RB Jahmyr Gibbs Expected To Be Selected In First Round
Throughout the pre-draft process, Bijan Robinson has been rated as a first-round lock given his status as not only the top running back available, but one of the best prospects at any position. He might not be the only tailback to hear his name called on Day 1, though. 
Jahmyr Gibbs has increasingly generated first-round buzz leading up to this week’s draft. The junior spent the first two seasons of his college career at Georgia Tech, posting 1,206 rushing yards and eight touchdowns during that span. His decision to transfer to Alabama for the 2022 season paid off, as he enjoyed a career year on the ground.
Gibbs totaled 926 rushing yards and seven scores in his lone season with the Crimson Tide, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He continued to show his prowess as a pass-catcher as well, recording 44 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Gibbs’ 195 touches were the most he logged during a season, something which, coupled with his 5-11, 200-pound frame, has led to some concerns about his ability to handle a starter’s workload at the pro level.
In spite of that, ESPN’s Todd McShay writes that Gibbs has received continued attention around the NFL recently from evaluators, to the point where he is expected to be drafted in the first round. The valuation of running backs has made it difficult to project the range for high-end prospects at the position, but McShay adds that some teams have little in the way of a gap in ranking between Gibbs and Robinson, who has frequently been listed as the top RB to enter the league since Saquon Barkley.
Taking that point one step further, Peter King of NBC Sports notes that some teams actually project Gibbs to outperform Robinson in the NFL. The former’s chances of being named the clear-cut lead back early on with whichever team drafts him are lower than those of the latter, of course, but the two may end up being linked if their careers end up being similar in terms of production. King has Gibbs being selected 30th by the Eagles in his mock draft.
Robinson is expected to be off the board by that point, with the Falcons being named as a potential suitor for the Texas alum. Both the Buccaneers (set to pick at No. 19) and Cowboys (No. 26) have left the door open to selecting Robinson as well, despite the growing anxiety surrounding the usage of a Day 1 pick on any running back. Robinson’s ultimate landing spot could affect Gibbs’ stock, but it would come as little surprise if the latter were to join him as a first-rounder.
Alabama’s Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs Declare For Draft
In a move which comes as no surprise, three of Alabama’s top players from this season are set to turn pro. In a joint announcement made on Monday, quarterback Bryce Young, pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. and running back Jahmyr Gibbs confirmed that they are declaring for the upcoming NFL draft. 
Young made seven appearances as a freshman in 2020, but took over as the team’s starter the following year. That campaign saw him re-write the school’s record books and establish himself as a serious candidate to be the top quarterback in the 2023 class. Young threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns as a sophomore; both figures rank first in single-season program history.
That made him an unsurprising Heisman winner, and led to the expectation that a repeat performance could be on tap in 2022. Young took a step back this season, but still totaled over 3,000 passing yards for the second straight year – another unprecedented feat for an Alabama passer – while playing three fewer games. A weakened offensive line and skill-position corps have generally not been held against him, putting Young squarely in contention to be this year’s No. 1 pick.
That could especially hold true if the Texans wind up with the top draft slot for this spring. They are widely believed to be in need of a short- and long-term move at quarterback, and Young’s demonstrated ability as a pocket passer (albeit one who, at 6-0, 197 pounds, faces size concerns) could address that need. Young has a realistic chance of becoming the first member of the Crimson Tide to be selected first overall since 1948.
Anderson is likewise expected to face a very short wait on draft night before hearing his name called. He flashed plenty of potential as a freshman with seven sacks, and took a massive step forward in 2021. The 6-4, 235-pounder led the country in sacks (17.5) en route to a number of individual accolades including SEC Defensive Player of the Year and being named a consensus All-American.
Anderson repeated both of those feats in 2022, a season in which he racked up another 10 sacks. His decorated resume led to sky-high expectations for this past campaign, and his inability to fully live up to them contributed to midseason speculation that he would be overtaken by Young or another defender (likely Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter) as the No. 1 overall prospect. Regardless of where he lands in the NFL, Anderson is likely to make an immediate impact off the edge.
Gibbs transferred to Alabama from Georgia Tech last offseason, and enjoyed a career year after the move. He posted 926 rushing yards (at a clip of 6.1 per carry) and seven touchdowns, adding 444 yards and another three scores in the passing game. That dual-threat ability has him in first-round consideration alongside Texas tailback Bijan Robinson.
Young and Gibbs took part in Alabama’s Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State, a notable distinction from a number of other high-profile college players who declare early for the draft. They, alongside Anderson, are primed to become the latest Crimson Tide products who feature predominantly in the spring on their way to the NFL.