The answer won’t emerge for at least a few years, but lets try to predict it nonetheless.

The 2025 NFL Draft starts Thursday and runs through Saturday, and once again, Alabama football expects to have a handful of players hear their names over those three days. Nine Alabama players attended the combine, so that might be the max number of Crimson Tide players who will be drafted, though not all of the nine necessarily will be.

That list invited to the NFL combine included: quarterback Jalen Milroe, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, offensive lineman Tyler Booker, defensive back Malachi Moore, punter James Burnip, tight end CJ Dippre, tight end Robbie Ouzts, edge defender Que Robinson and defensive lineman Tim Smith.

So, which of those nine will have the best career in the NFL? Here’s our view of the field.

QB Jalen Milroe an intriguing option

When he’s good, he can be elite. When he’s off, he can struggle big time. He plays an exciting, rollercoaster-like brand of football. Perhaps an NFL team can help him play consistently at a high level that gives defenses fits. But there’s no guarantee that happens. For the point of this exercise, we’re looking for the surest thing from this group. Milroe isn’t that, at this time.

A top candidate

Campbell’s expected to be a first-round NFL Draft pick and showed to be a game-changing defender for the Crimson Tide, especially this past season. Campbell thrived in Kane Wommack’s “Swarm” defense. Will the linebacker also succeed in an NFL defense? Chances are good he turns in a solid professional career. He’s right up there in contention to be the best pro from this class, but another player with a chance to be a first-round pick might have the edge …

Our pick: Tyler Booker

He’s been helping the Alabama offense since his freshman season in 2022. Booker earned All-SEC freshman honors while rotating at both guard spots. Then he started in every game but one in 2023. Booker finished on the All-SEC team that season. Then in 2024, he became a team captain and a second team All-America selection from all five of the major services that decide All-America picks. In the intangibles category, perhaps no one on this team received more praise for his leadership than Booker.

He was as dependable and punishing as it gets of anyone on the roster, and for that reason, he’s the front-runner to become the best pro.

A sleeper pick

Don’t be surprised if you look up a decade or even two from now and Burnip is still booming punts in the NFL. Specialists can have longevity unlike any other position, especially if the specialist is reliable and good. Burnip became both by the end of his time with the Crimson Tide.

There’s a reason Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Burnip’s “the best I’ve ever been around when it comes to punters.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.