Four Alabama Players Taken in the First Round of the NFL Draft

April 27, 2017

Rick Nyman,

The Baltimore Ravens have selected Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey with the 16th pick in the NFL draft.

Baltimore was eager to get depth at cornerback. Jimmy Smith played the position well, but he’s missed time with injuries in two of the last three years.

The Ravens finished 8-8, missing the playoffs for a second straight year and improving the pass defense became a huge priority.

Humphrey is the son of former Alabama running back Bobby Humphrey.

The Ravens entered the draft with plenty of needs – most notably wide receiver, pass rusher and cornerback.

The Washington Redskins have taken Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen with the 17th pick in the NFL draft.

Allen can play inside or outside along the line and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2016, but there are medical concerns about shoulder problems that affected his draft stock.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, Allen is a senior who should instantly upgrade a defensive line that was one of the biggest weaknesses on a Redskins team that failed to make the playoffs last season. Washington’s defense ranked 28th in the league and was particularly poor on third downs and against the run.

Eight of the top 12 picks Thursday night were on offense, sending some of the top defensive talent tumbling, which worked in Washington’s favor.

Allen was the fifth consecutive defensive player selected.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Alabama tight end O.J. Howard with the 19th pick in the NFL draft, providing young quarterback Jameis Winston with another playmaker for an improved offense.

Winston threw for more than 4,000 yards each of the past two seasons, however the Bucs have struggled to score points.

General manager Jason Licht and coach Dirk Koetter are counting on him to be able to get the ball in the end zone with more regularity after adding Howard, as well as veteran receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency.

The San Francisco 49er’s took Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster with the 31st overall pick.