Alabama football’s success with NFL Draft picks beyond Round 1

Alabama football’s steals in the NFL Draft

Landon Collins: 2015 NFL Draft, 2nd round, 33rd overall, New York Giants

Collins was the first player drafted outside of the first round in 2015, and his fall made Alabama football fans scratch their heads. He was gifted athletically, and his football IQ was off the charts. He did what few linebackers could do in terms of play recognition, but he did it at safety.

Still, some questioned his ability to play in coverage. He was seen as a box safety, making him fall out of the first round. He had an excellent career with the Giants, and he signed a massive deal with Washington after New York refused to pay him properly.

Xavier McKinney: 2020 NFL Draft, 2nd round, 36th overall, New York Giants

The irony of New York losing Collins is that they drafted another Alabama football safety in almost the exact same situation. McKinney was widely seen as a first-round player, but he fell for some reason. The Giants scooped him up, and he had a solid rookie year despite missing most of it with an injury. He projects to be a difference-maker in New York’s secondary.

Kenyan Drake: 2016 NFL Draft, 3rd round, 73rd overall, Miami Dolphins

Another running back to slide, Drake fell all the way to the third round. He flashed greatness during his Alabama football career, but his injuries scared teams away. He still had a solid career with the Dolphins before being traded to the Cardinals. He thrived in Arizona, and he will now compete for reps in Las Vegas.

The list goes on and on, but you have to stop somewhere. We could’ve included Jarran Reed, Eddie Lacy, Dalvin Tomlinson and Ryan Anderson. Levi Wallace was an undrafted free agent, and he’s one of the best secondary players from Alabama.