The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh officially concluded on Saturday, April 25, followed by the usual flurry of Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) signings. As the dust settles, the footprint of the Iron Bowl rivalry remains heavily imprinted on NFL rosters.
Alabama's Draft Dominance Continues
The Crimson Tide's pipeline to the pros showed no signs of slowing down, finishing the weekend with 10 total players selected. This mark tied Texas A&M for the second-most selections from any single school, trailing only Ohio State (11).
After Kadyn Proctor (Dolphins) and Ty Simpson (Rams) extended Alabama's streak of first-round picks to 18 consecutive years on Thursday night, the later rounds saw a steady stream of Crimson Tide talent come off the board. Seven players were selected on the final day:
- LT Overton (DE): Round 4, No. 137 (Dallas Cowboys)
- Parker Brailsford (C): Round 5, No. 146 (Cleveland Browns)
- Justin Jefferson (LB): Round 5, No. 149 (Cleveland Browns)
- Josh Cuevas (TE): Round 5, No. 173 (Baltimore Ravens)
- Domani Jackson (CB): Round 6, No. 201 (Green Bay Packers)
- Tim Keenan III (DL): Round 7, No. 232 (Los Angeles Rams)
- Jam Miller (RB): Round 7, No. 245 (New England Patriots)
While several key contributors, such as linebacker Deontae Lawson, went undrafted, they immediately entered the free agency pool, seeking to earn their spots through rookie minicamps.
Auburn Sends Five, Adds UDFA Signings
The Auburn Tigers also made their mark, concluding the draft with five selections. Edge rusher Keldric Faulk led the way as a late first-round pick (No. 31, Titans), followed by Keyron Crawford in the third round. Day 3 saw the trenches rewarded, with Connor Lew (Bengals), Jeremiah Wright (Saints), and Bobby Jamison-Travis (Giants) all hearing their names called.
Perhaps just as important for Alex Golesh's program was the immediate post-draft period. Within 24 hours of the draft's conclusion, four former Tigers secured UDFA contracts:
- Dillon Wade (OL): Green Bay Packers
- Mason Murphy (OL): Chicago Bears
- Izavion Miller (OL): Cleveland Browns
- Brandon Frazier (TE): Atlanta Falcons
The Iron Bowl Implications: For Alabama, producing 10 draft picks across multiple positions—including high-profile transfers like LT Overton—reaffirms Kalen DeBoer's pitch that Tuscaloosa remains the premier developmental stop in college football. For Auburn, sending five players via the draft and placing four more offensive linemen/tight ends onto NFL rosters provides Golesh with tangible proof of concept as he continues his massive roster rebuild on The Plains.