Alabama Football: Will Crimson Tide again lead NFL with most players?

Despite all the buzz about the Georgia Bulldogs’ 15, 2022 NFL Draft selections, Alabama Football remains the leader in NFL players. Even if all 15 drafted Georgia players make NFL rosters next fall, the odds are the number one program for NFL players will again be the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Going into the 2021 NFL preseason, 80 former Alabama football players were on NFL rosters. By opening day in 2021, the number of Tide players on active rosters was 53. That number led all schools, with LSU the next closest SEC school and Georgia far behind.

After the 2022 NFL Draft, the number of former Alabama football players attached to NFL teams is 74. The number will grow to or near last year’s 80 count when current free agents sign new deals. At the least, Julio Jones, Landon Collins, AJ McCarron and Reggie Ragland are expected to gain new teams or new deals. James Carpenter might return for an 11th NFL season. If Dont’a Hightower does not decide to retire, he will be a New England Patriot for another season.

Maybe Ohio State, LSU, Georgia and Notre Dame will one day catch up to the Crimson Tide in NFL players. It will not be in the 2022 season.

Current List of Former Alabama Football Players

• Deionte Thompson Arizona Cardinals
• Rashaan Evans Atlanta Falcons
• Jalyn Armour-Davis Baltimore Ravens
• Marlon Humphrey Baltimore Ravens
• Slade Bolden Baltimore Ravens
• O.J. Howard Buffalo Bills
• Bradley Bozeman Carolina Panthers
• Deonte Brown Carolina Panthers
• Thomas Fletcher Carolina Panthers
• Eddie Jackson Chicago Bears
• Jonah Williams Cincinnati Bengals
• Amari Cooper Cleveland Browns
• Miller Forristall Cleveland Browns
• Ronnie Harrison Jr. Cleveland Browns
• Jedrick Wills Jr. Cleveland Browns
• Trevon Diggs Dallas Cowboys
• Kareem Jackson Denver Broncos
• Jerry Jeudy Denver Broncos
• Patrick Surtain II Denver Broncos
• Chris Allen Denver Broncos
• Shaun Dion Hamilton Detroit Lions
• Saivion Smith Detroit Lions
• Jameson Williams Detroit Lions
• Jarran Reed Green Bay Packers
• John Metchie III Houston Texans
• Christian Harris Houston Texans
• Tony Brown Indianapolis Colts
• Ryan Kelly Indianapolis Colts
• Cam Robinson Jacksonville Jaguars
• Gehrig Dieter Kansas City Chiefs
• Anthony Averett Las Vegas Raiders
• Lester Cotton Sr. Las Vegas Raiders
• Kenyan Drake Las Vegas Raiders
• Josh Jacobs Las Vegas Raiders
• Alex Leatherwood Las Vegas Raiders
• JK Scott Los Angeles Chargers
• Terrell Lewis Los Angeles Rams
• A’Shawn Robinson Los Angeles Rams
• Raekwon Davis Miami Dolphins
• Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins
• Jaylen Waddle Miami Dolphins
• Irv Smith Jr. Minnesota Vikings
• Dalvin Tomlinson Minnesota Vikings
• Christian Barmore New England Patriots
• Damien Harris New England Patriots
• Anfernee Jennings New England Patriots
• Mac Jones New England Patriots
• Mack Wilson New England Patriots
• LaBryan Ray New England Patriots
• Mark Ingram II New Orleans Saints
• Robert Foster New York Giants
• Xavier McKinney New York Giants
• Evan Neal New York Giants
• C.J. Mosley New York Jets
• Ross Pierschbacher New York Jets
• Quinnen Williams New York Jets
• Landon Dickerson Philadelphia Eagles
• Jared Mayden Philadelphia Eagles
• DeVonta Smith Philadelphia Eagles
• Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles
• Josh Jobe Philadelphia Eagles
• Minkah Fitzpatrick Pittsburgh Steelers
• Najee Harris Pittsburgh Steelers
• J.C. Hassenauer Pittsburgh Steelers
• Chris Owens Pittsburgh Steelers
• Levi Wallace Pittsburgh Steelers
• Shyheim Carter Tennessee Titans
• Da’Shawn Hand Tennessee Titans
• Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans
• Jonathan Allen Washington Commanders
• Phidarian Mathis Washington Commanders
• Daron Payne Washington Commanders
• Brian Robinson Jr. Washington Commanders
• Cam Sims Washington Commanders

The list does not include Calvin Ridley whose NFL career is not over but is currently suspended.

The NFL Draft first-round should return to normalcy in 2023, with up to seven Crimson Tide players selected.