Latest 2021 NFL mock draft has 6 Alabama players drafted in 1st round

According to the latest mock draft by CBS Sports, there are 6 Alabama platers being predicted to be drafted in the first round.

The 2020 college football season may not have even started but conversations regarding the 2021 NFL Draft have been happening since the 2020 NFL Draft ended. According to the latest mock draft by CBS Sports, there are 6 Alabama platers being predicted to be drafted in the first round.

This past draft, Alabama had four players drafted in the first round. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa was drafted by Miami as the fifth pick, Jedrick Wills Jr. was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 10th pick, Henry Ruggs III was drafted as the 12th pick by the Las Vegas Raiders and Jerry Jeudy was the last Alabama player taken off the board in the first round as the 15th pick to the Denver Broncos.

Could Alabama beat that next year and have six players drafted in the first round? Time will tell, but let’s see which six players CBS Sports has being drafted, and where:

9. Miami Dolphins — WR Devonta Smith, Alabama

DeVonta Smith
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) breaks free for a touchdown against Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on Saturday October 12, 2019. Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser

“Smith was overshadowed a bit by Alabama’s first-round receivers. With a larger platform this season, there will be no denying his talent. Smith should cement himself as a first-round talent.”

Just imagine: Devonta Smith and Tua Tagovailoa on the same team again. That would be INCREDIBLE to witness in the NFL. Last season, Smith was splitting reps with Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, both of which were first-round draft picks. Even while splitting reps with Jeudy and Ruggs, Smith still recorded an impressive 68 receptions for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns, one of which sparked a second-half comeback against the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl. This season will be Smith’s best. Just wait.

3 Alabama seniors listed as top-50 draft prospects

Hall of Fame NFL executive Gil Brandt listed his top-50 seniors in college football as we look ahead to the 2021 NFL draft.

Former Vice President of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys Gil Brandt took to Twitter to post a series of tweets listing his top-50 senior prospects for the 2021 NFL draft.

Football fans all across the country began looking into the 2021 draft as soon as the 2020 draft concluded. Brandt hopped on that bandwagon, not by making a mock draft, but by listing of seniors, who he feels will shine in the upcoming college football season, into the spotlight.

In Brandt’s list, three Alabama seniors get their name called.

Senior offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood made the list as one of two SEC linemen. Leatherwood decided to return for his senior season instead of joining Jedrick Wills by entering the NFL draft.

There is only one SEC wide receiver listed and that is Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. Smith decided to return to Alabama for his senior season, it was unclear whether he would be a first-round draft choice or not. He will headline the Alabama wide receiver corps alongside junior Jaylen Waddle.

The last member of the Crimson Tide to be named in Brandt’s top-50 is running back Najee Harris. Much like Leatherwood and Smith, Harris could have entered the NFL draft, but chose to wait one more year. Harris is one of three SEC running backs, the other two being Mississippi State’s Kylin Hill and Missouri’s Larry Rountree III.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

2021 mock draft has 7 Alabama players first round

Miller, like most draft analysts, understand that there will more than likely be an Alabama presence in the first round of the NFL draft…

NFL draft expert, Matt Miller with Bleacher Report, released his ‘way too early’ mock draft for the 2021 cycle.

Miller, like most draft analysts, understands that there will more than likely be another strong representation from Alabama standouts in the first round. Four Crimson Tide products heard their names called during the 2020 NFL Draft, after all.

In Miller’s first mock draft for 2021, seven different Alabama players were selected in the first round.

It’s important to note that we are still extremely far away from the next draft taking place. Some of the players mentioned are entering their junior season, which means they may elect to stay for their senior year rather than entering the draft.

Here’s where the former members of the Crimson Tide landed:

30: Baltimore Ravens – LaBryan Ray, IDL

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Miller claims that Ray is the second best defensive lineman in the 2021 draft class and the Ravens get a steal by selecting him this late in the first round.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Patrick Surtain II, CB

Patrick Surtain
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Surtain is credited for having the NFL in his blood, but Miller also states that he is a fast and physical defensive back that is “tough to beat.”