NFL Draft: In first round, Crimson Tide goes boom, boom and …

The 2023 NFL Draft opened with an expected boom on Thursday night in Kansas City. At least it was a boom for Alabama Football fans and fans of the Carolina Panthers.

As was almost universally predicted, the NFL Panthers selected former Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Panthers had previously traded up to get a quarterback and every Alabama Crimson Tide fan knows they got the best one in the Draft.

Young will join a Carolina QB room that included NFL veteran, Andy Dalton, former Ole Miss star, Matt Corral, and former Washington Huskie, Jacob Eason. The Panthers are not adding Bryce Young to play behind Andy Dalton.

Along with winning the Heisman Award while at Alabama, Bryce Young passed for 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns. His Crimson Tide career Passing Efficiency Rating was 165.0. Young is also Alabama Football’s No. 2 in career records, for the lowest percentage of interceptions, at 1.27%.

The Houston Texans made a trade with Arizona allowing them to select Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 pick. Congratulations to Will and also new Texans Head Coach, DeMeco Ryans.

Will Anderson Jr. was considered the top Edge Linebacker in the 2023 Draft Class. The Texans are getting more than a pass rusher in Anderson. He had 115 solo tackles and 205 total tackles in his Crimson Tide career.

Anderson’s three-season career record for the Crimson Tide was No. 2 in tackles-for-a-loss (TFL) and sacks. Anderson had 62 TFLs and 34.5 sacks. Crimson Tide great Derrick Thomas holds the Alabama career records for both stats.

Four in 2023 NFL Draft First Round for Alabama

UPDATE: Boom No. 3 for the Alabama Crimson Tide as the Detroit Lions chose Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 pick.  The Crimson Tide with 25% of the first 12 picks.

UPDATE: No Boom No. 4 as former Alabama Crimson Tide safety, Brian Branch was not selected in the first round. Branch should be picked up quickly in the second round, but teams needing a safety passing on him in the first round is puzzling.

Note: Player stats above are also provided by rolltide.com

We will provide more Draft coverage throughout the remaining six rounds.