Alabama Football has enjoyed an incredible run of quarterback success in recent years. Its last three starting signal-callers are all currently NFL starters, and are each doing well in their own unique way.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a second round selection, going 53rd overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Miami Dolphins gunslinger Tua Tagovailoa went 5th overall and was the second quarterback off the board in the 2020 draft. New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was also a first-rounder, going 15th overall in the 2021 draft.
The most recent Alabama Football quarterback, Bryce Young, figures to be selected early in the opening round of the 2023 NFL draft. Like Tagovailoa, Young will very likely be a top-5 selection. Despite his small stature, he has been lauded for his creativity, ingenuity, and improvisational skills. Bryce Young is an excellent playmaker and will be a day one starter regardless of his destination.
Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones both entered the NFL with similar hype, after showing elite polish and passing ability in their college days. While both have been good in the league, they have each dealt with inconsistency. Tua’s injury issues have impacted his career arc, but he has still shown star potential.
Jalen Hurts began his college career as the starting quarterback for Alabama Football before spending one season with the Oklahoma Sooners. His arm talent and ability to read defenses were both questioned coming out of college.
Despite being a great athlete, he entered the NFL with the least amount of hype among this group. Very few, if any, pundits believed he would be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
In three years in the league, Hurts has quickly become one of its best QBs. He led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in 2023, and his best football is ahead of him.
Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones were all incredible in college, and have been very good in the pros. How will Bryce Young stack up? In ranking the top quarterbacks of the Nick Saban era last fall, Southbound and Down ranked Young ahead of all three of his predecessors.
Bryce Young was highly accomplished as a collegiate quarterback, winning the Heisman Trophy as a true sophomore in 2021. None of the former Alabama Football quarterbacks that are active NFL starters achieved this feat. Tagovailoa finished second in the voting in 2018, Hurts was the runner-up in 2019, and Jones finished third in 2020.
Bryce Young’s skills are not in question. His size is considered his only potential limiting factor, but it hardly hindered him during his time at Alabama.
Nothing is a guarantee, but it’s difficult to envision a winner like Bryce Young not being successful at the next level.