Alabama Football: Watching new NFL contracts would benefit recruiting targets

Alabama Football: Three new NFL contracts deserve the attention of Crimson Tide recruiting targets.

No player afforded an opportunity to play for Alabama Football should undervalue the importance. Nick Saban’s Alabama Football program produces NFL players at an unprecedented rate. Most 5-Star rated prospects are confident they will play in the NFL. The odds are in their favor but don’t come close to assuring professional success.

Below the 5-Stars, all the way down to walk-ons, choosing the right program is a pivot point to potential NFL chances. Three recent NFL contracts should be commercials for Nick Saban’s program. Every young man with a Crimson Tide offer should pay close attention.

Former Crimson Tide players, Kenyan Drake, Dalvin Tomlinson and Levi Wallace recently gained new NFL contracts. A few years ago, we wrote about Wallace’s decision to walk-on for the Crimson Tide, following his father’s footsteps to Tuscaloosa. As a walk-on, Levi was on the Tide’s 2014 and 2015 rosters. He saw no action in either season. Based on his hard work and development, Wallace earned a scholarship during fall camp in 2016. He did not win a starting job in 2016 but played in 11 games. In 2017, he became a starter in the Tide’s second game.

In the 2017 Alabama Football National Championship season, Wallace was a solid contributor. He had 48 tackles, 16 pass breakups and three interceptions.

Levi did not get drafted, but he signed a free-agent contract with the Bills. He did not get above the Bills practice roster until Nov. 2018. He took full advantage of the opportunity. In two-plus NFL seasons, Levi has 145 tackles, 15 passes defended and four interceptions. He recently signed a new one-year deal for $1.75M, of which $1M is guaranteed. That brings his guaranteed, NFL career money, $1.9M. For a former college football walk-on, that is a success story.

For Dalvin Tomlinson, patience paid off in Tuscaloosa. He played for the Crimson Tide for five seasons, 2012-2016. Dalvin was drafted at No. 55 in the NFL’s 2017, second-round. He recently signed a new 2-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. With the new deal, Dalvin’s now guaranteed, NFL career earnings will be $20.5M. Had he left Tuscaloosa sooner, that financial success might not have occurred.

Another Crimson Tide, NFL success story is Kenyan Drake. Drake made some big plays at important times for the Crimson Tide, but he was a role player in a deep Tide roster. He started one game for Alabama Football. Drake recently signed a new deal with the Raiders, paying him $11M for two seasons. Guaranteed money in the new deal is $8.5M, taking his guaranteed, NFL career earnings to $21.5M.

All players, offered by the Crimson Tide should realize Nick Saban’s program is CFB’s best at developing NFL players. Over and over, from walk-ons to 5-Stars, the best path to realizing NFL dreams is through Tuscaloosa.

All the NFL contract and salary numbers in this post were provided by Spotrac.

The Crimson Tide hit the practice field for the first spring session on Friday. Check back with Bama Hammer as we provide frequent updates.