Nick Saban always paid special attention to the Crimson Tide defensive backs, which is why that positional group stand above the rest by just a bit in the eyes of the NFL. In the upcoming 2024 draft, there’s a good chance two of Alabama’s star defenders from last season will be selected in the first round.
According to Ryan Roberts of College Sports Wire, who recently shared a full first-round mock draft, both Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry are solid Day 1 options for teams looking to replace veteran members of their respective secondaries.
Arnold had an impressive 2023 season as both a player and a team leader. Roberts has him projected to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22 in the first round.
“It’s very unlikely James Bradberry will be back in Philadelphia next season,” writes Roberts. “The Eagles will need to find a solution opposite of Darius Slay. There may not be a cornerback with a higher upside of Arnold, who took his game to a whole other level in 2023.”
As for McKinstry, he is selected just a few picks later at No. 25 by the Green Bay Packers.
“The future of Jaire Alexander seems less than certain in Green Bay,” writes Roberts. “Upgrading the cornerback position could be one of the top priorities for the Packers this offseason. McKinstry is one of the highest floor cover men in the class. He has a lot of experience in press man and zone while at Alabama, coming off of a season where he hardly gave up anything in coverage.”
A few months sit in between today and the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, so a lot can change. However, it’s looking like there’s a good chance both players can move up during the pre-draft process if they test and interview well.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football and the former players now preparing for the draft.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football | Roll Tide Wire…