Here is a look at Alabama players who are available in the 2019 NFL Draft. Names are listed in alphabetical order.
Isaiah Buggs
Drafted Saturday in Round 6 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Position: DT
Height: 6-3
Weight: 306
Projection: Fourth or fifth round
Pro: Able to get out of his stance quickly, and has lateral quickness that allows him to beat blockers to a spot.
Con: NFL scouts say Buggs’ arm length is one of his biggest problems, as his arms are 31 ¼ inches.
Lester Cotton
Position: OL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 325
Projection: Undrafted
Pro: Solid upper body strength and a large frame. With his size, he is able to slow bull rushes.
Con: While his size is a huge plus, he can be slow out of his stance. This adds to his slow footwork and poor recovery after a blocker beats him.
Damien Harris
Drafted Friday in Round 3 by the New England Patriots.
Position: RB
Height: 5-11
Weight: 215
Projection: Third round
Pro: Was Alabama’s third-down back for most of his senior year, showing ability to handle pressure. Also showed he isn’t brought down easily, and when he does get taken down, he falls forward.
Con: He is a straight-forward type of back, meaning he doesn’t make a lot of people miss. Since he attacks a lot of defenders, he doesn’t speed up after contact.
Hale Hentges
Position: TE
Height: 6-5
Weight: 254
Projection: Undrafted
Pro: An all-out blocker. Has shown he will give a maximum effort to prolong a play, like he did against Louisville by blocking without a helmet.
Con: Since he is a block first type of tight end, he is rarely involved in the passing game, which is a problem for today’s NFL.
Josh Jacobs
Drafted Thursday in Round 1 by the Oakland Raiders.
Position: RB
Height: 5-10
Weight: 216
Projection: Late first, second round
Pro: Showed he was an explosive back last year and made plays in all facets of the game (running, blocking and receiving). As a runner, he showed patients and allowed holes to be made.
Con: In his standout year at Alabama, he looked for contact and often times tried to run over his opponent. This isn’t always possible at the next level.
Christian Miller
Drafted Saturday in Round 4 by the Carolina Panthers.
Position: LB
Height: 6-4
Weight: 244
Projection: Late third round, early fourth
Pro: Biggest component of his game is his speed. He has different speed moves that can make it difficult on a tackle, while being able to get to the sideline when necessary.
Con: Scouts find he needs to add more strength before becoming a household name. While he has speed off the edge, his lack of strength hampers his ability to have a power rush.
Ross Pierschbacher
Drafted Saturday in Round 5 by the Washington Redskins.
Position: Center
Height: 6-4
Weight: 309
Projection: Fifth or sixth round
Pro: Has plenty of experience, as he started 57 games at UA. He has also played guard and center, which is a plus.
Con: Scouts say he has below-average “redirect strength,” meaning he can have trouble changing a rusher’s direction, especially on the run.
Irv Smith Jr.
Drafted Friday in Round 2 by the Minnesota Vikings.
Position: TE
Height: 6-4
Weight: 241
Projection: Late first round, early second round
Pro: Scouts believe linebackers will have trouble covering him and may need help from members of the secondary.
Con: Struggled at in-line blocking, a primary job for a tight end at the next level. Scouts at the combine also criticized his ability to maintain his speed downfield.
Saivion Smith
Position: DB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 199
Projection: Fourth or fifth round
Pro: Brings height to the outside, as the average NFL cornerback in 2014 was 5-foot-11. An effective tackler in space, finishing with 60 tackles in 2018.
Con: Struggled at different points in his lone year at Alabama, which included being benched during the Ole Miss game. Some scouts have questioned his “consistency and reliability.”
Deionte Thompson
Drafted Saturday in Round 5 by the Arizona Cardinals.
Position: DB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 196
Projection: Third round
Pro: Biggest trait in his lone year as a starter was his covering ability, especially his range. Scouts also talked about his ability to read quarterback’s eyes while playing with instincts.
Con: Weight. He is a big hitter, but a lack of weight could shorten his playing career.
Jonah Williams
Drafted Thursday in Round 1 by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Position: OL
Height: 6-5
Weight: 301
Projection: First round
Pro: Solid tackle in his three years at Alabama, gets off the line quickly while maintaining control. Showed improvement all three years, a plus for teams at the next level.
Con: Scouts are concerned with his physical traits at tackle, which is why some have him transitioning to guard.
Quinnen Williams
Drafted Thursday in Round 1 by the New York Jets.
Position: DT
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
Projection: Early first round
Pro: A force to be reckoned with in his lone season as a starter at Alabama, leading the team in tackles for loss (18.5) and placing fifth in tackles. He excelled at the NFL combine, running a 4.83 on the 40-yard dash.
Con: At around 300-pounds, low by NFL defensive tackle standards. Ability to have an effective bull rush (a power move instead of finesse) was a concern from scouts.
Mack Wilson
Drafted Saturday in Round 5 by the Cleveland Browns.
Position: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 239
Projection: Third round
Pro: Solid defender the last two years when covering tight ends or running backs, finishing with six interceptions.
Con: Biggest problem is against blocking. Scouts talked about his indecision on slipping or attacking a block. He also needs to attack blocks earlier, constricting the running gaps.
