Alabama Football: 2017 NFL Mock Draft Projection
By Ronald Evans
Late First Round or Second Round Picks
If another Alabama player makes the first round it is most likely to be Tim Williams. Williams has elite edge rush speed. A couple of weeks ago, Mayock had Willaims as the No. 5 edge rusher in the draft.
Williams is no longer on Mayock’s top five positional list. Williams’ draft stock is tarnished for two reasons. At Alabama, he was mostly a situational player, a pass rushing specialist. Also, Williams has admitted to failing multiple drug tests that led to multiple Alabama suspensions.
In our mock draft sample, Williams is projected as high as No. 38 in the second round to as far down as early in the third round. If he is drafted at No. 38, it will probably make Williams the No. 6 Alabama player selected in the draft.
Ryan Anderson is viewed by some experts as the best potential value in the draft. Anderson is not likely to drafted in the first round and will be a bargain as a second round pick. Alabama football fans certainly appreciate Anderson’s multiple skill sets. He can rush the passer, stuff the run and drop into coverage if needed.
Our mock draft sample has Anderson projected as high as No. 46 in the second round. Very few projections have Anderson not being drafted in the second round.
If Anderson is drafted at No. 46, it will probably make him the seventh Alabama player selected in the draft.
Dalvin Tomlinson is an enigma. This superb athlete turned down a scholarship to Harvard to play football at Alabama. The bright, soft-spoken young man excelled at defensive line for the Tide. That his quiet game did not garner major media attention is not indicative of his potential in the NFL. Late in the second round or in the third, Tomlinson could be a bigger steal for teams than Ryan Anderson.
Our mock draft sample has Tomlinson going as high as No. 63 in the second round. Most projections have Dalvin as a third round pick. If he is drafted at No. 63, it will likely make Tomlinson the eighth Alabama player selected in the draft.