Which Alabama football players will declare for the NFL Draft?
Players who will almost definitely declare
Alex Leatherwood, OT
I’d put Leatherwood’s odds at 95%. He was a senior and a pivotal piece of this national championship team. However, having Penei Sewell in the same draft class limits his ceiling. I don’t think it would be worth it to come back, but it’s at least not as easy of a case as it was for the other guys.
Mac Jones, QB
I don’t think Mac Jones entered this year knowing it would be his last. He wasn’t even guaranteed to start when Bryce Young joined the squad. Still, he is coming off of one of the greatest seasons ever. While he isn’t in the top tier of QB prospects, he needs to strike while the iron is hot. He has shown his potential, and that’s all it takes in the NFL to be drafted.
Jaylen Waddle, WR
Jaylen Waddle is likely going to be one of the top three wide receivers drafted this year. While you would think that would be enough to leave for the NFL, Waddle’s injury muddies the waters. I think Waddle will head to the NFL, and I think he should. Still, he showed how much he loved this team when he came back for the National Championship. He might want to ride it out for another season with Alabama football.
Christian Barmore, IDL
This is a tough one. I think that Christian Barmore should come back. He had a solid season, but he is currently looked at as a Day 2 pick. If he came back and dominated for just one season, he could vault himself into the first round. Still, it is being reported that he is likely going to declare for the NFL Draft.
To be fair, Barmore will probably succeed in the NFL. Still, we’ve seen players who could have made more money if they came back and dominated for one more season. Mack Wilson, Ronnie Harrison and Deionte Thompson immediately come to mind.