The University of Alabama will likely extend its streak of eight straight years with a first round NFL draft pick, but 2017 might even become a record-breaking year for the Crimson Tide. 

Since Nick Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide has produced 18 first round picks but never has that number exceed four in a single year. That could change this year. Many mock drafts project five players from Alabama coming off the board on Thursday night. Oddsmakers set the total at 4.5 in the first round, which means they believe it will fall on either four or five.

When the season ended in January, Mel Kiper believed six players could get drafted in the first round, which would have tied the all-time record. Since that time, linebacker Tim Williams' stock has slipped a bit and he's projected to go in the second or third round.

If five players were taken on Thursday, this class would set a new school record for the most first round picks. The previous record at Alabama is four, which happened in 2011 and 2012.

There are three players that nearly all analysts believe will fall into the first round: defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, linebacker Reuben Foster, and tight end O.J. Howard. There probably isn't a player in the draft whose stock has risen as much as Howard. Some mock drafts have him as Alabama's first pick ahead of Jonathan Allen.

Then there are two more Crimson Tide players being projected as high as mid-first round: defensive back Marlon Humphrey and offensive lineman Cam Robinson. If you look at NFL.com, its featured mock drafts have all five players coming off the board by pick number 25.

If five players were taken on Thursday, this class would set a new school record for the most first round picks. The previous record at Alabama is four, which happened in 2011 and 2012.

We'll know tonight whether history will be made. Round one of the 2017 NFL Draft gets underway from Philadelphia at 7:00 PM. Rounds two and three will be Friday. The final four rounds will conclude on Saturday.

 


 

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