Alabama Football: Ranking Alabama’s top 2021 NFL Draft prospects
By Dakota Cox
1. Patrick Surtain, CB, Junior
This was tough, but I believe that Patrick Surtain will be the most talented draft prospect on this team when it is all said and done. People don’t talk about him because he was just a sophomore last year, but Surtain is a stud. He has versatility in the defense, which is incredibly valuable for a team coached by Saban. He also has a high football IQ. He was tied for most passes defended last year simply because he can get his hand on the ball in coverage. Without Diggs on the field this year, it would not surprise me if quarterbacks just don’t throw it to his side of the field.
Surtain has the skill to play slot corner, although I believe he would be better suited to line up outside. We’ll see how this defense lines up, but Surtain will definitely have an impact.
Playing corner increases Surtain’s value for sure. Cornerbacks are like quarterbacks and left tackles. They will slide up draft boards because the position is so important to get right. If he ends up being one of the two best corners in the 2021 NFL Draft, he will almost certainly be drafted in the top ten.
With these six superstars prepared to take the field in 2020, we are set to have an incredible NFL Draft class from the Crimson Tide yet again.