Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Bryce Young Proves It Pays to Play At Alabama

  • Since 2005, 41 Alabama players have gone in the first round and made a combined $1.3 billion.
  • Alabama’s Bryce Young and Will Anderson were selected in the first three picks of 2023 NFL Draft.
Bryce Young NFL Draft.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday night’s NFL Draft welcomed Bryce Young as the new face of the Carolina Panthers. The former Alabama quarterback went No. 1 overall. 

Young is expected to sign a four-year deal worth $41.2 million, including a $26.9 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac’s projections.

During Young’s college career, the quarterback earned more than a million dollars in NIL deals. Recently, Young has agreed to endorsement deals with Jordan Brand, Snickers, Beats by Dre, and sports drinks BodyArmor and Celsius. 

Bama’s Billions

Young is the latest Crimson Tide first-rounder to prove it pays to play in Tuscaloosa. Since 2005, 41 Alabama players have gone in the first round and have made $1.3 billion in combined career earnings — the most of any school during that period. 

After selecting Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second pick, the Houston Texans traded up to the No. 3 spot to select Alabama linebacker, Will Anderson.

Later in the round, the Detroit Lions selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick, giving the Crimson Tide 44 players selected in the first round since 2005.

In 2021, the Crimson Tide had a record-six players selected in the first round.

Ohio State ranks second with $1.05 billion in career earnings for NFL first-round picks in the same period, followed by LSU at $921 million. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Slams Door on Brendan Sorsby’s Supplemental Draft Bid

The league told him to prepare to enter the 2027 NFL Draft instead.
Brendan Sorsby runs with the ball during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Sorsby Brings Unprecedented Intrigue to NFL Supplemental Draft

No players other than Sorsby have entered the supplemental draft.

NFL Sets Another Super Bowl Without Dates As Schedule Questions Loom

The home markets of the Titans and Vikings each landed a big event.

Nashville’s New $2.1B Stadium Expected to Land 2030 Super Bowl

Team owners will vote on future Super Bowl and NFL Draft locations.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

6/23/26 – Giannis Traded, NBA Draft Night, Dusty May to Dallas, Messi Breaks World Cup Record

0:00

Featured Today

Why U.S. Open Host Sites Are on a 25-Year Plan

The U.S. Open has already picked out 22 future sites through 2051.
Wisconsin Badgers forward Laila Edwards, left, and defender Caroline Harvey celebrate after Edwards scored against the Minnesota Gophers in the first period in a game Saturday, February 8, 2025, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
June 15, 2026

Two Rookies Are Rewriting Women’s Hockey Stardom

Their platforms are a mutual boon for the PWHL and its players.
Ai sports slop
June 5, 2026

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.

Unrivaled and Project B Are in an Arms Race for WNBA Talent

Both leagues announced new roster signings in recent days.
June 23, 2026

PGA Tour Greenlights New Two-Series Structure to Begin in 2028

A new Championship Series and Challenger Series will run concurrently.
June 23, 2026

Tiger Woods Returns to Public Eye to Support PGA Tour Changes

Woods was arrested in March after a rollover car crash in Florida.
Sponsored

How Daktronics Is Reshaping the Modern MLB Ballpark Experience

The technology powering baseball’s next chapter.
June 22, 2026

Women’s PGA Championship Now Richest Event in Women’s Golf

Prize money is increasing by $1 million to $13 million.
June 22, 2026

Karim López Emerges As NBA Draft’s Biggest International Star

This year’s international prospect pool is the thinnest in years.
June 22, 2026

NBA Draft Is Loaded—and Is About to Change Forever

The draft will be the last of the NBA’s current system.
Big3
June 22, 2026

Why Big3 Is Going Public as Ice Cube Laments NBA Constraints

“In my vision, we’re here 100 years, not just nine,” Ice Cube tells FOS.