Final 2023 NFL mock draft projections for Alabama’s 15 draft hopefuls
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Final 2023 NFL mock draft projections for Alabama’s 15 draft hopefuls

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The NFL draft begins Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CT in Kansas City, with at least two former Alabama stars expected to join the 41 first-round picks of the Nick Saban era.

Bryce Young remains the betting favorite to be chosen No. 1 by the Carolina Panthers, at -1000 on FanDuel sports book. But Young said Wednesday he has yet to be told by the Panthers, who traded up last month with the Chicago Bears, that he is their pick.

If Young is chosen first overall, he will become Alabama’s first No. 1 pick in an NFL draft since Harry Gilmer in 1948.

Texas Tech linebacker Tyree Wilson is the betting favorite to be chosen No. 2 by the Houston Texans at +125 odds on FanDuel, followed by Alabama’s Will Anderson and Kentucky quarterback Will Levis at +300. Anderson is the current favorite to be chosen No. 3, at +200.

But there is some level of doubt about Anderson’s ceiling that has led to speculation he could slip slightly within the top 10, as detailed Wednesday by Sports Illustrated.

Alabama had 13 players invited to the NFL combine, the most in the nation this year and one short of the 14 it had invited in 2018. If all 13 are picked, it would top the 12 draft picks in 2018 as the most in program history.

Beyond Young and Anderson, Alabama has two other potential first-round picks in safety Brian Branch and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Young, Anderson and Branch are among 17 players who accepted invitations from the NFL to attend the draft in Kansas City.

This year will mark the 15th consecutive draft in which an Alabama player has been chosen in the first round, setting a new NFL record. Alabama last year tied Miami’s record of 14 consecutive drafts set from 1995-2008.

Here is a look at where recent mock drafts by major media outlets have projected Alabama players:

QB Bryce Young

  • ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Apr. 27): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • ESPN’s Todd McShay (Apr. 27): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 27): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Apr. 26): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Apr. 26): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • NBC Sports’ Peter King (Apr. 24): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 1, Carolina Panthers
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 1, Carolina Panthers

OLB Will Anderson

  • ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Apr. 27): No. 2, Houston Texans
  • ESPN’s Todd McShay (Apr. 27): No. 6, Detroit Lions
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 27): No. 2, Houston Texans
  • NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Apr. 26): No. 3, Houston Texans (projected trade)
  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Apr. 26): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals
  • NBC Sports’ Peter King (Apr. 24): No. 6, Detroit Lions
  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 2, Houston Texans
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

DB Brian Branch

  • ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Apr. 27): not projected in first round
  • ESPN’s Todd McShay (Apr. 27): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 27): No. 24, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Apr. 26): No. 25, New York Giants
  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Apr. 26): not projected in first round
  • NBC Sports’ Peter King (Apr. 24): No. 16, Washington Commanders
  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 36 — second round, New England Patriots (projected trade)

RB Jahmyr Gibbs

  • ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Apr. 27): No. 28, Cincinnati Bengals
  • ESPN’s Todd McShay (Apr. 27): No. 28, Cincinnati Bengals
  • NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Apr. 26): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Apr. 26): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles
  • NBC Sports’ Peter King (Apr. 24): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles
  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 50 — second round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 38 — second round, Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade)
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 34 — second round, Arizona Cardinals

OT/G Tyler Steen

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 94 — third round, Philadelphia Eagles
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 63 — second round, Kansas City Chiefs
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 92 — third round, Cincinnati Bengals

ILB Henry To’o To’o

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 111 — fourth round, Cleveland Browns
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 87 — third round, Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade)
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 119 — fourth round, Minnesota Vikings

DL Byron Young

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 116 — fourth round, Green Bay Packers
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 109 — fourth round, Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade)
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 107 — fourth round, New England Patriots

S Jordan Battle

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 130 — fourth round, Buffalo Bills
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 78 — third round, Green Bay Packers
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 144 — fifth round, Las Vegas Raiders

OG Emil Ekiyor

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 106 — fourth round, Indianapolis Colts
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 199 — sixth round, Baltimore Ravens
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 106 — fourth round, Indianapolis Colts

TE Cameron Latu

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 176 — fifth round, Indianapolis Colts
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): No. 191 — sixth round, Los Angeles Rams
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 155 — fifth round, San Francisco 49ers

CB Eli Ricks

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 105 — fourth round, Arizona Cardinals
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): not projected in seven rounds
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 198 — sixth round, Seattle Seahawks

S DeMarcco Hellams

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 218 — seventh round, Kansas City Chiefs
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): not projected in seven rounds
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 233 — seventh round, Washington Commanders

DL DJ Dale

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): No. 235 — seventh round, Green Bay Packers
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): not projected in seven rounds
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): No. 211 — sixth round, Minnesota Vikings

ILB Jaylen Moody

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): not projected in seven rounds
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): not projected in seven rounds
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): not projected in seven rounds

OL Kendall Randolph

  • ESPN’s Matt Miller (Apr. 24): not projected in seven rounds
  • NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Apr. 21): not projected in seven rounds
  • The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 17): not projected in seven rounds

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.