NFL Draft news on Tua and other Tide and SEC players dominating

Check the latest news on teams vying for Tua, how many Tide players will be selected in the NFL Draft first-round and SEC domination.

Less than a month out, teams are focusing on NFL Draft decisions. Tua Tagovailoa remains at the forefront of almost every news cycle, getting more attention than likely first pick, Joe Burrow. What will happen with Tua is slowly becoming more clear as news trickles out about his health.

Earlier in the week his agent gave a glowing report on Tua’s commitment to recovery and claimed teams should have no health concerns. Two thoughts are offered on Chris Cabott’s comments. One is obviously, a good agent, make that any agent, is going to paint a rosy picture. It is their job. Cabott should use a second, better argument. Tua being ‘injury-prone’ is somewhat of an exaggeration. The two ankle surgeries were optional to facilitate faster recoveries. Medical experts state the ‘rope procedures’ make ankles stronger and less prone to future injuries.

Tua never had a serious knee problem. He hurt his finger freakishly on another player’s helmet. The fact is Tua had one serious injury in his college career. It was a very bad injury but that one injury does not mean his body is prone to injury. And no one who watched him hobble off the field after the LSU game can ever question his toughness.

You have to think a team or two will come to the same conclusion and trade up to take Tua at No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4. If none do, some team, currently Miami at No. 5 or the Chargers at No. 6 will get a once in a generation player.

How many Crimson Tide players in the first round

Alabama football fans will love this mock that has six Crimson Tide players chosen in the first round. According to the mock, they will be Tua, Jedrick Wills, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy, Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney. In the first round, LSU comes close to the Alabama Crimson Tide with five first-rounders.

Using the same mock as a guide, the SEC is poised to set a first-round record with 16 of the 32 picks going to former SEC players. Twice, in 2013 and 2017, the SEC had 12 players selected in the first round. Last year’s Draft, the SEC number was nine; the year before it was 10. In 2014-2016, the numbers of SEC, first-rounders were 11, seven and eight. Maybe even more impressive is the projection of 12 NFL first-rounders coming from the SEC West.

Some good perspective on the NFL Draft from former NFL QB, J.T. O’Sullivan, “The draft is a crapshoot and anyone that tells you otherwise is not being honest.”