NFL evaluations for Alabama’s combine participants

Alabama will be well represented at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, as 12 former Crimson Tide players will look to impress teams in Indianapolis. 

The Tide’s 12 representatives were second-most behind Texas A&M with 13. LSU and Ohio State both had 11 invites, while Georgia, Miami and Oklahoma all had 10. 

As usual, the combine will be held inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium. On-field workouts will begin on Thursday and continue until Sunday. 

Heading into the event, NFL.com came out with its initial grades for all of this year’s top draft prospects. The grades range from 5.5 to 8.0 with 5.5 being a “priority undrafted free-agents” to 8.0 being a “perfect prospect.” Here’s a full list of the grading scale.

8.0 — Perfect prospect 

7.3-7.5 — Perennial All-Pro

7.0-7.1 — Pro Bowl talent 

6.7-6.9 — Year 1 starter

6.5-6.6 — Boom or bust potential 

6.40-6.49 — Will become good starter within two years

6.30-6.39 — Will eventually be plus starter

6.20-6.29 — Will eventually be average starter

6.10-6.19 — Good backup with the potential to develop into starter

6.0-6.09 — Traits or talent to be above-average backup

5.80-5.99 — Average backup or special-teamer

5.60-5.69 — Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad

5.50-5.59 — Priority undrafted free agent

Here are the prospect grades for Alabama’s 12 combine participants, as well as NFL.com’s evaluations of their strengths and weaknesses. 

Kadyn Proctor,  offensive tackle

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.45 — Will become good starter within two years 

What they are saying: “Proctor is a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He’s capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power. However, slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game. When set and centered, Proctor is a roadblock to speed-to-power charges. He has a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track. He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard.” — By Lance Zierlein, NFL analyst 

Strengths 

—Massive frame with good length.

— Big knock-back pop when accelerating into contact.

— Down blocks and double teams can empty the gap.

— Captures and seals outside edge with upper-body power.

— Adequate early quickness to execute move blocks.

— Able to cover and engulf his second-level targets.

— Settles into pass reps with adequate hand timing.

— Power rushers need to pack a lunch against him.

— Rush plans are stifled when he centers his contact.

— Has hand strength to lock in and control the action.

Weaknesses 

— Indecisive and inefficient when defender isn’t in front of him.

— Cross-faced by slants and short-area movement.

— Does too much catching and not enough punching.

— Early gate opener with weight drifting too far outside.

— Struggled staying mirrored to inside moves and counters.

— Limited pass-set range will limit quarterback’s drop depth.

— Needs to stabilize playing weight to dial in balance/quickness.

Germie Bernard,  wide receiver 

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.29 — Will eventually be average starter

What they are saying: Bernard is a versatile wideout with ascending production over the last three years.  He has good size, accelerates to top speed quickly and is a smooth route runner with well-disguised breaks and clean footwork getting in and out. He can line up outside or in the slot and is capable of running a full route tree across all three levels. He has impressive run-after-catch ability. Bernard’s second gear as a field-stretcher is fairly ordinary, and he doesn’t always play to his size when it’s time to compete for catch space. Bernard projects as an above-average WR2/3. — Robert Woods, NFL analyst

Strengths 

— Good size, big hands and inside/outside versatility. 

— Tempo alterations help to bypass and separate from coverage.

— Able to drop hips and quickly snap off curls/comebacks.

— Smooth strider with steady turnover working through zone.

— Gets through route transitions smoothly and at top speed.

— Above-average focus and footwork near the sideline.

— Weaponized as a utility option out of the backfield.

— Plus field vision and cut quickness when the ball is in his hands.

Weaknesses 

— Good size, big hands and inside/outside versatility. 

— Tempo alterations help to bypass and separate from coverage.

—Able to drop hips and quickly snap off curls/comebacks.

— Smooth strider with steady turnover working through zone.

— Gets through route transitions smoothly and at top speed.

— Above-average focus and footwork near the sideline.

— Weaponized as a utility option out of the backfield.

— Plus field vision and cut quickness when the ball is in his hands.

Ty Simpson,  quarterback

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.28 — Will eventually be average starter

What they are saying: “Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.” — Zierlein

Strengths 

— Strong four-game stretch against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee 

— Had freedom to set and adjust protections at the line.

