Are Any Alabama Players Drafted in Kiper's Latest Mock?

319 NFL draft hopefuls will be in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the NFL combine this week, as we quickly approach the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh, scheduled for late April 2026. ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper always releases one of his early mock drafts ahead of the NFL combine, and 2026 is no different.

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The Crimson Tide has the longest active streak of first-round draft picks, dating back to 2009, when offensive tackle Andre Smith was the first first-round draft pick of the Nick Saban era. That streak is now in jeopardy, as the Crimson Tide only has two consistent candidates who appear in NFL mock drafts from experts: quarterback Ty Simpson and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Both players consistently appear in the bottom half of NFL mock drafts.

ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released his pre-NFL combine mock draft, which had no surprises at No. 1 overall with the Las Vegas Raiders, who Kiper had drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Kiper had the New York Jets take former Alabama and current Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 2 overall pick.

The first Alabama player to appear in Kipe's pre-combine mock draft was quarterback Ty Simpson, who he had the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting at No. 21 overall to replace veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers spent one season in Pittsburgh.

"The Steelers have to think about the QB position with a longer-view lens. They could bring back Aaron Rodgers or opt for another veteran stopgap to keep them in contention next season, but even if they go that route, they should still address their future at the position," Kiper wrote in his justification. "Simpson has just 15 starts to his name, and his 2025 season was uneven, but his game has a lot of promise. He navigates the pocket well and threw 28 touchdown passes to just five interceptions last season. Pittsburgh could let him learn behind a veteran for a little while before turning the offense over to him."

The only other Alabama player who appeared in Kiper's pre-combine mock draft was the Tide's three-year starter at offensive tackle: Kadyn Proctor. Kiper had Proctor drafted No. 27 overall to the San Francisco 49ers, and classified him as both an offensive tackle and an offensive guard.

"Proctor's tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL. And there might not be a better situation than learning behind one of the best to ever do it in San Francisco," Kiper wrote. "Trent Williams will be 38 by Week 1, and he's entering the final year of his contract. So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027. He has 40 career starts -- all at left tackle -- and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch."

The NFL draft will take place over the final full weekend of April, starting on Thursday, April 23, and lasting until Saturday, April 25.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.