Analysts leaning toward Bryce Young not being chosen No. 1 in NFL draft

Alabama’s quest to have its first No. 1 overall NFL draft pick since 1948 might have to wait another year.

Mock draft projections have leaned in recent weeks toward former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud being chosen first overall by the Carolina Panthers, who traded up with the Chicago Bears last month into the top spot of the April 27-29 draft.

Former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is more often being projected as the Houston Texans’ selection with the second overall pick. That is also reflected in betting odds, with Stroud the favorite at No. 1 and Young the favorite at No. 2, according to TheLines.com.

There is a near consensus, however, that former Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson will wind up in the desert. The Arizona Cardinals, which already have a quarterback in Kyler Murray, are widely projected to take Young at No. 3 overall or move down a spot with the quarterback-needy Indianapolis Colts and take Anderson at No. 4.

There is not agreement yet on whether Alabama will have a third player taken in the first round. Brian Branch was viewed by ESPN’s Todd McShay as a mid-first round pick when he declared for the draft in January, but analysts backed off their first-round projections for Branch after he ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Some more recent projections, however, have Branch being taken late in the first round.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also earned some late-first round projections when he declared for the draft in early January, but more recent mock drafts have placed Gibbs in the second round.

Alabama had two players chosen in the first round last year in Evan Neal and Jameson Williams. That came after the Tide had 21 first-round picks from 2017-21, including six in 2021.

Although it might only have two first-round picks this year, Alabama could have the most players chosen of any school in the 2023. The Tide had a nation-best 13 players invited to the NFL combine, and if all are drafted, it would top Alabama’s 12 picks in 2018 as the program record. The NFL record for most picks from a single school in a seven-round draft is 15, set by Georgia last year, with LSU (2020) and Ohio State (2004) tied for second at 14.

The first round of the 2023 NFL draft begins at 7 p.m. CT on April 27 in Kansas City.

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

QB Bryce Young

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 2, Houston Texans

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks (Mar. 28): No. 2, Houston Texans

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 2, Houston Texans

ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Mar. 21): No. 2, Houston Texans

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Mar. 21): No. 1, Carolina Panthers

ESPN’s Todd McShay (Mar. 11): No. 1, Carolina Panthers

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Mar. 10): No. 2, Houston Texans

OLB Will Anderson

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks (Mar. 28): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 4, Arizona Cardinals (projected trade)

ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Mar. 21): No. 4, Arizona Cardinals (projected trade)

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Mar. 21): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

ESPN’s Todd McShay (Mar. 11): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Mar. 10): No. 3, Arizona Cardinals

DB Brian Branch

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 32 overall — second round, Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks (Mar. 28): No. 24, Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 30, Philadelphia Eagles

ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Mar. 21): not projected in first round

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Mar. 21): not projected in first round

ESPN’s Todd McShay (Mar. 11): not projected in first round

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Mar. 10): not projected in first round

RB Jahmyr Gibbs

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 51 overall — second round, Miami Dolphins

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks (Mar. 28): not projected in first round

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 63 overall — second round, Kansas City Chiefs

ESPN’s Mel Kiper (Mar. 21): not projected in first round

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Mar. 21): not projected in first round

ESPN’s Todd McShay (Mar. 11): not projected in first round

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Mar. 10): not projected in first round

OT/G Tyler Steen

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 79 overall — third round, Indianapolis Colts

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 100 overall — third round, Las Vegas Raiders

S Jordan Battle

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 116 — fourth round, Green Bay Packers

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 78 — third round, Green Bay Packers

DL Byron Young

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 91 overall — third round, Buffalo Bills

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 83 overall — third round, Seattle Seahawks

ILB Henry To’o To’o

ESPN’s Jordan Reid (Mar. 29): No. 114 — fourth round, Carolina Panthers

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Mar. 24): No. 91 — third round, Seattle Seahawks