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    2020 NFL Draft: Alabama players will own draft night

    The 2020 NFL Draft is going to be one for the ages and the Alabama Crimson Tide will be well represented. In fact, they might set records in Las Vegas.

    By Matthew Cannata

    The 2020 NFL Draft will be a good night for the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. Nick Saban has the program firing on all cylinders, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that Alabama will be well represented. In the 2018 draft, a mind-blowing 12 players were selected from Alabama, including four players being selected in the first round. This set an SEC and a school record for the most draft selections in a single draft.

    In 2019, 10 players from Alabama were selected in the draft, with only three players being selected in the first round. Those players were defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, offensive tackle Jonah Williams and running back Josh Jacobs. These numbers highlight Nick Saban and his staff’s ability to develop players for the next level.

    In 2020, Alabama has a real shot of breaking the record for most players taking from one school in a single year. The current record was set in 2004 by the Ohio State Buckeyes, who had 14 players selected. Even more impressive, the Crimson Tide have a real shot of breaking the Miami Hurricanes’ record set in 2004 of having the most first-round selections from one school in a single draft. That year, Miami had 6 first-round selections, including Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey, and Vince Wilfork. Just how many players from Alabama will hear their name called in Las Vegas in 2020?

    The 2019 Alabama football roster has 57 players that are eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft. While it is almost certain that not every eligible player will declare for the draft, it is safe to assume that many will. Based on my draft board, I could see as many as 19 players from this roster being selected in the 2020 draft. 

    Players like Najee Harris (Running Back), Anfernee Jennings (Edge), Shyheim Carter (Safety), Jared Mayden (Safety), Brian Robinson (Running Back), Matt Womack (Offensive Line), Chris Owens (Offensive Line) and Scott Lashley (Offensive Line) are likely to hear their names called in the middle-to-late rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

    Let’s take a look at the Alabama players that are likely to be selected early in the draft and examine when we should hear their name called.

    Alabama 2020 NFL Draft: Round One Locks

    Jerry Jeudy (Wide Receiver)

    Jerry Jeudy - NFL Draft
    Photo: USA Today

    Despite the brilliance of Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy remains the best wide receiver prospect in the 2020 draft. He is a brilliant route runner, whom consistently makes big plays. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands and possesses the ability to make defenders miss. 

    In the video below, you will get a glimpse of Jeudy’s brilliance.

    With teams like the Giants, Jets, and Broncos needing help at wide receiver, Jeudy is a lock to be a top-ten selection in 2020.

    Henry Ruggs III (Wide Receiver)

    While Jerry Jeudy is the class’ best receiver prospect, it would be absolutely criminal to discount Henry Ruggs III in any way. Ruggs is the fastest player in pads that I have ever seen and his ability to make big plays is astonishing. 

    The clip below highlights the extraordinary speed that Ruggs possesses.

    Ruggs might run the fastest forty-yard dash time in NFL Scouting Combine history, which would elevate his draft stock even more. There is a chance, that like his teammate Jerry Jeudy, Ruggs will challenge to be a top-ten selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. His floor would be the middle of round one, with teams like the Eagles and Raiders needing a speedy play-maker

    Trevon Diggs (Cornerback)

    Trevon Diggs is a marvelous athlete with great ball skills. His draft stock has been soaring in 2019, as he has demonstrated the making of a shutdown cornerback. In a pass-heavy modern-day NFL, cornerbacks are at a premium and Diggs will benefit from this.

    Did I mention that Trevon Diggs had insane ball skills?

    There is no doubt that Diggs will be selected in round one. The Jacksonville Jaguars using the draft pick they acquired in the trade that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams would make a great deal of sense.

    Tua Tagovailoa (Quarterback)

    There was a time that Tua Tagovailoa was a lock to be the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the hip injury he suffered against Mississippi State last week will have an impact on his draft stock. Pro Football Network draft guru Tony Pauline weighed in on how he thinks the injury will impact Tagovailoa’s draft stock in his Week 12 mailbag. 

