We are through 15 percent of our look at former Alabama players now in the league. Today, we finish up the long list that Alabama fans should be thankful for of former offensive linemen from Alabama in the NFL.
Leon Brown, Baltimore Ravens, Offensive Guard
2011-2014
6’6″, 320 pounds
3 years, $1.6 million
Leon Brown should be a very familiar name for Crimson Tide fans because he hasn’t been gone long. Brown went seven rounds without being selected during the 2015 NFL Draft but he signed on for the Ravens in May. Baltimore is not too far from his home in Parkdale, Maryland. Add that to the number of former Alabama players on the Ravens and it is understandable why Brown would want to stay with this team.
Unfortunately, it is easier said than done for Leon Brown. Brown will be fighting for one of the final roster spots in an offensive line that is already very good. He is currently third in the depth chart at right guard, behind John Urschel and one of the league’s top linemen, Marshal Yanda. Look out for Brown to try to push his name higher during the Ravens’ preseason games.
DJ Fluker, San Diego Chargers, Offensive Tackle
2009-2012
6’5″, 339 pounds
2 years, $6.7 million
DJ Fluker is one of the biggest names to come out of Tuscaloosa, especially from the offensive line. Fluker has missed just one game in his two seasons in the NFL, starting all 31 that he’s played in at right tackle. Last season, Fluker struggled with some nagging injuries that weren’t major enough to knock him out of a game but his performance suffered. The former Crimson Tide man is built perfectly to fit the offensive tackle role but there has been some talk this offseason about switching him to the right guard position.
Fluker has been practicing at right guard for the last two weeks with the Chargers’ starting offense. Head coach Mike McCoy will not say whether or not it is a permanent move but he does say they will be moving a lot of guys around during the preseason. Joe Barksdale was signed by the Chargers during the offseason and has provided depth and competition to San Diego’s offensive line. The Chargers have their first exhibition game on Thursday night and it is safe to assume Fluker and Barksdale will get snaps at both right guard and right tackle.
Carson Tinker, Jacksonville Jaguars, Long Snapper
2009-2012
6’0″, 220 pounds
1 year, $585K
Carson Tinker was a big name around the city of Tuscaloosa by the time he left for the NFL and he has now become another addition to a string of consistent linemen from Alabama. Tinker is much different from the rest of these offensive linemen but he deserves credit. Over two years, Tinker has been Jacksonville’s primary long snapper in all 32 games while recording 8 tackles and only botching one snap. That is pretty impressive when you think about how much the Jaguars have had to punt in the last two years. Tinker is once again listed as the starting long snapper for the 2015 Jaguars, who should be significantly improved.
Chance Warmack, Tennessee Titans, Offensive Guard
2009-2012
6’2″, 323 pounds
2 years, $7.2 million
Chance Warmack has come a long way in the past decade. Coming out of high school, Warmack was just a three-star recruit before turning into an All-American at Alabama. He played four years and became a top-ten draft pick for Tennessee in 2013. After two NFL seasons, the Titans must see improvement from Warmack but he only seems to be getting better as his career moves along. The former Tide star only gave up two sacks in 2014 as opposed to the seven he gave up in his rookie campaign.
Warmack was dealing with a lot of conditioning and training issues as soon as he got to the NFL but things have gotten much better for him. With his new dieting and training, we should see even more improvement from Warmack in year three. His “Warmacking” may not be an option anymore with the league’s rules but his strength comes from more than just his size. He has plenty of muscle underneath it all.
Caleb Turrentine is a contributor at Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Follow him on Twitter, @CalebTurrentine.
