The 2025 NFL Draft starts on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the 32 first-round picks. AL.com is counting down to the event by highlighting the best choice – overall, from the SEC and of players from Alabama high schools and colleges — made with each of the first 32 picks in the 89 NFL drafts.
Best No. 10 pick: Purdue cornerback Rod Woodson by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987
In 17 NFL seasons – the first 12 as a cornerback and the final five as a free safety – Woodson intercepted 71 passes and returned a league-record 12 for touchdowns.
In the course of 11 Pro Bowl invitations and six first-team All-Pro selections, Woodson won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 1993 season.
Woodson became a Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2000 season.
In 2019, Woodson was named to the NFL All-Time Team selected for the league’s centennial.
The 10th selection in last year’s draft was Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy by the Minnesota Vikings.
Best No. 10 pick from the SEC: Auburn offensive tackle Willie Anderson by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1996
Four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame entered the NFL as the 10th selection in a draft:
- Iowa defensive tackle Alex Karras by the Detroit Lions in 1958
- Southern Cal running back Marcus Allen by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982
- Purdue cornerback Rod Woodson by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987
- Notre Dame running back, Jerome Bettis by the Los Angeles Rams in 1993
Anderson almost has made it five.
For each of the past four classes for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Anderson has reached finalist status only to come up one step short of entering the football shrine. And because of a new procedure for selecting the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s membership, Anderson already is a finalist for the Class of 2026.
Of the 17 SEC players who have been the No. 10 pick in draft, the most recent is Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who was chosen by the Chicago Bears in 2023.
Best No. 10 pick with Alabama football roots: Auburn offensive tackle Willie Anderson by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1996
A standout at Vigor High School, Anderson earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team as he established himself as a fixture at right tackle for Cincinnati.
Anderson started every Bengals game except for two from 1997 through 2006. From 2003 through 2006, he was on the AFC Pro Bowl team annually, and he made first-team All-Pro in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Anderson blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers and was upfront for two record-setting games by running back Corey Dillon — an NFL rookie record 246 rushing yards against the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 and an NFL record 278 rushing yards versus the Denver Broncos in 2000.
Anderson played in 195 regular-season games and four playoff contests during his 13 NFL seasons.
The Chicago Bears hold the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft on April 24.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
