It doesn't come as a surprise with the amount of draft-eligible talent that chose to return to Tuscaloosa for an additional season rather than enter the 2025 NFL Draft, but Alabama just had its worst three-round output in a decade.
With Tyler Booker (12th), Jihaad Campbell (31st), and Jalen Milroe (92nd) the only three players being selected, it was Alabama's worst three-round output since 2015.
It's not an indictment on the talent level we saw for the Crimson Tide last season, though plenty of folks might point the finger at that due to Alabama losing four games. But the reality is that Alabama saw several guys who would have been in contention for the first three rounds choose to run it back in Tuscaloosa.
Guys like LT Overton, Domani Jackson, and Parker Brailsford to name a few.
In 2015, Alabama also had three players selected in the first three rounds. Amari Cooper went 4th overall to the then-Oakland Raiders and was the Tide's only 1st Round pick. Landon Collins (Giants) and T.J. Yeldon (Jaguars) were selected in the 2nd Round of that draft.
Kalen DeBoer will hope the correlation between this year's draft class and the one from a decade ago carries over to a correlation between the 2015 team and the 2025 team. Because the Crimson Tide followed that low draft output by going 14-1 and winning their first National Championship of the playoff era.
Alabama extended an important NFL Draft streak
When Tyler Booker was selected with the 12th overall pick by the Cowboys, it marked the 17th consecutive NFL Draft that included at least a single Alabama player. It's the longest streak in NFL Draft history.
With Alabama's top two draft prospects this year - Booker and Campbell - playing non-premium positions, there was reason to worry that the streak could be in jeopardy.
With it extended, there doesn't seem to be any real fear of it not continuing for at least a couple more years. With a star LT in Kadyn Proctor draft eligible next season, as well as other talented players like WR Isaiah Horton, OC Parker Brailsford, DL LT Overton, and CB Domani Jackson, the Tide should see the streak end at 18.
The following year will see Alabama's talented freshman class from a year ago as draft-eligible. Guys like Ryan Williams and Zabien Brown, who will be competing to be the top of their respective position groups.
On the other end of that has been futility on the Plains. Auburn has now gone five consecutive NFL Drafts without a single 1st Round pick. Along with 17 consecutive years with at least one, Alabama has nine consecutive seasons with multiple.
The Iron Bowl rivalry has been lopsided the last half-decade.