    Tagovailoa is one of the most gifted quarterbacks we have seen enter the NFL since Andrew Luck in 2012. The prognosis coming out of the surgery seems promising. However, we will have to wait and see if time heals all wounds.

    Some may say that Tagovailoa is a “system” guy, but that is absolutely ludicrous. We will see just how well Mac Jones does steering the ship. 

    With that said, there is zero chance that Tagovailoa escapes the first round of the draft. One team that has been in love with Tagovailoa for quite some time is the Miami Dolphins, and after trading Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick, they are absolutely loaded in terms of draft capital.  My money is that Tagovailoa will remain a top-ten selection in the 2020 draft.

    Jedrick Wills (Right Tackle)

    Offensive line play in the NFL is at an all-time low. In terms of Alabama’s 2020 NFL Draft, Jedrick Wills is the best offensive linemen prospect from the program. He is a plug-and-play mauler at right tackle who has had a brilliant 2019 season. 

    Wills is stout at the point of attack and plays with a mean streak that NFL evaluators will covet. In the clip below, you will get to see Wills ability to open running lanes.

    Due to the need for quality offensive tackles, there is no way Wills gets out of round one of the 2020 draft. 

    Raekwon Davis (Defensive Tackle)

    If Raekwon Davis came out after the 2018 season, he would have been a surefire first-round selection in the 2019 draft. He offers tremendous position versatility and can fit in various defensive schemes. He is stout against the run and plays with a great motor. He is physically imposing, standing at 6’7″ and weighing 315 pounds.

    Teams like the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots would love to steal him at the end of round one.

    Alabama 2020 NFL Draft: Fringe Round One Players

    Dylan Moses (Linebacker)

    Prior to an injury that cost Dylan Moses the 2019 season, he would have been a bonafide first-round selection. In fact, he was the best linebacker in all of college football heading into the 2019 season. With teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens needing linebacker help, there is a shot that he finds himself selected in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft.

    Moses offers a tremendous blend of size and speed, with a nose for the football. His ability to diagnose the play and find the football are unparalleled. 

    Alex Leatherwood (Left Tackle)

    After playing right guard in 2018, Alex Leatherwood seamlessly moved to left tackle in 2019. He has played very well, with the exception being that he struggled a bit with LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. For my money, Leatherwood’s best position at the next level is on the interior. However, with there being many teams in need of a left tackle, he will most likely stay there. While I am not sure the tape screams round one talent, there are teams like the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals in desperate need of offensive tackle help, which could push him into the round one conversation.

    Xavier McKinney (Safety)

    LSU’s Grant Delpit gets the headlines when it comes to the 2020 NFL Draft safety class. However, I am not sure he is better than Alabama’s Xavier McKinney. McKinney has some traits that are reminiscent of his former teammate, Minkah Fitzpatrick. In a weak safety class, there is a very good chance that both players, Delpit and McKinney, could find their names called in the first round. 

    As NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah points out in the video below, Xavier McKinney is “always in attack mode”.

    The Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks at the end of round one could be very intriguing landing spots for Xavier McKinney.

    DeVonta Smith (Wide Receiver)

    DeVonta Smith has had an impressive 2019 campaign, as he is producing at an elite level with 1,026 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. Not bad for being the third option in the Alabama passing attack. Smith’s big-play ability will have NFL front offices excited by the notion of adding him to their passing attack. 

    In Alabama’s big showdown with LSU, Smith absolutely abused Derek Stingley, whom many regard as the best cornerback in college football. Take a look at the video below and watch Smith burn Stingley on a straight 9-route.

    Where will Smith land? The New Orleans Saints could use another weapon to complement Michael Thomas.

    Terrell Lewis (Edge)

    Terrell Lewis returned to the Alabama starting lineup in 2019, just one year after an ACL tear cost him his 2018 season. Lewis is an explosive and productive pass rusher who seems to have regained his lethal burst. He offers flexibility to bend around the corner and can finish. He is a first-round type of talent but is unlikely to hear his name called on day one, as he comes with injury concerns. 

    With that said, he won’t wait too long on day two to hear his name called. When the dust settles, I see Lewis being a top-45 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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