It's no secret that Alabama has been a pipeline to the NFL ever since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa.

Since 2009, Saban has had a record of 41 players drafted in the first round. The Crimson Tide also have at least one player taken in the first round in the last 14 years.

Two of those first rounders are former cornerbacks from Alabama, Marlon Humphrey and Patrick Surtain Jr.

Humphrey was drafted sixteenth overall to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2016 NFL Draft and Surtain was drafted ninth overall by the Denver Broncos in 2021.  Former teammate of Surtain who started opposite of the former first rounder was Trevon Diggs.

Diggs on the other hand was not a first round pick but nevertheless the second round selection is already off to a terrific start to his NFL career. In 2021, Diggs was selected first team All-Pro and led the league in interceptions with 11.

All three former Tide standouts have been named to multiple All-Pro teams as well as Pro Bowls and are considered by many to be the best in the game by their peers and teammates.

Which leads to the question, is Alabama considered for having the best defensive backs to play in the NFL in the last decade?

Right now that answer is yes, many consider Patrick Surtain the best cornerback in football. The former Pro Bowler has six interceptions, 24 pass break ups and 118 tackles in two seasons with the Broncos. The Florida native was also selected to the All-Rookie team voted on by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Before Surtain was drafted and took the NFL world by storm Humphrey was in the conversation for best cornerback in the league for quite sometime. The Hoover native is a three time Pro Bowler and first team All-Pro. Humphrey led the league in forced fumbles in 2020, but since has lost a step in man coverage and is still considered a top 10 cornerback in the league.

Diggs has had his highs and lows so far in his NFL career. Diggs ran away with the league lead in interceptions in 2021 with 11, but also led the league in yards given up at 1,016. Last season the Maryland native finished the season with three interceptions, 14 pass break ups and 59 total tackles.

Alabama has put countless number of defensive backs in the NFL who have found success. This trend sees no signs of slowing down anytime soon after Saban has signed the number one safety in the class of 2023. As the Crimson Tide reload, Diggs, Humphrey and Surtain will continue to lockdown NFL wide receivers.

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