Even though we haven’t taken a snap in the 2023 college football season, it is never too early to get excited about the NFL draft. Part of the fun is following the players that we expect to be high-end picks like Caleb Williams of USC and Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State to dominate. We also get to see the guys who come out of nowhere to have a massive season and improve their draft stock.
Looking ahead, the 2024 NFL Draft is already receiving a lot of buzz as one of the stronger in recent memory. Under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban, the Alabama Crimson Tide has dominated the first round of the NFL draft with 44 selections, so it should be no surprise to see them dominating this draft as well. This past season, they had three first-round picks, in Bryce Young, Will Anderson and Jahmyr Gibbs with Young and Anderson both going in the top three.
Surely there will be other Alabama players who play themselves into a first-round draft grade, but as we currently stand, JC Latham Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner are the only three receiving that projection. Jordan Reid of ESPN currently projects that all three of the Alabama players will go top 10 in his most recent 2024 NFL mock draft. (Subscription required)
Reid’s first projection is that the Titans will take Latham No. 6 overall. Tennessee has had a solid offensive line over the past few years and head coach Mike Vrabel is excellent, it would be a great landing spot for Latham. Reid says of the pick, “Latham is a strong and physical presence… He is a bruiser in the run game and surprisingly nimble for 6-5, 330-pound blocker, but he must reduce the 11 penalties he took in 2022.”
Next, the Las Vegas Raiders, who have grown to love Alabama talent, select Kool-Aid McKinstry as No. 9 overall. McKinstry is widely regarded as the best corner in college football with no clear No. 2. Reid says of the Raiders pick, “McKinstry is one of the most talented defensive players in the country and all of the physical attributes of a CB1… He stands out in man coverage, but he’s also a savvy zone defender with the ability to quickly read and react.”
With the very next pick, the Chicago Bears select Dallas Turner No. 10 overall. Turner has all of the traits to be a top-five pick and receive the same hype that Will Anderson did this draft. Reid is a fan of the pick saying, “Turner is raw and hasn’t quite figured out how to consistently string pass-rush moves together, but at 6-4, 240 pounds, he has impressive physical traits. He enters the 2023 season as the key part of the Alabama defensive front after recording 35 pressures and four sacks last season.”
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