Highlighting Alabama’s 2017 NFL Draft Picks

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All in all, it was another successful NFL Draft for Nick Saban and the kings of the SEC. The vaunted SEC Champion Alabama Crimson Tide saw 10 players drafted, which was second only to Michigan’s 11. It’s yet another recruiting tool for Saban to use to reload his program with the nation’s top talent.

Let’s take a look at each Tide selection and examine how they fit in with their new team…

Baltimore Ravens, Round 1 (16th overall): Marlon Humphrey – Who would’ve thought Humphrey would be the first Tide player off the board? We all know Ozzie Newsome loves him some Alabama Crimson Tide. But, his Ravens are in dire need of an offensive playmaker and they didn’t draft a single one. That only affect Humphrey in the sense that he’ll be on the field more when the Ravens offense is forced into 3-and-out after 3-and-out.

Humphrey is a strong cover guy with experience in multiple coverages – a benefit of playing for the Crimson Tide defense. Was he the best corner available? Yes. Probably not the Ravens biggest need, but he’ll get a chance to play right away. My concern with Humphrey is that he’ll have to play four games a season against either Antonio Brown or A.J. Green. He doesn’t track the ball well down the field, so if he doesn’t correct that, he’s going to get burned repeatedly.

Washington Redskins, Round 1 (17th overall): Jonathan Allen –The Redskins offense has electric potential. It’s the unquestioned strength of the team. They added Terrelle Pryor to the mix, so this draft was about building the defense up. Boy, did they luck out. Injury concerns caused Allen to slide all the way to #17, where the ‘Skins were happy to snatch him up. His disruptive versatility could define their defensive line. I said he was the best player in this draft, and I would not be surprised at all to see him make an impact right away.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 1 (19th overall): O.J. Howard – The Bucs clearly want to build around young quarterback Jameis Winston. The team finished 2nd in the NFC South in 2016 and appear to be a serious contender in the NFC in 2017. Howard adds a dimension to their offense that they didn’t have before. He’s a mismatch nightmare that should be a game-breaker from the get-go.

San Francisco 49ers, Round 1 (31st overall): Reuben Foster –General manager John Lynch said Foster was one of their three highest-rated players. To get him at #31 is absurd, but a variety of factors caused him to slide. He’s a tone-setter on defense with ridiculous range and aggression.

Jacksonville Jaguars, Round 2 (34th overall): Cam Robinson –Many thought Robinson would be the fifth Tide player taken in the first round, but even with a thin group of offensive line prospects, he slid to the second round. Jacksonville needs a revamp along the offensive line unless they want Blake Bortles playing another season on his back. Robinson will have a chance to start immediately.

Washington Redskins, Round 2 (49th overall): Ryan Anderson –As I mentioned about Allen, the Redskins are all about beefing up the defense now. Anderson will be a key contributor in the pass rush rotation.

New York Giants, Round 2 (55th overall): Dalvin Tomlinson – Of all the Alabama players selected, Tomlinson ended up in the best situation. He’ll be able to come in and contribute right away, but won’t feel immense pressure to perform. He’s surrounded by Jason Pierre-Paul, Damon Harrison, and Olivier Vernon, so he’ll be able to play his game. High tide raises all ships, right?

Baltimore Ravens, Round 3 (78th overall): Tim Williams – Ozzie Newsome gets another piece to the defensive puzzle. Williams is a pure pass rusher, but in Baltimore, he won’t be counted on to do it alone. He’ll have an opportunity to ease in to the NFL, where he’ll play alongside form Tide great C.J. Mosley.

New York Jets, Round 3 (79th overall): ArDarius Stewart – Stewart will have a better NFL career than his college career. Often underutilized, he can do it all in the passing game. He doesn’t have elite speed and probably won’t beat NFL corners, but he’s the quintessential Swiss Army Knife. Stewart can line up in the slot, out wide, or in the back field. Hell, Stewart can even throw the ball. He goes to an offense that’s rather devoid of talent, so he could end up being the #1 weapon in New York.

Chicago Bears, Round 4 (112th overall): Eddie Jackson – Important question here: does Eddie Jackson have both legs? It’s an honest concern, but seriously – good for Jackson. He wasn’t able to run at the combine, and it definitely hurt his stock. But, as they say, the tape don’t lie. Chicago’s roster is pretty thin, so assuming he can get back on the saddle, he’ll have a real chance to play.

All in all, this was a solid class. These guys are going into positions where they’ll have a chance to play and contribute immediately. It’s like a double whammy for Saban – not only is he getting players drafted, but they’re being drafted where they can play in the NFL right away.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@WrestlingNewsCo

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