Alabama Players in the NFL

"It came about because we didn't have anybody else," Washington coach Jay Gruden said about how Anderson ended up at fullback. "We lost Niles and Reed. We just had to find another guy, and we asked Ryan if he could do it, and he said: Heck, yeah, he could do it.

"He blocked the wrong guy both times, but he went in there and blocked somebody, which was good. That's half the battle. We had a pass designed for him later on in the game, but we didn't get to it, thank goodness. But he did a good job running in there. He's a physical guy who's got a big body. A willing guy, so we used him."

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Jonathan Allen, DL, first round: He did an excellent job pushing the pocket in the Redskins’ nickel package before going on injured reserve with a Lisfranc injury after five games. Allen recorded 10 tackles and a sack, but he helped others by driving his man back on multiple occasions. Grade: Above average

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Ryan Anderson, LB, second round: A shoulder injury set him back in training camp and his lack of productivity stems as much from playing behind Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. Anderson hasn’t made much noise when in games with two tackles and no sacks. He does play with strength and an attitude and helps on special teams. He hasn't made any impact plays; he did play fullback in Week 8 at the goal line. Grade: Below average

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O.J. Howard, TE, first round: Howard can certainly block in the running game. He's not afraid to stick his face in there against some pretty good pass-rushers like Mario Addison. When he has gotten the ball in his hands -- like the touchdown against the New York Giants or the two he had against the Buffalo Bills -- he's been solid, even electrifying. But the ground game is still struggling. That's not solely on him, but on the entire offensive line plus whoever is blocking. Howard has also had a few drops. He's an unbelievable athlete, but the Bucs have to find ways to get him the ball more; if they did, his contributions to the the team would likely be above average. Grade: Average

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Cam Robinson, OT, second round: He has started at left tackle since opening day and has been the Jaguars’ best lineman. He gave up just one sack through the first seven games and has been good in the run game, too. He plays with an edge, which is something that had been missing from the Jaguars' offensive line. Grade: Near perfection.

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Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, second round: He's starting alongside Damon Harrison and consistently making an impact. Tomlinson has -- tackles and could make more plays, but the rookie out of Alabama plays with impressive strength and leverage. He's adapted well to the professional game, immediately earning a starting spot and appears to have a bright future. There hasn't been a substantial dropoff with Tomlinson starting in place of Johnathan Hankins, who left for the Colts as a free agent this past offseason. Grade: Above average

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Reuben Foster, LB, first round: Foster offered an exciting glimpse of what he can do in the opener but then left that game because of a high ankle sprain. He didn't return until Week 7. Upon his return, he moved to middle linebacker, which will be his long-term home, though he's moved around in recent games. The talent is undeniable, but he has to prove he can stay healthy before a real evaluation can be made. Grade: Incomplete.

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Marlon Humphrey, CB, first round: The No. 16 overall pick has never felt overwhelmed, which comes from the fact that he played big games at Alabama and is the son of former Pro Bowl running back Bobby Humphrey. He is currently the No. 3 corner on the team, but he would be playing even more snaps if not for Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr playing so well. Humphrey has been aggressive in coverage and has broken up five passes, which is tied for the second-most on the NFL's No. 3 pass defense. He has played 201 snaps, which is almost double than any other rookie on the team. The Ravens see him as a future high-end starter. Grade: Above average.

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Tim Williams, LB, third round: Considered one of the best pure pass-rushers, Williams has no sacks and has been inactive four times. He's only played 59 snaps, which ranks 21st among Baltimore's defensive players. Once again, the Ravens passed on Hunt, who was taken eight picks after Williams. Grade: Below average.

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Eddie Jackson, S, fourth round: Jackson became the only player in NFL history to have two 75-plus-yard defensive scores in the same game when he torched the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. Jackson won NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the performance. Grade: Above average

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ArDarius Stewart, WR, third round: The Jets play mainly three receivers, and Stewart (four catches) hasn't been able to crack the top three. The physical talent is there, especially when he has the ball in his hands, but he must improve his blocking and his overall awareness. He's the primary kickoff returner, but has yet to make a big play. For the second-guessers: The Jets picked Stewart over running back Kareem Hunt, who went seven picks later to the Kansas City Chiefs. Grade: Below average.

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