Three Alabama players were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Offensive tackle JC Latham was the first player off the board to the Tennessee Titans with the No. 7 overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings traded up to take edge rusher Dallas Turner with the No. 17 choice and the Detroit Lions moved up to select cornerback Terrion Arnold with the No. 24 pick. All three Alabama players were in Detroit to walk across the stage.
Latham coming off the board extended the Crimson Tide’s NCAA record to 16 consecutive drafts with at least one first-round selection, and the trio increased Nick Saban’s historic total to 47 first-rounders in his time at Alabama and 52 in his coaching career. Saban, who has 14 more picks than Joe Paterno, watched his players from his new job on the ABC desk.
With Alabama’s three selections, the Tide has now produced multiple first-rounders in 13 of the last 16 NFL drafts. Since 2000, Alabama has produced an NCAA-leading 49 first-rounders, which is 11 better than the next closest school Ohio State. Since 2010, the Tide has had an NCAA-leading 46 players selected in the first round, nearly double OSU (25).
Arnold going to the Lions reunites him with former Alabama defensive back Brian Branch in Detroit’s secondary. The Lions, which played in the NFC Championship Game last season, have now selected four Crimson Tide players in the last three drafts, and that includes three straight NFL drafts of using a first-round pick on a former Alabama football starter.
In addition to UA’s success, new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer also had a big night with three of his players at Washington going in the first round. That included two top-10 picks in quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons) and wide receiver Rome Odunze (Bears). Alabama tied Washington and LSU for the most players who went in the first round.
Thursday was a night for the offense as 23 of the 32 first-round picks were on the offensive side of the football – a new NFL draft record. Turner was the third defensive player off the board after the first 14 picks were on offensive players. Arnold was the seventh and the second defensive back. Latham was the seventh selection but the second offensive tackle.
The 2024 draft will continue on Friday, April 26, at 6 p.m. CT, and several Alabama players are still available. Topping the list is Kool-Aid McKinstry, who many believed would be drafted in the first round, however, only three cornerbacks went in the first 32 picks. Others who could be taken tomorrow are Chris Braswell, Jermaine Burton and Justin Eboigbe.
Alabama players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft
7. JC Latham, OT – Tennessee Titans
17. Dallas Turner, Edge – Minnesota Vikings
24. Terrion Arnold, CB – Detroit Lions
Stay tuned to BamaOnLine for continued coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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The post Day 1 Recap: Three Alabama players taken in first round of 2024 NFL Draft appeared first on On3.
