait over three hours for their hometown Lions to make their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but in the end, it was all worth it as they selected former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback [autotag]Terrion Arnold[/autotag] No. 24 overall. Aarnold was the seventh defensive player taken in the draft and the third former member of the Crimson Tide. 2024 marks the third straight year that the Lions have used their first-round selection on an Alabama player.

It is already one of the biggest nights in NFL draft history with over 275,000 fans live in attendance in Detroit. After being selected by the Lions, Arnold turned to the Lions fans while rejoicing, “I’m home man, I’m home.”

However, it was when Arnold told the crowd that he was going to help bring a Super Bowl back to Detroit that the crowd erupted. Arnold was a sensational player for the Crimson Tide in 2023, but it’s his infectious personality that made him so beloved in Alabama. His interaction with the fans was definitely one of the coolest moments of the night.

Terrion Arnold introducing himself to a sea of Detroit Lions fans is the best thing you’ll see tonight @BSMotorCity

pic.twitter.com/3MEZyNNw7x

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 26, 2024

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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.

Broncos picked up the fifth-year option on Pro Bowl CB Patrick Surtain, per source. pic.twitter.com/Qtch5cwyzx

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 23, 2024

Analyst warns Pittsburgh Steelers to avoid drafting Kool-Aid McKinstry

Bleacher Report journalist advises the Pittsburgh Steelers against drafting former All-American and Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

When it comes to the NFL draft, everyone has their opinions on players, but the reality is that nobody knows who will effectively transition to playing on Sundays. The 2024 NFL draft class will be the final group of [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag]-produced players as the legendary Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach decided to retire from coaching and join the College GameDay crew at ESPN.

One of the most intriguing Alabama players in the upcoming draft is cornerback [autotag]Kool-Aid McKinstry[/autotag] who was a three-year key contributor for the defense. Teams avoided throwing in the direction of McKinstry for the most part in 2023 so his numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he is one of the best coverage corners in the college game.

Despite all of that, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report advises the Pittsburgh Steelers against using their first-round pick on McKinstry. Pairing McKinstry with Minkah Fitzpatrick would be a dream come true for Alabama and Steelers fans, but Ballentine would disagree. Ballentine’s argument to avoid McKinstry doesn’t really have anything to do with him, but rather addressing their offensive woes.

Ballentine said of the pick,

“The Pittsburgh Steelers may be tempted to pair the Alabama product with Joey Porter Jr. if he’s still on the board at No. 20. However, the Steelers were 10th in passer rating allowed last season with a combination of Porter, Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace manning the cornerback spots. Meanwhile, the offense was 28th in scoring and 23rd in EPA per play, in part because their offensive line wasn’t up to snuff.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players as they prepare to make the transition to the NFL during the 2024 offseason.

Former Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry visits with the Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles and Kool-Aid McKinstry visit ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Heading into the 2023 college football season, Alabama Crimson Tide football cornerback [autotag]Kool-Aid McKinstry[/autotag] was a consensus projected top-ten pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Despite a very productive year for the Crimson Tide, Kool-Aid appears as if he will not be a top-10 pick and is more likely to be a mid to late-to-first-round pick. McKinstry only had 32 total tackles and seven passes defended, but quarterbacks tended to avoid going in his direction.

McKinstry is a former five-star recruit and a three-year starter for Alabama, I think he is going to walk into the league and be a day-one superstar for someone. As of right now, it seems as if the Philadelphia Eagles have some interest in Kool-Aid as they used a top-30 visit on him on Monday to meet ahead of this month’s draft. With Jalen Hurts, Landon Dickerson and DeVonta Smith all signing contract extensions with the franchise in the past year, it is no secret that the Eagles love their former Alabama players.

Alongside Kool-Aid, Terrion Arnold, Dallas Turner and JC Latham are all currently projected to be selected in the first round of this year’s draft. The 2024 draft is just nine days away as it will be taking place next Thursday, April 25th.

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry just wrapped up a 30 visit with the #Eagles, according to his representation at @vaynersports.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) April 15, 2024

PFF College grades Kool-Aid McKinstry as a top-10 player in CFB

Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry graded as the No. 7 player in CFB per PFF College

In the 2023 season, teams like Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State will pave the way to the College Football Playoff, but all three have flaws on their roster that leave the door open for other programs. At the same time, however, college football has maybe never been more talented.