— Recognizes coverage quickly and moves through progressions with pace.

— Risk management is generally good.

— Exceptional footwork, with feet tied to eyes.

— Climbs, slides and resets the launch point when edge pressure closes in.

— Decisive in probing and attacking intermediate pockets of the zone.

— Throws with repeatable mechanics from snap to snap.

— Rarely misses basic throws to open receivers between the numbers.

— Receiver drops distort his accuracy numbers.

— Able to create on second reaction when the play breaks down.

— Escapes pocket with enough speed to move the chains.

Weaknesses 

— Only one season of starting experience.

— Carries a below-average build and dealt with nagging injuries in 2025.

— Posted a 57% completion rate over his final four games.

— Safeties took advantage of lazy eye discipline late in the season.

— Base can get jittery when under duress, leading to inconsistent ball placement.

— Average arm talent, with throws on the menu that should be ordered sparingly.

— Inconsistent timing on deep throws.

— Struggles layering the ball over linebackers and beating tight man with precision.

— Needs better judgement on when to extend versus when to take a profit.

— Held the ball for too long, leading to unnecessary sacks.

Deontae Lawson,  linebacker

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.15 — Good backup with the potential to develop into starter

What they are saying: Lawson is twitchy and covers ground quickly when scraping to the football or knifing inside to disrupt as a run blitzer. His quick flow and pursuit is countered by a lack of play recognition/patience that can place him in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s much better at slipping blocks than he is at taking them on. He has the reactive agility to become an above-average open-field finisher, but his wrap-and-drive fundamentals run hot and cold. Lawson’s athleticism shows up in man coverage and when expanding his zone influence. He projects as a run-and-chase Will linebacker with three-down potential but a limited ceiling. — Zierlein

Strengths 

— Two-time team captain.

— Rapid feet to scrape quickly across the front.

— Fast trigger and burst allow him to dart into gaps.

— Sudden and quick-footed as a block slipper.

— Flows wide and meets lead blocks with a forceful lead shoulder.

— Reactive athlete who can slide and match a back’s cut decisions.

— Plus range to expand his zone capabilities. 

— Elusive blitzer who can stress pass protection.

Weaknesses 

— Below-average pre-snap recognition against motion and movement.

— A beat late keying blockers and racing to the junction point.

— Limited feel for blocking schemes leads to inefficient movement.

— Below-average hand pop to stack and shed climbing blocks.

— Below-average stopping power and wrap-up consistency as a tackler.

LT Overton,  edge rusher

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.15 — Good backup with the potential to develop into starter

What they are saying: Overton is a slow-twitch end with impressive power and a consistently rugged demeanor. He has long arms and plays with the anchor/leverage that helps him secure his gap. However, he rarely gains early positional advantages and isn’t going to be a gap-shooter. He lacks range in pursuit and won’t threaten tackles to the corner with his get-off as an edge rusher. Overton’s play strength and leverage create power on the edge, but power won’t trump production. Adding mass and moving inside to 3-technique could be in his best interest. — Adetomiwa Adebawore, NFL analyst

Strengths 

— Strong base and is always the low man into contact.

— Plays with default ruggedness and resists blocks at the point.

— Tremendous hip power to uproot blockers.

— Excellent contact balance and is rarely on the ground.

— Pops, resets and reloads hands to preserve contain positioning.

— Appears to have enough strength to battle when playing inside.

— Efficient footwork to tighten his track and slice inside on T/E twists.

— Hands are active and aggressive to displace tackle’s punch.

Weaknesses 

— Slow twitch with below-average get-off.

— Ducks head into contact and can lose his sight line into the backfield.

— Below-average lateral quickness limits his ability to widen pursuit.

— Gradual upfield tempo rarely creates quick wins.

— Tight-hipped rush lacks stride and burst to win at the turn.

— Below-average counter quickness to find inside pathways.

Josh Cuevas,  tight end

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.12 — Good backup with the potential to develop into starter

What they are saying: Cuevas’ lack of ideal measurables could push some evaluators to slap him with a fullback label, but “combo tight end” fits best. He attacks blocking assignments with better toughness and technique than most in the class. He squares blocks and strains to sustain whether in-line, from the slot or as a lead blocker. Cuevas pairs burst/route knowledge to compete against man coverage over the first two levels and is a reliable target in traffic. He’s a well-rounded talent with the demeanor to become a productive pro. — Zierlein

Strengths 

— Alignment-versatile with the ability to compete as a “Y” or an H-back.

