Raiders draft Alabama tackle in 1st round
Former Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood was drafted 17th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in Thursday night’s first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
The Outland Trophy winner was the fifth Tide player picked after Jaylen Waddle (No. 6), Patrick Surtain (No. 9), DeVonta Smith (No. 10) and Mac Jones (No. 15).
Leatherwood’s selection at No. 17 was a surprise given most mock drafts predicted he would be chosen later in he first round or in the second round.
Leatherwood was an unanimous first-team AllAmerican in 2020 after deciding to return for his senior season in Tuscaloosa. The Pensacola, Florida native started his final two seasons at left tackle after starting at right guard in 2018.
Once a five-star recruit ranked in the top five nationally, Leatherwood is the latest member of the Tide’s accomplished 2017 recruiting class to be drafted to the NFL. He joins Jones, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs and offensive tackles Jedrick Wills.
Alabama tied Miami’s 2004 record for the most
first-round NFL draft picks Thursday when six Crimson Tide products heard their names called.
Najee Harris to Pittsburgh tied the record with the 24th overall pick but he was the last name called. Christian Barmore was left in the green room in Cleveland after receiving multiple first-round projections. He’ll be selected in the second or third-round Friday along with former teammates Landon Dickerson with Deonte Brown and Dylan Moses also on the board.
“It makes me feel like a proud papa,” a smiling Nick Saban said on the ABC broadcast when asked about tying the record with six.
Before Thursday, the most first-round picks in a given season for Alabama was four — a number achieved five times (2020, 2018, 2017, 2012 and 2011).
Miami in 2004 saw its six players taken in the first 21 picks. It started with Sean Taylor at No. 5 and included other future stars like Jonathan Vilma (No. 12), D.J. Williams (No. 17) and Vince Wilfork (No. 21).
The heralded 2017 recruiting class played a big role in the opening round. The four members of that class taken Thursday brings the count to eight first-rounders and six total with two more expected to be taken this week and a few others back for a final year in Tuscaloosa this fall.