Friday, June 19, 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

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.
Cleveland Browns players Denzel Ward and Carson Schwesinger, left, join with others as they take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park, Ohio on April 30, 2026.

Browns Break Ground on New Stadium, but Funding Still in Limbo

State and local funding for the planned venue is not yet solidified.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation With WNBA Expansion Team Portland Fire’s GM Vanja Černivec

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.
Women’s National Football Conference

Women’s Football Is Ready for Its Tom Brady Moment

The league hit an inflection point in its just-completed seventh season.
June 18, 2026

Two-Time U.S. Open Champ: LIV Players Welcome on Champions Tour

Retief Goosen said he “would love” to see LIV players return.
June 18, 2026

U.S. Open Tees Off With Smaller Crowds, but Plenty of Traffic

Total daily crowds will not surpass 30,000 fans this week.
Sponsored

Midge Purce Sounds Off on the Trinity Rodman Rule

Midge Purce discusses the Rodman Rule and the future of NWSL.
June 17, 2026

U.S. Open Matches Masters As Richest Golf Major With $22.5M Purse

The USGA did not increase the U.S. Open purse last year.
June 16, 2026

Scottie Scheffler Eyes Grand Slam, Tiger’s Career Earnings Record

Scottie Scheffler has won three of the four majors.
June 16, 2026

Rory McIlroy Questions PGA Tour’s Planned Schedule Overhaul

The tour is targeting 2028 to fully revamp its schedule.
USGA, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
June 15, 2026

Shinnecock Ready to Shine As Unofficial U.S. Open Anchor Site

Shinnecock last hosted the U.S. Open in 2018.