Alabama
Alabama Roots: NFL Draft picks sign for $137.6 million
Dallas Turner signed his first NFL contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the team announced, bringing all the players with Alabama football roots picked in the 2024 NFL Draft under contract in time for training camp.
The other 26 draft picks who had played for Alabama high schools and colleges already had signed their first contracts by the time the No. 17 pick and the Vikings got the details hammered out on his deal.
Each player picked in the NFL Draft receives a four-year contract, and the range in the total value of those deals for the Alabama-roots players in the 2024 draft stretches from around $26.045 million to about $4.101 million. The approximate value of the 27 contracts is $137.606 million.
The values of the contracts are based on the NFL’s salary cap of $255.4 million for the 2024 season and this year’s rookie compensation pool in a formula spelled out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players association. While the values of rookie contracts aren’t negotiable, other factors are, including the amount of guaranteed money.
It wasn’t always that way. Before 2011, all factors were in play for negotiation, and quarterback JaMarcus Russell (Williamson) signed the biggest contract for a rookie from an Alabama high school or college as the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft at $61 million for six years with the Oakland Raiders.
One of this year’s draft picks isn’t in training camp and will never play in the NFL. A fourth-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings, former Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson died in a traffic accident on July 6.
A rundown on what the drafted players who played at Alabama high schools and colleges signed for this year, with values from the sports financial web site spotrac.com:
J.C. Latham, offensive tackle, Alabama
First round, Tennessee Titans: Four years for $26.045 million, including a $15.762 million signing bonus. The contract is fully guaranteed and carries a team option for a fifth season.
Bo Nix, quarterback, Pinson Valley High School, Auburn
First round, Denver Broncos: Four years for $18.613 million, including a $10.357 signing bonus. The contract is fully guaranteed and carries a team option for a fifth season.
Dallas Turner, linebacker, Alabama
First round, Minnesota Vikings: Four years for $15.767 million, including an $8.287 signing bonus. The contract is fully guaranteed and carries a team option for a fifth season.
Terrion Arnold, cornerback, Alabama
First round, Detroit Lions: Four years for $14.344 million, including a $7.252 million signing bonus. The contract is fully guaranteed and carries a team option for a fifth season.
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, cornerback, Pinson Valley High School, Alabama
Second round, New Orleans Saints: Four years for $9.157 million, including a $3.48 million signing bonus. The contract includes $7.282 million in guaranteed money.
Kamari Lassister, cornerback, American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa
Second round, Houston Texans: Four years for $9.015 million, including a $3.376 million signing bonus. The contract includes $7.091 million in guaranteed money.
Chris Braswell, linebacker, Alabama
Second round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Four years for $6.785 million, including a $1.755 million signing bonus. The contract includes $3.885 million in guaranteed money.
Jermaine Burton, wide receiver, Alabama
Third round, Cincinnati Bengals: Four years for $5.821 million, including a $1.053 million signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Justin Eboigbe, defensive lineman, Alabama
Fourth round, Los Angeles Chargers: Four years for $4.859 million, including an $839,012 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Khyree Jackson, cornerback, Alabama
Fourth round, Minnesota Vikings: Four years for $4.847 million, including an $827,148 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Javon Baker, wide receiver, Alabama
Fourth round, New England Patriots: Four years for $4.807 million, including a $786,748 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Nehemiah Pritchett, cornerback, Jackson High School, Auburn
Fifth round, Seattle Seahawks: Four years for $4.399 million, including a $379,072 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Kris Abrams-Draine, cornerback, Spanish Fort High School
Fifth round, Denver Broncos: Four years for $4.368 million, including a $348,272 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Jaylin Simpson, defensive back, Auburn
Fifth round, Indianapolis Colts: Four years for $4.317 million, including a $297,012 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Keilan Robinson, running back, Alabama
Fifth round, Jacksonville Jaguars: Four years for $4.302 million, including a $281,956 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Javon Solomon, linebacker, Troy
Fifth round, Buffalo Bills: Four years for $4.274 million, including a $254,276 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Kimani Vidal, running back, Troy
Sixth round, Los Angeles Chargers: Four years for $4.227 million, including a $207,436 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Jase McClellan, running back, Alabama
Sixth round, Atlanta Falcons: Four years for $4.214 million, including a $194,368 million signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Tejhaun Palmer, wide receiver, UAB
Sixth round, Arizona Cardinals: Four years for $4.205 million, including a $185,228 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
D.J. James, cornerback, Spanish Fort High School, Auburn
Sixth round, Seattle Seahawks: Four years for $4.204 million, including a $184,432 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Will Reichard, kicker, Hoover High School, Alabama
Sixth round, Minnesota Vikings: Four years for $4.191 million, including a $170,620 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Tylan Grable, offensive tackle, Jacksonville State
Sixth round, Buffalo Bills: Four years for $4.19 million, including a $169,912 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Nathaniel Watson, linebacker, Maplesville High School
Sixth round, Cleveland Browns: Four years for $4.183 million, including a $162,724 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Cedric Johnson, defensive end, Davidson High School in Mobile
Sixth round, Cincinnati Bengals: Four years for $4.158 million, including a $138,388 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Justin Rogers, defensive tackle, Auburn
Seventh round, Dallas Cowboys: Four years for $4.108 million, including an $87,640 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Marcus Harris, defensive tackle, Park Crossing High School in Montgomery, Auburn
Seventh round, Houston Texans: Four years for $4.105 million, including an $85,480 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
Jaylen Key, safety, Alabama
Seventh round, New York Jets: Four years for $4.101 million, including an $80,736 signing bonus. The signing bonus is the guaranteed portion of the contract.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OURNFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.
