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What They Were Saying After Round 1 of the NFL Draft about the Six Alabama Selections
To the surprise of no one, the Crimson Tide dominated the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft like it did the 2020 football season
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The best story on draft day was probably one you didn t see.
A few hours before the start of the 2021 NFL Draft, former Alabama running back Najee Harris visited the homeless shelter that he and his his four siblings and parents lived in for several years. Just to see him as a grown man with this kind of opportunity for him today and to know that he lived in this shelter among many other places their family had to move around and lives as a homeless man just speaks to [the thought that] anything is possible, Kathleen Sullivan, executive director of the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program, told ABC 7 News.
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Once again, the Las Vegas Raiders stunned the Draft Industrial Complex, selecting Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood No. 17 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Most media scouts didn t rank the OT anywhere near a first-round prospect.
It was just the latest example of general manager Mike Mayock, coach Jon Gruden and the rest of the Raiders scouting staff rejecting the consensus outside their building. He was the highest-rated player on our board at that time, offense or defense, Mayock said Thursday night, via the team s official website.
At 6-foot-5, 312 pounds with athleticism, Leatherwood was a three-year starter at Alabama at both guard and left tackle, where he spent the past two seasons.
Apr 29, 2021
Henderson, Nev. The Las Vegas Raiders entered tonight s 2021 NFL Draft needing offensive line help. They got it in their first pick, No. 17 overall, Alex Leatherwood from the University of Alabama.
The monster (6-6, 312-pound) star brings a huge frame to the Silver and Black, but also much more.
Leatherwood has a rare combination of size, speed and explosiveness in playing the offensive line. Leatherwood also brings position flexibility within the offensive line because of those traits.
Raider Maven was aware that General Manager Mike Mayock and Coach Jon Gruden liked Leatherwood. We projected the Raiders to pick him in our three-round mock draft on April 20. In that draft we had him projected as a third-round player.
Tony Dejak/Associated Press
Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock acknowledged Thursday that he was aware the selection of Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft would raise some eyebrows.
Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mayock said of the pick: We knew it would be controversial. We completely understand that.
Mayock went on to explain the rationale of the decision, citing the endorsements from offensive line coach Tom Cable and head coach Jon Gruden: Coach Cable has been all over him for months now. Gruden loved this guy. Our scouts loved this guy. And what I like is, when the second floor in our building, which is all the coaches, and the third floor, which is all the scouts, when we re united on a conversation like Leatherwood, that makes me feel really good about the pick.
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No matter whom you talk to in the Raiders organization, it sounds like the team was always going to pick Alex Leatherwood No. 17 overall, regardless of mock drafts or what any draft expert said.
For months, General Manager Mike Mayock, Head Coach Jon Gruden, and the rest of the scouting department scoured through hours of tape, and what they saw was a starting right tackle from Day One. He can play inside and outside, but he s going to start for us at right tackle Day One, Mayock told reporters following the first round, and we re going to see if he can hold on to that job.