9 Former Alabama Football Players Taken in 2013 NFL Draft

The University of Alabama football team had five players selected on the final day of the 2013 National Football League Draft Saturday afternoon at Radio City Music Hall.

The five selections on Saturday gave Alabama a total of nine players taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, setting a new modern-era record. The old mark was eight set in 1987 and 2012. The Tide had 10 players selected over 30 rounds in 1945. The current NFL Draft is seven rounds in length.

Linebacker Nico Johnson was the first player off the board on Saturday, going to Kansas City with the second pick of the fourth round (No. 99 overall). Center Barrett Jones then went to the St. Louis Rams with the 16^th pick of the fourth round (No. 113).

Two more Crimson Tide defensive linemen, Jesse Williams and Quinton Dial, were taken in round five. Williams was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fourth pick of round five, No. 137 overall. Dial was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers at No. 157 overall and No. 24 in the fifth round. Tight end Michael Williams was the final Alabama player selected, going to the Detroit Lions with the fifth selection of the seventh round (No. 211 overall).

In the last five NFL Drafts, Alabama has had 33 players selected, including 14 players in first round, four in the second and third rounds, two in the fourth, four in the fifth and five in the seventh round.

The Crimson Tide had a run of three straight players selected in the first round on Thursday evening with Dee Milliner going to the Jets at No. 9, Chance Warmack to the Titans at No. 10 and D.J. Fluker to the Chargers at No. 11. Eddie Lacy was then taken in the second round on Friday with the 61^st overall pick.

Three more Alabama players announced free-agent signings on their Twitter accounts Saturday evening. Safety Robert Lester signed with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Damion Square inked with the Philadelphia Eagles and long snapper Carson Tinker agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars.