Kalen DeBoer talks Lee Corso retirement, Alabama football spring
Here’s what the Alabama football coach said about the retirement of “College GameDay” analyst Lee Corso.
Alabama‘s run under coach Nick Saban was unlike any in modern college football history, with the Crimson Tide winning nine SEC championships and six national titles in the final 15 years of his legendary 17-year tenure in Tuscaloosa.
Over the course of that dynastic run, Alabama sent more than its fair share of players to the NFL, with 129 players drafted between 2010 and 2024.
Though Saban’s no longer roaming the sideline at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the program he oversaw will be sending more than a few players this month to the NFL, nearly 16 months after his retirement.
The 2025 NFL Draft gets started with Thursday night’s first round at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with Alabama — as is often the case — having at least one player expected to hear his name called among the first 32 picks. All-SEC linebacker Jihaad Campbell is widely projected as a first-round pick after a strong junior season. Beyond him, though, coach Kalen DeBoer‘s program has several other players who are expected to be selected by one of the NFL’s 32 teams, none of which has attracted more pre-draft intrigue than quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Which Tide standouts are on their way to the NFL? And where will they end up?
Here’s a look at where Alabama players are projected to go in the 2025 NFL draft:
Alabama football players in 2025 NFL mock drafts
LB Jihaad Campbell: Round 1, No. 16 overall to the Arizona Cardinals
The latest 2025 NFL mock draft from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis has Campbell going with the No. 16 overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals. Should Campbell be picked there, it would mark the 17th consecutive season that the Tide has had at least one first-round NFL draft pick.
Of Campbell, Davis writes:
“Is he an edge rusher? Is he an off-ball backer? Does it matter given how few answers the Cards appear to have at those positions aside from recently signed OLB Josh Sweat? A first-team All-SEC standout in 2024, Campbell is recovering from recent shoulder surgery.”
G Tyler Booker: Round 1, No. 18 overall to the Seattle Seahawks
Davis’ mock draft also has guard Tyler Booker going in the first round, two picks after Campbell, to the Seattle Seahawks. Should Booker and Milroe, among others, fall to the second round, it would match the 2009, 2015 and 2016 drafts, each of which saw only one Alabama player selected in the first round (Andre Smith, Amari Cooper and Ryan Kelly, respectively).
Writes Davis of Booker:
“This nasty road grader could provide the perfect shot of attitude and talent into an offense that needs both on its long-beleaguered line. Booker (6-5, 321) seems like the type of guy second-year HC Mike Macdonald is looking for given his desire for a more physical football team that can capably run the ball.”
Other Alabama players eligible for 2025 NFL draft
Though Campbell is the only Alabama player generally viewed as a first-round pick, several of his former teammates will be drafted this week. Here’s a look at where those players appear in the seven-round NFL mock draft from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
- LB Jihaad Campbell: Round 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19 overall)
- QB Jalen Milroe: Round 2 to the New York Giants (No. 34 overall)
- OL Tyler Booker: Round 2 to the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 37 overall)
- S Malachi Moore: Round 5 to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 172 overall)
- TE CJ Dippre: Round 6 to the Cleveland Browns (No. 179 overall)
- Edge Que Robinson: Round 6 to the Los Angeles Rams (No. 202 overall)
- DT Tim Smith: Round 6 to the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 214 overall)
Most Alabama picks in NFL draft history
If Brugler’s projections become a reality, Alabama will end up with seven selections in the 2025 NFL draft. That mark would tie it for the 15th-most picks in program history.
Here’s a look at the most Tide players taken in a single draft:
- 12: 2018
- 10: 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 1945
- 9: 2020, 2013
- 8: 2014, 2012, 1987, 1951, 1943
- 7: 2022, 2016, 2015, 2010, 1953
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