Based on almost any NFL pre-draft analysis, Thursday night was a disappointing first round for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Jonathan Allen was a candidate to go as high as No. 4 in the draft, but slipped to the Washington Redskins at No. 17.
O.J. Howard seemed like a perfect fit for the Jets at No. 6, but lasted until the 19th picks of the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Reuben Foster was in a free fall until the San Francisco 49ers traded into the late first round to take him at No. 31.
And Cam Robinson was left to wait until day 2 to hear his name called, despite the fact that the Saints took an offensive tackle with the last pick of the first round.
Marlon Humphrey did prove a lot of people wrong by being the first Alabama player taken at No. 16 by the Baltimore Ravens.
But here’s what you should take away from Thursday night’s first round. Alabama’s “disappointing” night included an SEC record-tying four first-round picks. That makes three times in the last seven years Alabama has had four first-round picks. The only other SEC programs to have as many as four first-rounders in a single year are Auburn in 2005 and LSU in 2007.
The Tide could have as many as four more players selected tonight.
If Alabama has eight players — or even six players — taken in the first two days of the draft, it’s hard to really consider that a disappointment at all.
For Threaded Fasteners, I’m Randy Kennedy with Nuts and Bolts of the Game.
