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Alabama Football: Predicting A New Alabama NFL Draft Record

By Ronald Evans

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) hits Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) hits Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Jonathan Allen

Jonathan Allen will most likely be the first Alabama player selected in the 2017 draft. He is a definite first round pick.

Following his senior season, Allen won the Nagurski, Bednarik and Hendricks awards. He was also a consensus All-American.

Mike Mayock is a primary draft analyst for the NFL Network. He also played in the NFL for four seasons. Mayock tracks the top five players at thirteen positional groups: QB, RB; WR; TE; OT; Interior OL; Interior DL; Edge Rusher; LB; CB; Nickel Back; S; and a category called Special Exceptions that lists the top injured players.

Mayock has  Jonathan Allen listed as the No. 1 interior defensive lineman in the draft.

Based on the Draft Tracker ratings published by nfl.com Jonathan Allen is the top rated Tide player in the draft. The only negative when considering Allen is possible future shoulder complications caused by arthritis. Teams worry the silment could shorten Allen’s NFL career.

Without the shoulder ailment, a strong argument came be made that Allen deserves to be the first pick in the draft.

Even in this era of sabermetrics on steroids, debate lingers over the role of analytics in sports. The majority opinion is that data-driven decisions remove the vagaries of individual perception. A few old-school guys contend that combine results cannot predict future player success. That traditional argument values competitive, actual game performance above all else.

It is possible to revere Billy Beane and Moneyball and still argue that a spreadsheet never won a football game.

Throw away the combine results and the multitudinous measurables. Just look at game tape. If that were the mindset of Cleveland, the Browns would pick Jonathan Allen over Myles Garrett.

Back to reality and an apology for the digression. Jonathan Allen will not be the first pick in the draft. Draft gurus have Allen going No.3, No. 4, No. 7 and No. 9. One pseudo-guru has Allen dropping to the No. 17 pick. We will not dignify that with a graphic. Allen’s other probable NFL homes are shown below.

57. The Chicago Bears Select Jonathan Allen with the 3rd Pick in the First Round. Defensive Line. Alabama. Jonathan Allen. 3. player

4. player. 52. The Jacksonville Jaguars Select Jonathan Allen with the 4th Pick in the First Round. Defensive Line. Alabama. Jonathan Allen

Alabama. Jonathan Allen. 7. player. 13. The Los Angeles Chargers Select Jonathan Allen with the 7th Pick in the First Round. Defensive Line

player. 56. The Cincinnati Bengals Select Jonathan Allen with the 9th Pick in the First Round. Defensive Line. Alabama. Jonathan Allen. 9

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