Over the previous 87 NFL drafts, 42 players from Alabama high schools and colleges have been selected with a triple-digit pick and went on to reach triple digits in games played in the league.

Within that group of overachievers is a subset of 11 players whose draft-pick number added to the number of NFL regular-season games that each player started reaches at least 299, showing them to be long-term contributors from back in the draft.

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They are the kind of draft bargains that NFL teams will be hoping to hit upon during the third day of the 88th draft on Saturday.

This year’s NFL Draft starts on Thursday with the first round. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, with the remaining four rounds on Saturday. ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will televise the draft, starting at 7 p.m. CDT Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Alabama Roots 299 Club of draft bargains includes:

Howard Ballard, Clay County High School and Alabama A&M

The Buffalo Bills selected the offensive tackle nicknamed “House” with the 283rd choice in the 1987 NFL Draft. Ballard did not start a game in his first season, then started the remaining 154 as a right tackle, playing in every game in nine of his 10 final seasons. Ballard was a Pro Bowl selection in 1992 and 1993 and played in four Super Bowls.

Bart Starr, Sidney Lanier High School (Montgomery) and Alabama

The Green Bay Packers selected the quarterback with the 200th choice in the 1956 NFL Draft. Starr led the Packers to victory in the NFL championship games for the 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967 seasons, with the last two campaigns capped by victories in the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, a contest now called the Super Bowl. Starr earned the MVP Award for those first two Super Bowls and was the NFL MVP Award winner for the 1966 season. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1977.

Mark McMillian, Alabama

The Philadelphia Eagles selected the cornerback with the 272nd choice in the 1992 NFL Draft. Although listed at 5-foot-7 and 154 pounds, McMillian played in eight NFL seasons. In 1997 with the Kansas City Chiefs, McMillian intercepted eight passes, which he returned for a league-best 274 yards and three touchdowns. McMillian intercepted 23 passes in his career.

Howard Cross, New Hope High School and Alabama

The New York Giants selected the tight end with the 158th choice in the 1989 NFL Draft. Cross spent his 13-season career with the Giants and played on a Super Bowl winner in his second year. Cross played in 207 regular-season games with 171 starts. He caught 201 passes for 2,194 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Jay Ratliff, Auburn

The Dallas Cowboys selected the defensive lineman with the 224th choice in the 2005 NFL Draft. Ratliff played in 11 NFL seasons and ranked among the league’s best during his middle years. As the Dallas nose tackle, Ratliff received Pro Bowl recognition annually from 2008 through 2011 and earned first-team All-Pro selection in 2009.

Cortland Finnegan, Samford

The Tennessee Titans selected the cornerback with the 215th choice in the 2006 NFL Draft. Over the course of his 10 seasons, Finnegan made first-team All-Pro in 2008, averaged 27.6 yards per return on his 18 interceptions, ran back four interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns and reached the Super Bowl with the Carolina Panthers in his final season.

Gary Walker, Auburn

The Houston Oilers selected the defensive lineman with the 159th choice in the 1995 NFL Draft. Walker started 148 regular-season games over the next 11 seasons, including Pro Bowl campaigns in 2001 and 2002 – the first with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the second back in Houston, but not with the Oilers. He finished his career with the Texans.

Chris Gray, Homewood High School and Auburn

The Miami Dolphins selected the offensive lineman with the 132nd choice in the 1993 NFL Draft. Gray spent 15 seasons in the NFL. In his first seven, he started 43 games. In the final eight, Gray started every game for the Seattle Seahawks but one he missed in 2006. Gray was a regular at right guard, left guard and center during his career.

Captain Munnerlyn, Murphy High School (Mobile)

The Carolina Panthers selected the cornerback from South Carolina with the 216th choice in the 2009 NFL Draft. Munnerlyn spent much of his 10 NFL seasons as a slot corner, but he still made 85 regular-season starts. Munnerlyn returned five of his 12 interceptions for touchdowns and also scored on a fumble return.

Tom Banks, John Carroll Catholic High School (Birmingham) and Auburn

The St. Louis Cardinals selected the center with the 189th choice in the 1970 NFL Draft. Banks spent his 11 NFL seasons in St. Louis. Knee injuries caused him to miss the entire 1970 season and all but one game in 1974, but he came back from the second injury to make the Pro Bowl annually for the next four years and earn first-team All-Pro recognition in 1976.

Dave Washington, Druid High School (Tuscaloosa)

The Denver Broncos selected the linebacker from Alcorn State with the 219th choice in the 1970 NFL Draft. Washington played for five teams across his 11 NFL seasons. In 1976, he reached the Pro Bowl in the second of his three seasons as the San Francisco 49ers’ right linebacker.

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