Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is favored to be the No. 1pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Has there ever been a Crimson Tide player picked first overall?
The 2023 NFL Draft has finally arrived, as the first round takes place on Thursday, Apr. 27. This the the opportunity for teams to select the best college football players, in hopes that they can help them achieve their goal of winning a Super Bowl title. For the worst teams the previous, they are rewarded with the No. 1 overall pick, giving them the opportunity to pick who they believe is the best player in the class.
That pick was originally held by the Chicago Bears, but they were traded it away to the Carolina Panthers for a haul of picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. That allows the Panthers to select their quarterback of the future, and the belief is that it will be Alabama’s Bryce Young. That was later confirmed when commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement.
With Young being the first overall pick, has an Alabama player ever been taken that highly?
Has Alabama ever had a No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft?
The last time a Crimson Tide player that was selected first overall was Harry Gilmer back in 1948. The halfback and quarterback was drafted by the now Washington Commanders. He played their from 1948 until 1952, where he made it to the Pro Bowl in 1950 and 1952.
In Gilmer’s six years at Washington, he threw for 2,850 yards, 17 touchdowns and 38 interceptions, while running for 837 yards and one touchdown on 178 carries.
Young in his first year as Alabama’s starting quarterback, he won the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 66.9-percent of his passes. This past season, Young threw for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 64.5-percent of his passes.
For the first time since 1948, an Alabama player was selected first overall, and it was Bryce Young.
