Multiple former Alabama stars rank among top 25 players in the NFL under the age of 25

Alabama football continues to produce the best young talent in the NFL as voted by coaches and executives

The National Football League is more talented than it has ever been with players quickly establishing themselves as elite-level players before even turning 25. Part of that is because college development has never been better with programs like the Alabama Crimson Tide pumping out three to four first-round prospects every single year at the age of 21.

According to the Athletic, seven front-office executives and five NFL coaches came together to vote on the Top 25 players in the NFL under the age of 25, and former Crimson Tide players dominated the list (Subscription required). Broncos‘ Patrick Surtain II was voted No. 4, Jets‘ Quinnen Williams No. 7, Eagles‘ Jalen Hurts No. 8, Dolphins‘ Jaylen Waddle No. 11, Raiders‘ Josh Jacobs No. 17, Eagles’ DeVonta Smith No. 18 and Cowboys‘ Trevon Diggs No. 24.

If you look at essentially any roster in the NFL, you are more than likely going to find at least one former Alabama player who is a core piece of that franchise. The things Nick Saban has been able to do for his collegiate players are something we will never see again in our lifetime. In fact, this list will probably grow next year as Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr. and Jahmyr Gibbs are without a doubt three of the most exciting young players in this past draft.

People used to think that Nick Saban and the Alabama program worked you so hard in college that the juice was gone by the time they got to the NFL, now they are without a doubt the best program at producing NFL talent. For example, the list doesn’t even include Jerry Jeudy who has been the lone bright spot on an anemic Denver offense or Landon Dickerson who was a Pro Bowler for Philadelphia in 2022.

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DeVonta Smith ranked in the top 100 NFL Players of 2023

DeVonta Smith voted by NFL Players as Top 100 in the league

With only 45 days until the start of the NFL season (but who’s counting), The NFL is releasing its top 100 Players of 2023. The list is voted on by the players, and since it is your peers voting, not members of the media, it has a little bit of added meaning for the selected 100.

Former Alabama wide receiver and now Eagles stand-out, DeVonta Smith, has been selected into the NFL’s Top 100 entering only his third season in the league. Smith qualifies for the list by the skin of his teeth as the No. 100 overall player, but to be in the top 100 in the world in any profession means you’re the elite of the elite.

Smith didn’t miss a single game in 2022 as he started all 17 regular season games and all playoff games. In the regular season, he brought down 95 catches for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith alongside Pro Bowl WR teammate, A.J. Brown, were both key contributors in Jalen Hurts’ growth this year and played marquee roles in Philadelphia’s offense that ultimately finished their season with a Super Bowl defeat to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Eagles are thought to be the front runners in the NFC entering the season and everything is set up for Smitty to have a Pro Bowl season.

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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.

NFL sets salary cap at $198.2M per team for 2020 season

Following the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL has set the salary cap at $198.2 million for the 2020 season.

Sports might have ground down to a standstill around the country as the nation is facing a coronavirus pandemic, however, Sunday has proved to be a huge day around the NFL.

After player voting concluded Saturday evening and the ballots were tallied, the majority has approved the new collective bargaining agreement, which will be in effect through the 2030 NFL season.

Shortly after the ratification was approved, the league announced the new salary cap would be set at $198.2 million for 2020, a $10 million increase from last year but somewhat lower than some initially projected within the range proposed, which could have maxed out at $201.2 million.

This season’s increase marks the seventh year in a row the cap has gone up by at least $10 million but is the smallest since 2013.

The new league year, and the start of free agency, are set to kick off on Wednesday, March 18, but could be pushed back if the league decides to suspend operations as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

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