Todd McShay has 4 Alabama players going in first-round of early mock draft

Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) scores a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

On Monday morning, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay released his first mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft. Four of the 32 players that he mocked as first-round picks were from Alabama.

McShay projected wide receiver Germie Bernard (No. 12 to the Seattle Seahawks), linebacker Deontae Lawson (No. 15 to the Arizona Cardinals), cornerback Domani Jackson (No. 16 to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 23 overall to the San Francisco 49ers).

Interestingly enough, three of the four Alabama players that McShay listed will be senior during the 2025 season. Bernard, Lawson, and Jackson each passed up on an opportunity to enter the 2025 NFL Draft with hopes of returning to school and upgrading their draft stock.

Proctor is entering his junior season with the Crimson Tide. The Iowa native is being projected early on to land anywhere from No. 1 overall to No. 23 overall in early mock drafts.

Alabama has had a player drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft in each of the last 16 drafts. That is quite the feat for one of the more historic programs in college football. It will be interesting to see if that streak continues in 2026.

GET THE BEST ALABAMA FOOTBALL INSIDER INFORMATION, MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, AND RECRUITING COVERAGE TODAY! SIGN UP HERETO UNLOCK OUR SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT!*

Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.