The standard at Alabama is clear: national championships, not finishing fourth in the SEC. But in 2024, the Crimson Tide failed to meet that standard. A 9-4 record ended their run of 16 straight 10-win seasons under Nick Saban. The season included three losses to unranked teams and an embarrassing bowl loss to Michigan.
Looking ahead to 2025, Alabama has a chance to reset. The roster is loaded with talent, featuring 16 players with draftable NFL grades. That’s more than Clemson (10) and Ohio State (9), giving Alabama one of the most NFL-ready rosters in college football. With that kind of depth, they should be right back in the College Football Playoff picture and firmly in the national title race.
Alabama’s 2026 NFL Draft prospect
Offensive tackle: Kadyn Proctor
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: First Round
Going into the season, Kadyn Proctor is widely viewed as one of the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft. The biggest reason for this is his rare combination of size, power, and mobility. Proctor checks in at 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds and uses that frame to dominate in the run game, consistently overpowering defenders at the point of attack. He also moves well for his size, though his sheer mass may ultimately project him better as a right tackle rather than on the left side where he currently plays for Alabama. If he stays healthy and maintains his weight, Proctor should be in the mix for a top ten selection next April.
MLB: Deontae Lawson
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Second Round
Despite coming off a torn ACL, Deontae Lawson enters the season as one of the top middle linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft. A big reason why Lawson is rated so high is his impressive athletic ability that allows him to make plays sideline to sideline against the run and hold up well in pass coverage. In addition to that range, he is also a fierce, sure tackler who rarely misses. If he can stay healthy this season, he has a good chance of being a late first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Defensive lineman: LT Overton
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Second Round
I listed LT Overton as a defensive lineman because he offers positional versatility at the next level thanks to his physical traits. His best fit might be as a 3-4 defensive end, where his strength and ability to hold up against the run would stand out. However, he could also draw interest from 4-3 teams looking for a 3-technique defensive tackle. Overton plays with impressive strength despite being somewhat undersized at 283 pounds for a full-time interior role. As a pass rusher, he wins more with power than speed, which also aligns well with that 3-tech projection.
Cornerback: Domani Jackson
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Second Round
One of the quickest players in the 2026 NFL Draft will likely be cornerback Domani Jackson, who according to NFL Draft Buzz runs a 4.28 40-yard dash and tied the California high school record with a 10.25 100-meter time. This elite speed is a top trait, allowing him to stick with even the fastest receivers and quickly drive on throws. He broke up nine passes last season. At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, he also brings ideal size and plays with physicality at the catch point. If he can clean up his run support, Jackson has a strong chance to rise into first-round territory.
Center: Parker Brailsford
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Third Round
Like Proctor, Parker Brailsford is one of the top offensive linemen at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft. What stands out most with him is his athletic ability. He has quick feet in pass protection, which has helped him allow just one sack over the past two seasons. His mobility also shows up in the run game, where he consistently gets to the second level and executes reach blocks at a high level. The biggest knock on him is his lack of elite strength, as he can be overpowered by SEC nose tackles. Because of this, he will likely be rated higher by teams that run zone-blocking schemes rather than those that rely on power-gap systems.
Defensive tackle: Tim Keenan III
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fourth Round
One of the top run stuffers in college football last season was Tim Keenan III, who posted an 89.8 PFF run defense grade that ranked third among Power Four defensive tackles. He trailed only Mason Graham and Walter Nolen, both of whom were top 20 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Keenan clogs up running lanes with his 6-foot-2, 326-pound frame and powerful base, often demanding double teams. However, he carries a day three grade on my board heading into the season because his lack of explosion off the ball and limited pass rush ability likely restrict him to a nose tackle role at the next level.
Tim Keenan III: 90.1 Run Defense Grade in 2024
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 7, 2025
🐘 1st Among Returning Defensive Tackles@AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/uvPr4ckMh6
Offensive guard: Jaeden Roberts
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fourth Round
Another massive Tide offensive lineman is guard Jaeden Roberts, who tips the scales at 6-foot-5 and 327 pounds. Like Proctor, Roberts' top trait is his impressive power, which he uses to consistently open up running lanes. This season he will need to work on his footwork, as he sometimes stops his feet on contact, which causes him to lunge and lose balance. In terms of NFL fit, teams that primarily run a gap-blocking scheme are likely to show the most interest in him.
