The 2024 NFL Draft starts on April 25 in Detroit with the 32 first-round picks. In the 88 NFL drafts, teams have chosen 128 prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges in the first round, and another 29 who were not first-rounders but were selected in the first 32 picks. AL.com is counting down to the draft by highlighting the players with Alabama football roots who have been chosen in the first 32 picks.

Two Alabama players and two Auburn players have been the 13th selection in an NFL Draft and, within those college subsets, offer a contrast in careers.

From Auburn, linebacker Takeo Spikes went to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989 and defensive tackle Nick Fairley went to the Detroit Lions in 2011.

From Alabama, back Joe Kilgrow was picked by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938 and defensive tackle Daron Payne was picked by the Washington Redskins in 2018.

A first-team All-American for The Sporting News in 1988, Spikes went to play in and start more NFL regular-season games than any other Auburn alumnus. In 219 games, with 215 starts, Spikes compiled 1,425 tackles, the most for a former Tigers standout since tackles became routinely recorded. Across 15 seasons, Spikes played for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers in addition to the Bengals. He was twice a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2004 with Buffalo.

Fairley’s breakout season in 2010 went a long way toward Auburn going undefeated and winning the BCS national championship. A consensus All-American and the winner of the Lombardi Trophy as the nation’s top lineman, the former Williamson High School star played in six NFL seasons, but he ended up on injured reserve in three of them. After starting every game for the New Orleans Saints in 2016, Fairley signed a four-year contract extension. But when he was discovered to have a heart issue, his career came to a premature end.

The contrast between the NFL careers of Kilgrow and Payne is even greater because Kilgrow didn’t have one.

A halfback, safety, passer and punter for the Alabama team that took an undefeated record to the Rose Bowl to cap the 1937 season, Kilgrow finished fifth in the balloting for that year’s Heisman Trophy behind four players who are now in the College Football Hall of Fame. The former Sidney Lanier High School standout didn’t pursue a pro career – at least in football. Kilgrow played two seasons of minor-league baseball with the Class B Montgomery Rebels of the Southeastern League and the Class D Troy Trojans of the Alabama State League. He also joined the Alabama football coaching staff and later became the superintendent of the university’s golf course.

A former Shades Valley High School star, Payne has completed six seasons with Washington. After earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2022, Payne signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the Commanders.

The Las Vegas Raiders hold the 13th selection in this year’s draft.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.