The 2024 NFL draft is already speculated to be one of the strongest in recent memory. It will be headlined by generational talents like Caleb Williams at quarterback and Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver offensively. On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is widely regarded as the best player.

In PFF’s Top 10 players of the 2023 CFB season, McKinstry comes in as the highest defender ranking No. 7 overall. He is also the Tide’s highest-ranked player on the list. McKinstry was the leader of the Tide’s defensive secondary as he essentially shut down one side of the field. He only posted 35 tackles, one sack and one interception, but his lack of action has more to do with QBs being unwilling to throw the ball in his direction.

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Dallas Cowboys and Trevon Diggs agree on five-year extension worth $97 million

All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs signs five-year extension with Dallas Cowboys

Former Alabama cornerback, [autotag]Trevon Diggs[/autotag], inked a five-year extension today that will keep him with the Dallas Cowboys for the foreseeable future. The All-Pro DB’s deal will be worth $97 million but will have a maximum value of $104 million.

Diggs slid to the the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft where the Cowboys scooped him up at No. 51 overall. He has blown all expectations out of the water with two Pro Bowl appearances, a First-Team All-Pro selection, and 11 interceptions during the 2021 season, which was the most since Everson Walls in 1981. The craziest part is Diggs doesn’t turn 25 until next month so Dallas knows they have secured him for the majority of his prime.

Many people include the Cowboys in the 2023 Super Bowl discussion, and for that to come true they will need elite play from Diggs all season long. Outside of quarterback Dak Prescott, Diggs now becomes the highest-paid player on the Cowboys roster, but that will change whenever EDGE Micah Parsons’s time for an extension comes about.

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Former Alabama DB Patrick Surtain II ranked as the No. 1 CB by NFL personnel

Former Alabama DB Patrick Surtain voted as the No. 1 CB in the NFL according to executives, coaches and scouts

Under the guidance of Nick Saban, the University of Alabama has earned the nickname Defensive Back University, or ‘DBU,’ for the amount of talent they provide the NFL at the defensive back position over the last 16 years. Kareem Jackson, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were the first players to really put Saban’s defensive knowledge on the map, but in recent years we have seen guys like Patrick Surtain II, Marlon Humphrey and Minkah Fitzpatrick take the league by storm.

The expectations for Surtain have been through the roof since he was a child, but he has never once let it get to his head. Coming out of high school, Surtain was the No. 11 recruit in America and the No. 1 CB in the 2018 recruiting cycle. As a true freshman for the Tide, Surtain started 12 games which is pretty rare to have at a school like Alabama. In his three years in Tuscaloosa, Surtain totaled 116 tackles, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and 24 passes defended.

After Alabama’s 2020 National Championship campaign, Surtain chose to forego his senior year and was selected in the first round by the Denver Broncos with the No. 9 overall pick.

Surtain has been a massive asset for the Denver defense as he was a first-team All-Pro in 2022. The cornerback position has also never been better in the NFL with guys like Humphrey, Sauce Gardner, Trevon Diggs and others competing for the top spot. However, leading up to the 2023 season ESPN surveyed NFL executives, coaches and scouts (subscription required) about who the top ten cornerbacks in the NFL are.

The survey concluded that Surtain was the top corner in the league with an AFC scout saying, “He’s separated himself and I don’t think it’s close. If you’re picking a team, you’re taking him first.” Last year, Surtain was ranked No. 7 on the list, and at only 23 years old I don’t think he will be going anywhere anytime soon.

Marlon Humphrey, a three-time Pro Bowler, was also on the list coming in at No. 6. Trevon Diggs qualified as well coming in at No. 8 on the list. Diggs has been as high as No. 3, but was No. 10 going into last season.

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3 Seahawks share a reminder of Tyler Lockett’s awesome consistency

Lockett is indisputably one of the best receivers in Seahawks history

For years now, the Seattle Seahawks have boasted one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. While Ole Miss standout DK Metcalf makes plenty of headlines for his unique size and freakish athleticism, there is an argument to be made he might not even be the best receiver in Seattle.

