Steen, 22, played as a graduate transfer with the Crimson Tide after playing from 2018-21 with Vanderbilt. The 6-6, 315-pound tackle started 13 games for Alabama last season while earning second-team all-SEC honors.
Checking out the tackle market in the draft would be prudent for Houston as right tackle Tytus Howard is entering the final year of his contract. The Texans also have tackle Charlie Heck, who has started 17 of his 35 games played, entering the final year of his contract.
An undersized wide receiver and an under-the-radar lineman may actually be perfect for Dallas, says the network’s draft expert. | From @ToddBrock24f7
There’s no way to know for sure, but in all likelihood, the big board of every team in the NFL probably looks a whole lot like the big board of every other team, at least for the first 60 or 70 prospects. Sure, there will be discrepancies and the occasional outlier here and there, but by and large, everyone– owners and GMs, TV talking heads and certified draft gurus, basement bloggers and casual fans- is talking about all the same guys.
It’s where they will all end up that makes it so captivating.
NFL.com’s draft analyst Chad Reuter has been poring over the names for a lot longer than most, so when he plays matchmaker and pairs up a college prospect with the club that he says is the “ideal” fit, it’s worth noting.
That’s exactly what he’s done for for the first two picks for each team. Not a mock draft per se, the exercise sends each club what they need most while also being realistic about which players will theoretically be available once they’re on the clock.
For the Cowboys, Reuter addresses two positions that it’s no secret they’ll be focused on early in the draft proceedings.
Where Alabama’s non-first-rounders could be selected in the 2023 NFL draft!
Unfortunately, the first round of the NFL draft always takes the limelight. But the truth is, the first round doesn’t provide all of the talents that NFL fans will see next season.
While the Alabama football team is expected to see as many as four first-round selections later this month, as many as nine others could hear their names called over the final six rounds of the draft.
Even though the big four in Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., Brian Branch, and Jahmyr Gibbs are dominating the headlines, today we will look at Alabama’s non-first-rounders and when and where they will most likely be selected.
Bryce Young falls to No. 4 in Draft Wire’s latest three-round 2023 NFL mock draft!
In just a little over three weeks, the 2023 NFL draft will get underway from Chicago. As is the case each year, the Alabama Crimson Tide is expected to be well represented in the form of selections.
With the draft quickly approaching, mock drafts are flying off the shelf seemingly every minute. On Monday, our friends over at Draft Wire released an updated three-round mock draft following the first wave of NFL free agency.
A total of eight former Alabama football stars were projected in this particular mock, but perhaps the biggest shock of all is the fact that star quarterback Bryce Young fell to pick No. 4 and the Indianapolis Colts.
Let’s take a look at where each former member of the Crimson Tide is projected to be selected!
Here’s a breakdown of ESPN’s 7-round mock draft for the Colts.
With the 2023 NFL draft just one month away, the mock drafts have only increased in volume, and the Indianapolis Colts are one of the teams setting the tone for the offseason’s biggest weekend.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid published a full seven-round mock draft going through all 259 picks, which means we now have the chance to break down the selections he made for Indy.
Reid’s collective haul for the Colts was impressive. The selections he made in the mock are very “Chris Ballard like” both in the value and the profiles of the prospects.
Here’s a look at the Colts’ haul from Reid’s full mock draft:
Here’s a look at who Dallas could select, but more importantly how they’d be used if brought to the Cowboys. OL gets two, but CB, WR and RB get boosts. | From @KDDrummondNFL
The toughest part about doing a mock draft simulation where AI makes picks for the 31 teams you don’t control, is what happens when prospects you have no belief will actually slide, slide. Do you pick them, knowing that in real life there’s always going to be a handful of players who the draft community is way off from NFL front office evaluations?
Do you bypass them, searching for the nexus of realism and function? The simple answer is… it doesn’t matter. Mock drafts are fun, but they are thought exercises that give one of a gazillion possibilities and shouldn’t be taken any more seriously than your morning Wordle-Quordle streaks starting over.