Alabama
Sydney Benally’s record-setting night carries BYU to blowout win over Alabama A&M in WBIT first round
The BYU men’s basketball team could have used Sydney Benally in its NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against Texas Thursday night.
Lee Cummard’s squad was happy she was in Provo and not Portland, though.
Benally tied her career high with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and set the BYU freshman record for assists in a season in leading the Cougars to a 72-47 win over Alabama A&M at the Marriott Center in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
“I think we came in as a team, just we wanted to prove that we deserve to continue playing in this postseason,” Benally said in a postgame interview on BYU Radio.
“We just have that mentality to just keep playing hard and keep playing for each other.”
With the win, the Cougars (23-11) will host a second-round WBIT game against Missouri next Monday (7 p.m. MDT, ESPN+). The Tigers beat Seton Hall Thursday to advance.
BYU, which was the first team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble, didn’t let the disappointment of missing the NCAAs impact how it started its WBIT opener.
Even though the Cougars hadn’t played for two weeks since a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal loss to TCU, they got out to a 12-4 lead against Alabama A&M and were up 20-13 after one period.
Cummard, BYU’s first-year coach, said he was worried about the psychological aspect of it, having just missed the NCAAs, but his team “was focused” from the jump.
“We just wanted to really come out strong, and I think that now that we’re in this thing, the juices are flowing and we’re ready to go,” Cummard said on BYU Radio.
“They showed that tonight and just the overall effort, (we) did some really good things to start and just kind of kept it going the whole game.”
That start set the tone, as the Cougars outscored the Bulldogs in every quarter, including a combined 36-20 in the second and third quarters as they pulled away.
While it wasn’t a perfect night — for instance, BYU turned the ball over 17 times — the Cougars had the advantage in a majority of categories.
BYU outrebounded the Bulldogs 49-32, shot 46.9% from the field while holding Alabama A&M to 29.6% and doubled up the visitors 8-4 on 3-pointers made.
The Cougars also dominated in fast break points, 16-2.
Benally’s efforts led the way on a night BYU had four players in double-figures. She added five assists, three rebounds and two steals.
“She got us started right from the get-go. She’s always a really decisive passer and makes great passes and did that again tonight,” Cummard said of Benally.
“But the confidence and the assertiveness that she was shooting the 3 ball with tonight really got us going, got her going and just got us off to a great start and (we) rode her for a little bit and then everybody got on board.”
When Benally assisted a Brinley Cannon 3 just 3:24 into the game, she set the freshman assists record, passing Shaylee Gonzales’ former record of 134.
“It’s thanks to my teammates. They get open and they knock down the shot and (it) shows that I’m an unselfish basketball player,” Benally said.
“… I just want anything for the win. I look to see my teammates first.”
With her five assists Thursday, Benally stands at 139 on the year and is primed to add to that total as long as BYU’s postseason run lasts.
The guard also set another freshman record with her 34th start of the season.
“Availability (is) such a huge thing and she’s just been great,” Cummard said, while adding Benally has been playing through injury for most of the season.
“She’s great for the group and I’m glad that she’s done that and she played fantastic tonight.”
In addition to Benally’s record-setting night, senior forward Lara Rohkohl added 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal.
Also, guards Delaney Gibb (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal) and Olivia Hamlin (10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals) made contributions across the board.
Having an extra home game lent itself to a special moment for senior Hattie Ogden as well. After she didn’t score on Senior Night in BYU’s home finale at the end of February, Ogden hit two fourth-quarter 3-pointers, which was met with adulation from the crowd.
Alabama A&M (22-11) was led by Kalia Walker, an HBCU first team All-American. She had 20 points, two rebounds and a steal in the loss.
Now, the focus for BYU turns to Missouri and a rare opportunity to host an SEC team.
“I think just again, (we’re) blessed to continue playing on our home floor, just having the home advantage and having our community come support us,” Benally said.
“Again, we’re just excited to keep on moving in this tournament.”
TUSKEGEE, Ala. — A man was convicted of murder in the 2019 death of Alabama college student Aniah Blanchard, whose disappearance drew national attention, but the jury spared him a possible death sentence Thursday.
Jurors found Ibraheem Yazeed, 36, guilty of murdering 19-year-old Blanchard. Jurors convicted Yazeed of the lesser charges of murder and felony murder instead of capital murder, an offense that would have carried a possible death sentence
Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, was last seen Oct. 23, 2019, at a gas station in Auburn. Her body was found a month later in a wooded area in neighboring Macon County. She was a student at Southern Union Community College.
The case inspired two changes to Alabama law. Under what was named Aniah’s Law, judges were given more discretion to deny bond to people accused of violent crimes. Yazeed was out on bond at the time of Blanchard’s disappearance.
Gov. Kay Ivey also signed legislation last year to allow visiting judges to handle violent criminal cases to get them to trial more quickly. The legislation was approved after the murder case languished for several years without a trial.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was disappointed the Yazeed will not face a possible death sentence but will seek a life sentence for him
“I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure that Ibraheem Yazeed spends the rest of his life in prison. I believe that is what justice demands in this case. Aniah deserves it, as does her family,” Marshall said.
Defense attorney William Whatley told reporters that the case has been plagued with false information and misstatements “rising to almost the level of a lynch mob to get Mr. Yazeed on this capital murder charge.”
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