Quarterback: Ty Simpson
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fifth Round
One of Alabama’s biggest storylines heading into the 2025 season is the quarterback battle, but it would be a surprise if Ty Simpson does not win the job. A former five-star recruit and the No. 4 quarterback in his class, Simpson entered college with a first-round grade from 247Sports. While his college playing time has been limited with just 50 career pass attempts, he has shown enough to earn a fifth-round projection. Simpson brings a strong arm, solid athleticism, and a smooth, compact release that gives him real upside if he can put it all together this season.
Defensive tackle: James Smith
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fifth Round
The third and final Alabama defensive lineman to make the list is defensive tackle James Smith, showing how elite this unit is for the Tide. Last season, in limited action as he was a backup, Smith showed high caliber NFL traits especially in the bowl game against Michigan. One of these traits was his impressive quickness off the ball, routinely creating havoc in the backfield. He also shows good strength for a 3-technique defensive tackle and with a big season this year could end up being a day two pick.
Outside linebacker: Qua Russaw
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fifth Round
A player I am higher on than most draft analysts is linebacker Qua Russaw, who earns a fifth-round grade on my board yet only carries a consensus draft grade of an undrafted free agent according to NFL Mock Draft Database. The reason I am higher on him is his raw potential. As a pass rusher, the 6-foot-2, 242-pound defender shows good speed off the edge—reportedly running 22 MPH—and if he can improve his pass rushing arsenal, his sack production should shoot up from his one sack last year. He also shows good strength against the run and does a solid job of setting the edge.
"Qua (Russaw) is my guy. He’s a freak. To be honest, I think he runs like 22 miles per hour at like 240 pounds. He’s just an animal. You He’s been diving into his game on the pass rushing side a little bit more. He always talks about going to get that sack. I’m excited for him, and I’m sure he’ll have a great year. We’ll see what happens."Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson
Safety: Keon Sabb
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Fifth Round
A player coming off a disappointing season is safety Keon Sabb, who saw his PFF grade drop from 82.1 in 2023 to 64.5 last season. He also allowed a 70.8% completion rate on passes thrown his way, compared to just 47.6% the year before. His season ended early due to a foot injury suffered against Tennessee. On the positive side, Sabb is a fluid athlete who has shown the ability to cover ground and make plays when healthy.
Wide Receiver: Germie Bernard
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Sixth Round
A player I am a bit lower on than other draft analysts is wide receiver Germie Bernard. While he had a strong finish to last season, averaging 71.6 yards per game over the final nine games, Bernard lacks high-end upside. He does not have elite speed and can be knocked off his route by physical corners in press coverage. On the positive side, Bernard is a sharp route runner with reliable hands, having dropped only two passes all year. He projects as a solid depth piece and should find a role as a backup receiver at the next level.
Safety: Bray Hubbard
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Sixth Round
A player who came on strong at the end of the season was safety Bray Hubbard, who filled in admirably for an injured Keon Sabb. He finished the year with 57 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions, while earning an impressive 89.2 overall defensive grade from PFF. As a pro prospect, Hubbard brings a strong combination of size (6-2, 195), physicality, and awareness. At minimum, he looks like a player who could carve out a long NFL career on special teams.
Cornerback: Cam Calhoun
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Sixth Round
Despite seeing limited reps last season, Utah cornerback Cam Calhoun was one of the better corners in college football when on the field. He allowed just a 49% completion rate and broke up nine passes, despite playing the fourth-most snaps among Utah cornerbacks. This season, Calhoun will suit up for Alabama, where he should be a day-one starter thanks to his ability to break on the ball and his fluid hips. One area he needs to improve is his hands, as he dropped multiple interception opportunities last year.
Wide receiver: Isaiah Horton, Alabama
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Seventh Round
New Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton, who comes over from Miami, will likely serve as the Tide’s number three receiver this season behind Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. The first trait that stands out with Horton is his size, checking in at 6-foot-4. He would benefit from adding weight to his 208-pound frame, but he already shows promising physical tools. In addition to his NFL-ready size, Horton displays good quickness for his frame and has the ability to make explosive plays down the field.
Running back: Jam Miller
Preseason NFL Draft Grade: Seventh Round
Last season, Jam Miller split time with Justice Haynes, but now that Haynes has moved on to Michigan, Miller is set to be the lead back in Alabama’s backfield. He led the team with 668 rushing yards last season and caught 16 passes out of the backfield. As a pro prospect, Miller shows good quickness and the ability to break off long runs. He also has good power and demonstrates contact balance to bounce off tackles. The biggest concern is his stiffness and lack of agility, which limits his ability to elude defenders in the open field.