The 2023 NFL draft just wrapped up in the past few weeks and the incoming rookies are still months away from their first NFL action, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead to the 2024 draft. Granted we are a year away, but the 2024 draft is already viewed as one of the strongest drafts in recent memories with guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State and Caleb Williams of USC headlining the class.
As they are every year, Alabama football will be heavy players in the first round according to PFF’s way-too-early 2024 mock draft. PFF currently projects three Crimson Tide players to be selected in the first round.
The first Alabama player off the board will be Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 7 overall to the Los Angeles Rams saying, “As of now, this would be the first first-round pick the Rams have had since selecting Jared Goff No. 1 in 2016. After trading away Jalen Ramsey, the Rams need to find their next No. 1 corner. McKinstry can fill that role. He was a first-team All-American for PFF this past season, and his 18 forced incompletions tied for second among all corners in the country. He also led all Power Five players with 332 punt return yards.”
Their second projection is that the New England Patriots will help protect Mac Jones and bolster their offensive line by selecting JC Latham at No. 12 overall. They defend this projection by saying, “Latham was an elite pass-protector at right tackle for Alabama this past season as a sophomore. He earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets, fourth among all tackles in the country. On 486 pass-blocking snaps, he only allowed one hit and didn’t give up a sack.”
Their final projection is that the Chicago Bears will take elite edge rusher Dallas Turner off the board with the No. 14 overall selection. PFF goes on to add, “The Bears took two interior defensive linemen on Day 2, now they need to find some juice along the edge. Turner has been overshadowed by Will Anderson Jr. for the last two years, but he’s a star in his own right. Since 2021, Turner’s 14 sacks are tied for the second-most among returning Power Five edge defenders.”
Even though there are only three players listed right now, don’t be surprised if a few other guys play themselves into first round picks like Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams have in recent years.
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