Three more Alabama players were selected on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, moving the Crimson Tide’s two-day total to six players taken in the top 80 picks of the event.
Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was the first Alabama player off the board to the New Orleans Saints with the 41st overall pick (Round 2). Many believed McKinstry would be chosen in the first round. Edge rusher Chris Braswell was next and selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 57th overall pick (Round 2). Rounding out the second day of the NFL draft was wide receiver Jermaine Burton to the Cincinnati Bengals (Pick 80, Round 3).
Since 2010, 67 Alabama players have been drafted in the first two rounds, including McKinstry and Braswell’s selections on Friday, which is the most by any college football team during that span. That number nearly doubles second-place Ohio State (37). After five of his players were selected in the first 57 picks, former coach Nick Saban joked on ABC…
“If they would’ve come back, I would’ve come back.”
Since 2009, the Crimson Tide has produced 129 draft picks, which is the most by any college program in that span. With six selections through the first three rounds in 2024, Alabama has had at least six players drafted on Days 1 and 2 in five straight years (2020-24) and seven total years under Saban. With the conclusion of the second round, the Tide remains the NCAA’s leader for the most first- and second-round draft picks in the common era.
With Burton coming off the board to the Bengals at Pick 80, Saban passed legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne for the third-most draft picks by a college coach in the common era. Burton also marked the fourth draft in a row that Alabama has had a player who joined the Tide by way of transfer go on to be picked in the first three rounds (Landon Dickerson in 2021, Jameson Williams in 2022 and Jahmyr Gibbs and Tyler Steen in 2023).
McKinstry landing in New Orleans and Braswell going to Tampa Bay means that there are only two NFL franchises that don’t currently have a former Alabama player on their current roster – the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears. And there are still four more rounds to go.
In addition to the Tide’s success in the first three rounds, new UA head coach Kalen DeBoer is also having a big draft. After three Washington players were taken in the first round, four more Huskies came off the board on Friday night, including two more receivers. DeBoer’s offense at UW produced six top 100 draft picks, which included a pair of top 10 choices.
Washington is currently tied with Michigan for the most players drafted through the first three rounds with seven apiece. Alabama, Georgia and Florida State each sit with six picks.
The 2024 NFL Draft will conclude on Saturday, April 27, with Rounds 4-7, and there are still a number of Alabama alums waiting to hear their names called. Players who could potentially be selected tomorrow include Tide defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, running back Jase McClellan, placekicker Will Reichard and safety Jaylen Key. Day 3 begins at 11 a.m. CT.
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
41. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB – New Orleans Saints
57. Chris Braswell, Edge – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
80. Jermaine Burton, WR – Cincinnati Bengals
Stay tuned to BamaOnLine for continued coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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The post Day 2 Recap: Three more Alabama players taken in Rounds 2-3 of 2024 NFL Draft appeared first on On3.
