The early consensus on Alabama football players who project as first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft is strong.
Earlier this month, CBS Sports named two Alabama starters as projected first-round picks to watch in 2025: offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and defensive lineman LT Overton. Back in early May, PFF’s first 2026 NFL draft big board rankings had linebacker Deontae Lawson as a way-too-early first-round selection next spring, as well.
On Monday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2026 NFL mock draft, along with analysis and projected landing spots for each player. Kiper listed three Alabama starters slated for first-round selection, all within the first 20 picks.
As with other national outlets’ early mock drafts, Proctor topped Kiper’s list of Crimson Tide players available in next year’s draft. Kiper sees Proctor as the No. 9 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams and says of the third-year starter at left tackle:
“With two first-rounders in the 2026 draft, the Rams have plenty of flexibility. Proctor would already be one of the NFL’s strongest players upon entering the league, as the 6-foot-7, 370-pounder plays with physicality and a mean streak that is impossible for defenders to handle when he’s locked in. But Proctor isn’t always on his A-game and can run hot-and-cold. The Rams are looking for an heir apparent to Rob Havenstein at right tackle and Proctor has more potential than any lineman in this class … if he can improve his consistency.”
Entering the 2025 season, Proctor is the No. 2 ranked offensive tackle in Kiper’s mock draft behind the Miami Hurricanes’ Francis Mauigoa, who Kiper projects as the second overall pick next spring with Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik going No. 1.
A bit further down Kiper’s list, two Alabama standouts on defense made his initial 2026 first-round mock draft: Kiper has defensive tackle Tim Keenan III going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 18th overall selection.
Keenan started 12 of 13 games for the Crimson Tide last season and had 40 tackles (16 solo) and 2.5 sacks as a junior.
Kiper’s read on Keenan entering his senior season at Alabama.
“While the Vikings bolstered their offensive line in Round 1 in 2025 with guard Donovan Jackson, they were linked to many interior defenders during the predraft process and made a run at Milton Williams in free agency. So defensive tackle is a need, and the 6-foot-2, 326-pound Keenan is a physical, tough-nosed anchor with the prototypical nose tackle build. He has some pass-rush ability (2.5 sacks last season), but Keenan’s strength against the run and on-field leadership have scouts discussing him as a potential first-rounder.”
One pick behind Keenan at No. 19 overall (to Green Bay) was defensive lineman LT Overton, who returns for his senior season in 2025 and his second with the Crimson Tide after transferring from Texas A&M in 2023.
In 12 games last year, Overton made a career-high 42 tackles (17 solo) with two sacks and a forced fumble. Heading into 2025, Overton is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List along with Deontae Lawson.
Kiper gave his assessment on Overton heading into 2025:
“The 6-foot-5, 283-pounder is big, long and versatile and likely would have been a top-50 pick had he entered the 2025 draft. But he returned to Bama to develop his game, refine his pass-rush moves to better match his speed-to-power flashes and improve on the two sacks he had in 2024.”
Alabama had seven players taken in the full seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Offensive guard Tyler Booker was the first player chosen at No. 12 overall by the Dallas Cowboys, followed in the first round by linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe was a third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, and four Crimson Tide players were chosen on Day 3 of the draft: safety Malachi Moore (fourth round, Jets), linebacker Que Robinson (fourth round, Broncos), TE/FB Robbie Ouzts (fifth round, Seahawks), and defensive tackle Tim Smith (sixth round, Colts).
The 2025 draft marked the 14th consecutive year that Alabama had seen at least seven players taken in the draft. Since 2009, Alabama’s 140 draft picks are the most by any college football team.