Alabama Football: Predicting breakout NFL seasons

Which Alabama football players will shine this year?

While winning national championships is one goal for Alabama football players, another way to measure success is by seeing how they fare in the NFL. That’s where millions are made, and that’s where legacies are built.

We’ve seen plenty of Tide athletes shine in the NFL over the years, but nothing compares to the Saban era. Alabama has more players in the NFL than any school, and they are contributing at a high level.

Still, some players are waiting to break out and shine on the biggest stage. Not everyone thrives in the NFL, and it sometimes takes time.

Who has a chance to shine this NFL season? These former Alabama football players are poised to have breakout years.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Tua didn’t have a bad rookie season, but there were things he needed to work on. Now that he has a full offseason to prepare and he is fully healthy, he appears to be back to his former self. He is thriving at training camp, and he has an offense built around his skills.

Tua has elite touch and accuracy. With speed on the outside, he should be able to become a household name in the NFL.

Damien Harris, New England Patriots

Harris had a slight breakout year last season, but there’s room to grow as a running back. New England will run the ball often with Cam Newton at quarterback, so expect Harris’s touches to increase over the course of the upcoming season.

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

There is no doubt that Jeudy has what it takes to thrive in the NFL. The only question is if he has a quarterback who can put him in a position to succeed. If he can limit his drops, he should approach a 1000-yard season.

Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals

Many believe Williams should move to guard, but the Bengals chose to draft a receiver as opposed to replacing Williams at left tackle. That shows that they have faith in him, and he has a chance to become a franchise left tackle.

Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas needs help in the secondary, so Diggs will get some tough assignments this year. However, he is still developing after switching from receiver to corner. He has the physical traits, and his technique is developing.

These five athletes have a chance to thrive if things go their way. All of them are still young, so it isn’t make or break for any of them this season.