NFL Draft: Washington Leads, Buffalo Lags in Alabama Picks

Half the NFL teams favor Alabama players, but the Bills buck the trend.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in shades of navy, crimson, and grey, conceptually representing the intricate dynamics of NFL teams' draft strategies.The complex web of NFL teams' draft preferences reveals insights into their player evaluation and roster-building strategies.Buffalo Today

In the latest NFL Draft, Alabama has been a top pick for six teams, with half the league selecting Crimson Tide players among their top choices from the SEC. However, the Buffalo Bills stand out as an outlier, consistently passing over Alabama prospects in favor of other SEC talent.

Why it matters

Alabama is widely regarded as a premier pipeline for NFL-ready talent, so teams' draft strategies around the Crimson Tide provide insight into their scouting priorities and philosophies. The Bills' divergence from the norm raises questions about their evaluation process and team-building approach compared to their league peers.

The details

Over the past several years, six NFL teams have made Alabama players a priority, selecting them among their top SEC picks. These include the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Buffalo Bills have consistently bucked this trend, regularly passing over Alabama prospects in favor of other SEC talent.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft took place in late April.

The players

Washington Commanders

An NFL team that has frequently targeted Alabama players in the draft.

Buffalo Bills

An NFL team that has consistently avoided selecting Alabama players, diverging from the league-wide trend.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Alabama is a proven pipeline for NFL talent, so it's interesting to see how teams approach drafting their players compared to the rest of the SEC.”

— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Draft Analyst

What’s next

As the 2026 NFL season approaches, analysts will continue to monitor how teams' draft strategies around Alabama players evolve and how that impacts their roster-building and on-field performance.

The takeaway

The Buffalo Bills' unique approach to drafting SEC talent, particularly in bypassing Alabama prospects, highlights the diversity of team-building philosophies in the NFL and the importance of scouting and evaluating players beyond just their college pedigree.