In our latest mock, we run into this problem with a player who was under heavy consideration in Round 2, somehow making it to Round 3. If that player dropped in real life, Dallas would more than likely sprint to the podium. So who are we to deny the fates given us by the AI overlords?
What does a mock draft look like now that the Browns have acquired a receiver and slid back to pick 74?
The Cleveland Browns were able to fill the biggest remaining need after they traded with the New York Jets for former second-round wide receiver Elijah Moore on Wednesday. By filling most of the glaring holes on the roster, the team isn’t pigeon held into taking certain players at a position of need. No picking 32 spots later at pick 74, we have a perfect opportunity for another mock draft!
With this flexibility, the team can try and focus on the best player available approach. Though rookies could contribute if they are ready, having the ability to let them grow and develop first would be the best approach for the Browns long term. Let’s take a look at how the draft could play out now with the shake-up of the Elijah Moore trade.
Our Russell Brown highlights some later-round OTs that can take over the important No. 3 tackle role in Detroit
This past week, the Detroit Lions had some notable news that they wouldn’t be giving an RFA offer to offensive tackle Matt Nelson. I’d consider that significantly important as the Lions don’t have much for a backup tackle on the roster.
Dan Skipper is set to hit the free agent market and while he could be back, he’s only started in 5 games while playing in a total of 29 games. Aside from Skipper, they’ve got two practice squad tackles with Obinna Eze and Darrin Paulo. While they could surprise us, I still wouldn’t expect much contribution from either player if the Lions were in a pinch. Time will tell with both of those players.
That’s why having a player like Matt Nelson on the roster was nice. He wasn’t overly impressive, but when he spot-started two years ago, there were some flashes. During his 40-game career with the Lions, Nelson started 12 games and played 987 snaps. Meanwhile, he only gave up 3 sacks in his career while playing as an in-line tight end and right tackle.
There’s a chance that the Lions bring back Nelson or Skipper, or they could bring back both players. The next week or so, we’ll find out what the depth chart looks like at offensive tackle for the Lions. If neither player is back, specifically Matt Nelson, the Lions will be in need of another offensive tackle. Let’s take a look at three offensive tackles that the Lions could consider during the 2023 NFL Draft!
Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
Over the past week or so, I watched the tape of Alabama offensive tackle Tyler Steen and the more I watched, the more I liked. He checked into the Scouting Combine at 6’6″ and 321 pounds with 32 3/4″ arms. An impressive feat for Steen because when I asked around about him, many people thought he’d move inside to guard due to his arm length.
Watched Alabama OT Tyler Steen yesterday and the more I watched, the more I liked his overall game. He's not a perfect prospect and will need some refinement but plenty to like within his game.
That might not be the case after he checked into the Scouting Combine and put up 31 reps in the bench press. But if that’s not enough for you to buy-in, you can go to the tape. In the three games I watched of Steen, you’ll see his ability to anchor and reset his hands consistently against the opposition.
Meanwhile, he’s got the desired foot speed to match speed rushers off the edge or those that try to cross his face with an inside pass rush move. He’s got strong hands and displays the ability to turn and redirect defenders while opening rushing lanes.
Prior to playing at Alabama, Steen was a starting tackle at Vanderbilt. During his 3 years with the Commodores, he had over 1400 snaps at left tackle and almost 800 snaps at right tackle. While he gave up 11 sacks at Vanderbilt, he cleaned up much of his technique at Alabama and only gave up 2 sacks this past season for the Crimson Tide (per PFF).
On my board, Steen ended up with a solid third-round grade, but he could very well be available during the early portion of Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft. Whether it’s the 3rd or 4th round, the Lions should pounce on the opportunity of selecting Tyler Steen out of Alabama. He’d provide guard and tackle flexibility for Detroit, which the Lions will desperately need moving forward.
RichardGouraige, OT, Florida
Per editor Jeff Risdon’s request, I’ve got to talk about Richard Gouraige from Florida. And I’m glad I get to do that because Gouraige was someone that I wasn’t going to watch until closer to the draft but he had some impressive flashes on tape.