— Squares up, sustains and seals blocks at the first and second levels.

— Attacks in-line blocking assignments with effort and solid technique.

— Locates targets quickly and accelerates into contact as a lead blocker.

— Varies route tempo and is elusive in beating redirection in space.

— Fluid route-runner with ability to maintain play speed out of turns.

— Exploits the middle with soft hands and absorbs contact comfortably.

Weaknesses 

— Lacks ideal size and length of a traditional “Y” on the NFL level.

— Could use a little better feel for space when sinking into zones.

— Struggles to haul in low throws and passes off his back hip.

— Run after catch is straight-line and features no elusiveness.

— Needs to keep his hands inside through block engagement. 

— Still learning when to cut blocks off or wash them down.

Justin Jefferson,  linebacker

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.00 — Traits or talent to be above-average backup

What they are saying: Jefferson is a smallish Will linebacker whose game is centered around his quickness and instincts. He plays with adequate field vision and good speed for long-haul pursuit. He’s athletic with above-average change-of-direction quickness to stay engaged with the play. Jefferson lacks functional size to take on blocks and leverage his gap, so becoming a better block-slipper or run-and-chase option is essential. He can cover, blitz and spy mobile quarterbacks, so a nickel linebacker/special-teams role could be his best fit. — Zierlein

Strengths 

— Makes very quick responses to play design.

— Base strength allows him to play through contact and recover.

— Adequate pursuit speed helps him run down the play.

— Sudden acceleration and change of direction to blitz or spy.

— Awareness to shade zone and athleticism to play man coverage.

— Offers value on kick- and punt-cover teams.

Weaknesses 

— Narrow frame falls below NFL standards at linebacker.

— Gets pushed around when playing near the line.

— Unable to step downhill and properly leverage his gaps.

— Will guess and miss his run fit when plays flow off-tackle.

— Needs more consistent eye balance in his short coverage.

Domani Jackson,  cornerback 

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.96 — Average backup or special-teamer

What they are saying: Jackson is a smooth athlete with good size and elite track speed. In totality, the play and production have failed to match the traits dating back to his days at USC (2022-2023), but his 2024 tape gives evaluators the best look at his ceiling. He can disrupt from press but can be a step slow to transition in-phase from man. Tampa 2 and deep-zone coverages suit him best. Scheme won’t matter as much as consistency and confidence for Jackson, though. — Zierlein

Strengths 

— NFL size with shredded frame and real top-end speed.

— Quality click-and-close from the top of his drop.

— Faces up and searches for the ball in man coverage downfield.

— Explosiveness to hammer pass-catchers and jar the ball free.

— Has shown a willingness to play through pain.

Weaknesses 

— Inconsistency was a problem throughout college career.

— Lacked control and balance in press cut-offs.

— Hitch shows up in lateral transitions from press.

— Inconsistent to identify and trigger from side shuffle.

— Too many finesse attempts as a run-support tackler.

Tim Keenan III,  defensive tackle

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.94 — Average backup or special-teamer

What they are saying: Keenan is a girthy nose tackle with average talent and upside. He has the frame/play strength to take on blocks and fight for ground with reasonable success. However, a lack of length limits his ability to command the point of attack with a quick punch-and-shed. He’s more block-beater than block-eater and won’t offer much as a rusher. Keenan has Day 3 value as a rotational player. — Zierlein

Strengths 

— Carries a broad build with stocky limbs.

— Productive 2024 season with 40 tackles (7.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks.

— Beats center into the neutral zone with quick hand strike.

— Leverage and base strength to hang in against double-teams.

— Works to maintain his run fit while moving laterally.

— Adequate short-area quickness to tackle his gaps.

— Powerful picker on T/E and T/T twists.

Weaknesses 

— Short arms allow blockers to crowd his frame.

— Takes time to free himself from connected blocks.

— Below-average range getting down the line and stopping the run.

— Takes blocks on but not enough block destruction.

— Lacks ideal burst to create momentum for his bull rush.

Parker Brailsford,  center

— Ungraded 

Jam Miller,  running back

— Ungraded 

Jaeden Roberts,  offensive guard

— Ungraded