Even After a “Down” Year, Alabama Sets Standard at NFL Draft

If you ask a large contingent of fans, Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide had one of its more disappointing seasons in recent memory. The team "only" won 10 games and missed both the SEC Championship and College Football Playoffs despite returning the reigning Heisman trophy winner and one of the best pass rushers in the game.

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However, that didn't stop Alabama from cleaning up at the NFL draft. Alabama tied Georgia for the most picks in the draft with 10 in total. If you include players signed as undrafted free agents, Alabama outpaced Georgia in sending players to the league this year 13-12.

Additionally, Alabama produced its first No. 1 overall pick since 1948 in Bryce Young. Young goes down as the ninth Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to go No. 1 overall in history, joining the likes of Joe Burrow, Cam Newton, Jim Plunkett, and Baker Mayfield.

The Houston Texans gave Alabama yet another accolade to hang on the mantle when they gave up a considerable amount of draft capital to move up to No. 3 from No. 12 and draft Will Anderson, Jr. It's the first time in modern draft history a school has produced both the first offensive player taken and the first defensive player taken.

So, despite the "lull" the Crimson Tide finds itself in right now, Tuscaloosa is still objectively the best place for any recruit with NFL aspirations to come.