Alabama’s Championship Pays Off for Players in NFL Draft
"Saying a Heisman winner had his draft status boosted by his unit’s performance seems a bit silly…"
I know it sounds cliche to say that winning a national championship can elevate the number of players drafted in the high rounds of the NFL draft, but I believe it is true. I think that if the NFL thinks you have 1st round players, then your players will get drafted in the 1st round. That player’s team can underachieve expectations, and they can even underachieve as it relates to their personal statistics on the field. But, if they’ve still got the numbers at the combine, they’ll stay in first round. See Robert Nkemdiche.
A unit’s great performance does more positive than a unit’s poor performance does negative in relation to a player’s draft stock. Basically, I’m saying that a player can be on the radar of NFL scouts, and a great team’s statistical performance can elevate a player’s draft stock from a 3rd or 4th round pick into a 2nd round pick. With the exception of Reggie Ragland, I believe all 4 of the other Alabama players drafted in the 2nd round benefited from their respective units’ performances throughout the season.
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Every year after winning a national championship under Nick Saban, Alabama had never produced more than 5 NFL draft picks to be taken in the first 2 rounds. This year they produced 6. Prior to the 2016 NFL draft, no less than 2 Alabama players had been taken in the 1st round after they had won the national championship the prior year. In 2016, Ryan Kelly was drafted with pick 18 by the Indianapolis Colts. Keeping the same scenario in mind, the 1st pick off the board in the 1st round had never been taken later than pick 9. Also, in prior years, no more than 2 players had been taken in the 2nd round, and this year 5 players were taken in the 2nd round. That’s crazy good talent, but prior years’ drafts show the results of a more top heavy talented team.
Many felt it was a steal for the Bills to get Reggie Ragland with the 10th pick in the 2nd round because he seemed to be poised to go in the 1st round. Looking at nfl.com, they have a grade they give each player to measure how likely they are to be a NFL success and to what extent. Reggie Ragland got their highest grade of any player drafted from Alabama this year.
The other 3 defensive players taken in the 2nd round were A’Shawn Robinson (15th in 2nd), Jarran Reed (18th in 2nd), and Cyrus Jones (29th in 2nd). Robinson and Reed were instrumental in the strength of the defensive line, which was arguably the strength of the Crimson Tide defense this year. Cyrus Jones had the role of covering the opposing team’s number 1 man. Without the superstars such as Marcell Dareus and Rolando McClain, more people got the credit for the Tide ranking 3rd in the nation in total defense
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Saying a Heisman winner had his draft status boosted by his unit’s performance seems a bit silly, but there are legitimate questions NFL scouts have about Henry’s game transferring to the next level. Size, center of gravity, speed, and agility are all concerns Henry’s game seems to present to NFL scouts. But, Henry’s sheer ability to wear a defense out behind a solid offensive line, sent his draft stock through the roof. Henry and the Alabama offense relied on Henry to carry their offense. He had 106 more carries than Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliot who was picked number 4 by the Cowboys. His ability to be featured behind a strong o-line and his ability to remain strong, even after carrying the ball over 40 times, shot his draft status through the roof.
Let me be clear, I am not saying that any of the players mentioned above were not as good as their draft ranking depicts. I am saying that this may have been Nick Saban and company’s best coaching job thus far in Tuscaloosa. Without a clear superstar, Nick Saban had 4 players drafted in the 2nd round that contributed to the 3rd ranked total defense in the country. Nick Saban also helped construct a gameplan to give Henry his best opportunity for success, as well as his team’s, and the end result was a Heisman trophy and a 2nd round pick. I’d say that is pretty impressive.