The state of Alabama could see seven players taken in the first round of the NFL draft tonight, including premium talents Tua Tagovailoa and Derrick Brown, according to predictions by experts.
Adam Stites of the sports website SBnation.com compiled and averaged 111 mock drafts from various NFL experts to see which selections were most likely.
The results show three players from in-state universities likely to be among the top-10 picks: Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, along with Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown.
Later selections in the 32-pick first round are likely to be star Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, followed by defensive backs Xavier McKinney and Trevon Diggs.
The experts say Tagovailoa is most likely to go either fifth or sixth in tonight’s draft, which would see him on the Miami Dolphins or San Diego Chargers.
The Carolina Panthers have a high likelihood of selecting Derrick Brown with the seventh overall pick, according to the experts in the study. Another strong possibility for Brown is the Jacksonville Jaguars at number nine.
Wills’ most likely team is the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth pick, according to the numbers, though a sizable chunk of experts have him going as high as number four overall to the New York Giants.
Around one-third of the experts surveyed believe Jeudy will go to the Las Vegas Raiders at number 12 overll. The prediction makers are split over who is second most likely to pick the star wideout.
Ruggs is likely to go the Denver Broncos at 15, according to the SBnation results. A number of experts have him slightly higher; going to the San Francisco 49ers with the 13th pick.
The experts do not agree on where defensive star Xavier McKinney might go. The two often selected spots for him are the Miami Dolphins at 17 and the Miami Dolphins at 26.
Diggs is not perceived as a lock to go in the first round, however, a strong contingent of experts believe there is some chance he is picked among the final 10 teams.
The first round of the NFL draft airs Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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