Measuring at the Combine at 6’5″ and 306 pounds with 34″ arms, Gouraige checked off a lot of boxes. Another one of those players that got labeled as a potential player to move inside to guard, he might end up finding a spot at tackle for a team. While he didn’t do any of the drills at the Combine, his frame is intriguing, and it stands out with his strong lower half.
When putting on the tape, Gouraige plays under control and shows the consistent ability to reset his hands. He’s got strong hands and is able to steer defenders away from quarterbacks and running backs while also being able to maul them into the ground. Meanwhile, he utilizes his length by locking out defenders and preventing them from even sniffing around the pocket. Now, there are times that he’s slow out of the gate and his foot speed will get tested against faster pass rushers or a blitz off the edge.
At around 9:20 pm, one player wandered onto an empty Lucas Oil field
Per PFF, he played over 2600 career snaps with over 1500 of those snaps coming at left tackle and the rest coming at left guard. The more impressive stat for Gouraige is that he’s only given up four sacks in his career.
It’s worth noting that I do know of the Lions staff and scouting staff to be at Florida Gator games at least five times this year. Maybe they were there for a defensive player, quarterback Anthony Richardson or right guard O’Cyrus Torrence. But there could also be a chance that they were down there to get their eyes on Richard Gouraige. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out but Lions fans need to keep tabs on Gouraige during the third day of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
It’s somewhat shocking that when people talk about finding a swing tackle in the middle rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, they don’t talk more about Carter Warren. Maybe it’s because he’s coming off an injury but I think this prospect deserves more buzz. While his tape doesn’t scream elite, it’s still very good.
Warren checked into the Scouting Combine at 6’5″ and 311 pounds with 35 3/8″ arms. Maybe we’d be talking about him more if he would have worked out at the Combine but unfortunately, he’s saving that for his Pro Day. We do know that Warren is a long-armed offensive tackle that plays light on his feet.
For the 2023 NFL Draft, my favorite mid-round OT is Carter Warren from Pittsburgh. He was only limited to four games this past year due to a season ending injury but he'll participate at the Scouting Combine and I'm intrigued with how he'll test. Listed at 6-5 and 325, this is a… https://t.co/YI26BX8EOYpic.twitter.com/ac8Rn92vna
While he does have quick feet and great length, Warren does have a thinner lower half and doesn’t always keep his base as wide as he should. This does allow him to get knocked around or to play off-balance. But he does a good job of working his hands and is able to transfer his weight consistently from his post-foot to his set foot.
Much of this has transitioned to success during his four-year career for Pittsburgh. Per PFF, he’s played over 2100 career snaps at left tackle and has only given up six sacks in his career. Looking at his athletic frame and length, Warren screams to be a mid-round prospect. There’s a good chance he becomes a swing tackle for an NFL team, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he carved out some type of starting role for a team.
Roll Tide Wire takes a look at the 13 Alabama players that were recently invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. The combine will last from Feb. 28-March 3.
The Alabama football program will be well-represented at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. 13 Alabama players will be present at the combine which is scheduled to last from Feb. 28 to March 3. The event will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nick Saban and his coaching staff work hard to develop players into better young men on and off the field. It has proven to work out for most as his former players have made it to the league or taken on other occupations outside of the football realm.
Roll Tide Wire takes a look at the 13 players that received their invitation to participate in the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
A look at the six former Alabama football players competing in the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl down in Mobile.
It’s Senior Bowl week down in Mobile, Al. as a collection of some of the best talent in the country will compete in front of NFL coaches and scouts to help their respective draft prospects.
[autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and Alabama will have a total of six former players competing throughout the week.
Each of Alabama’s prospects has a great deal to prove if they want to see their NFL draft stock rise because there is no “super-stars” among the group.
This will be the last time we will see these six former Tide players wearing the famous crimson helmets before they move on to, hopefully, the NFL.
Let’s take a quick look at the six former Alabama players competing in this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl.