That distinction could very well belong to Tyler Lockett, who has quietly worked his way into becoming an all time Seahawk. This isn’t me being a fan talking, the numbers back it up. Lockett is second all time in franchise history with 54 touchdowns, and is 520 yards away from being second in receiving yards.

Lockett has been able to climb the leaderboard thanks to a remarkable stretch in recent years. On Twitter, a reminder from user @Camd3n_10 went out about how Lockett is the only receiver to have at least 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in the last four seasons. Lockett’s Seattle teammates certainly took notice and shared it to their feeds.

Tariq Woolen retweeted it.

A reminder Tyler Lockett is the ONLY Wide Receiver to have at least 1,000 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in each of the past 4 seasons. https://t.co/XA4GZ9XCip pic.twitter.com/qhsIt0wSoO

— Cam (@Camd3n_10) June 8, 2023

Lockett’s great friend Quandre Diggs also took notice.

‼️‼️‼️ https://t.co/aGPBS2hM31

— Nino (@qdiggs6) June 9, 2023

And fellow Seahawks receiver Cody Thompson as well.

🗣️🗣️🗣️ https://t.co/sZiJrSj3RW

— Cody Thompson (@cthom1441) June 9, 2023

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Seahawks ranked among NFL’s top-10 most complete teams

No one is going to overlook the Seahawks this year

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The Seattle Seahawks shocked the NFL world last year. Seattle was picked to be among the worst teams in the league, but they certainly did not listen. Instead, the Seahawks won nine games and returned to the playoffs.

Now, after an offseason filled with a strong draft and shrewd free agent signings – such as bringing back Geno Smith, Bobby Wagner and newly acquired Dre’Mont Jones – Seattle looks to to be a player in a wide open NFC. No one is going to overlook the Seahawks this year, and they’re catching attention online.

On NFL.com’s list of Top 10 most complete teams, Seattle does make an appearance at No. 9 overall.

“There’s a reasonable argument that the Seahawks remain a bit thin on the defensive side, mostly on the back end, and that there are a few outstanding needs (such as defensive tackle) that are a bit worrisome. Finding a resurgent Geno Smith was a big development, and the past two draft classes have replenished the talent at several spots, including running back, the offensive line and the secondary.”

It’s fair to mention the defensive line, as the Seahawks did wait until day three of the draft to address the interior of the position group. But fans might raise their eyebrows at mention of being thin on the backside.

Seattle’s secondary looks to be one of the more suffocating in football, headlined by Quandre Diggs, the return of Jamal Adams, star second year corner Tariq Woolen and 2023 first round pick Devon Witherspoon.

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Jersey numbers for Seahawks rookies finalized and announced

Seattle’s newest class has their numbers being called… literally.

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The Seattle Seahawks will be sporting some new faces this year, but in some familiar numbers. Following the 2023 NFL draft, the Seahawks have officially finalized all the jersey numbers for their rookie class.

Fans will now be able to visualize their new rookies on the field, or perhaps even think about buying some of these, especially if they are fans of the school they’re from.

Below are the official jersey numbers for the 2023 class for the Seahawks:

CB Devon Witherspoon – 21
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 11
OLB Derick Hall – 58
RB Zach Charbonnet – 26
G Anthony Bradford – 70
NT Cameron Young – 93
DE Mike Morris – 94
C Olu Oluwatimi – 51
S Jerrick Reed II – 32
RB Kenny McIntosh – 25

Right off the bat some numbers stand out more than others. Of course, No. 25 belonged most recently to RB Travis Homer, but more famously Richard Sherman. No. 32 was Chris Carson’s number, and No. 26 was Shaquill Griffin. Interestingly. No. 32 and No. 26 have switched opposite sides of the field offensively and defensively with their new wearers.

And of course. No. 51 was most recently worn by former first round pick Bruce Irvin.

As a reminder, the following numbers are officially retired by the Seattle Seahawks and cannot be worn again, unless given special permission by the previous owner or their families:

12 – Fans
45 – Kenny Easley
71 – Walter Jones
80 – Steve Largent
96 – Cortez Kennedy