NFL free agency is officially underway, and several former Alabama players have already found new homes.
A total of 20 former Crimson Tide players who were on NFL active rosters or reserve lists at the end of last season hit the free-agent market this offseason. Over the next few weeks, Tide Illustrated will keep track of where they land as well as their new contracts.
NEW DEALSÂ
Da'Shawn Hand, defensive tackleÂ
New contract: Miami Dolphins (undisclosed)
2023 team: Miami Dolphins
2023 stats: 16 games, 17 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defended
Outlook: Hand is staying in Miami after serving as a backup defensive tackle for the Dolphins last year. Hand, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, has appeared in 47 games with 11 starts over his career. During that span, he has recorded 71 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and four passes defended.
Bradley Bozeman
New team (contract): Los Angeles Chargers (one-year deal)
2023 team: Carolina Panthers
2023 stats: 17 games, 17 starts, PFF run-blocking grade (67.5), PFF pass-blocking grade (48.9), 730 pass-blocking snaps, 8 sacks allowed, 32 pressures allowed.
Outlook: Bozeman teamed up with former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young last season and played in all 17 games for Carolina. He has started 28 games for the Panthers over the last two seasons. In his six-year career Bozeman has appeared in 100 career games (80 starts) for the Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.
Tony Brown, cornerback
New team (contract): Cleveland Browns (one year, undisclosed)
2023 team: Indianapolis Colts
2023 stats: 12 games, 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception (34 yards), 1 pass defended
Outlook: Brown started one game over 12 appearances last season, serving on each of the Colts’ special teams units. He was suspended for the final three games of the season due to conduct detrimental to the team. Brown once again figures to hold a special teams role in Cleveland where he will be reunited with Bubba Ventrone who served as his special teams coordinator the past two seasons in Indianapolis.
Jonah Williams, offensive tackle
New team (contract): Arizona Cardinals (two years, $30 million
2023 team: Cincinnati Bengals
2023 stats: 17 games, 17 starts, PFF run-blocking grade (54.0), PFF pass-blocking grade (57.9), 730 pass-blocking snaps, 8 sacks allowed, 41 pressures allowed.
Outlook: Williams leaves Cincinnati after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr. to be their starting left tackle last offseason. After starting at left tackle for the first three years of his career, Williams struggled in his lone season on the right side last year. A move to Arizona should give the former first-round pick a fresh start and could also see him return to his preferred position. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Williams' new deal includes $19 million in guaranteed money.
Calvin Ridley, wide receiverÂ
New team (contract): Tennessee Titans (four years, $92 million)
2023 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 stats: 17 games, 76 receptions, 1,016 yards, 8 receiving touchdowns, 1 fumble
Outlook: The biggest former Alabama player on the free agent market has found a new home. After reports previously hinted that Ridley was leaning toward re-signing with Jacksonville, the Tennessee Titans pulled off a stunning signing to bring the receiver to the Music City. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Ridley's new deal includes $50 million worth of guaranteed money.
A first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 draft, Ridley has recorded 60 or more receptions in four of his five seasons in the league. That includes a career year in 2020 that saw him reel in 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns over 15 games. Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season due to gambling but bounced back with his second 1,000-yard campaign during his lone year in Jacksonville last year.
Ronnie Harrison, linebackerÂ
Team (contract): Indianapolis Colts (one year, undisclosed)
2023 team: Indianapolis Colts
2023 stats: 7 games, 20 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions (45 yards, one TD), two passes defended.
Outlook: Last year, Harrison didn’t sign with the Colts until Aug. 14. From there, he spent the first 10 games on the practice squad. Nevertheless, he provided solid production once he was called up to the 53-man roster, matching his career-high in interceptions. Harrison was on the field for 51 percent of defensive snaps in the games he played.
Anfernee Jennings, outside linebackerÂ
Team (contract): New England Patriots (three years, $12 million
2023 team: New England Patriots
2023 stats: 15 games, 66 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
Outlook: Jennings is re-upping in New England where he started at outside linebacker in 14 of 15 games while recording a season-high 66 tackles last season. According to reports, the former third-round pick’s new deal could double to $24 million in incentives.
Raekwon Davis, defensive tackleÂ
New team (contract): Indianapolis Colts (two years, $14 million)
2023 team: Miami Dolphins
2023 stats: 17 games, 28 tackles, 1 sack
Outlook: After spending the past four seasons in South Beach, Davis will head north to provide some needed depth to Indianapolis’ front line. The former second-round pick started 48 of the 63 regular season games he appeared in with the Dolphins but logged just seven starts over 17 games last season. With the Colts, he’ll likely serve as a backup to Grover Stewart, who recently re-signed on a three-year deal.
A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackleÂ
New team (contract): Carolina Panthers (three years, $22.5 million)
2023 team: New York Giants
2023 stats: 17 games, 62 tackles, 2 passes defended
Outlook: Robinson is joining his third team in as many years but will join up with a familiar face in Carolina. The move to the Panthers reunites Robinson with first-year defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who served as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams while the defensive lineman was there. According to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Evero pushed for the Panthers to sign Robinson.
Irv Smith Jr., tight end
New team (contract): Kansas City Chiefs (one year, $1.3 million)
2023 team: Cincinnati Bengals
2023 stats: 12 games, 18 receptions, 115 yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 fumble, 1 lost fumble
Outlook: Smith, a former second-round pick in 2019, put up a combined 66 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns during his first two seasons in the league but has seen his career fall off since then. After an ankle injury cut his 2022 season short, Smith recorded just 18 catches for 115 yards over 12 games with Cincinnati last season. Perhaps a fresh start with a new program will help the former Alabama star rejuvenate his production. Pairing up with two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes certainly won’t hurt either. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reported that Smith's new deal includes $384,000 in guaranteed money and a $167,500 first-game roster bonus.
Derrick Henry, running backÂ
New team (contract): Baltimore Ravens (two years, $16 million)
2023 team: Tennessee Titans
2023 stats: 17 games, 280 carries, 1,167 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 12 rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions 214 receiving yards
Outlook: Henry is teaming up with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in Baltimore in what could become the NFL’s scariest offense. Henry turned 30 in January and logged plenty of miles during his eight years in Tennessee. However, the two-time NFL rushing leader showed he still has plenty of gas left in the tank last season, eclipsing the 1,000-mark for the fifth time in his career. Assuming he can continue his level of play this season, he could be the final piece for a Ravens team that finished a game shy of reaching the Super Bowl last season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Henry’s deal could rise to $20 million with incentives and includes $9 million in guaranteed money.
Xavier McKinney, safetyÂ
New team (contract): Green Bay Packers (four years, $68 million)
2023 team: New York Giants
2023 stats: 17 games, 116 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions (22 yards), 11 passes defended
Outlook: McKinney was Alabama’s biggest winner from Day 1 of the legal tampering period. The former second-round pick is coming off the best season of his career and was viewed as the top safety in this year’s market. His new deal reflects that. McKinney will be reunited with former Alabama teammate Josh Jacobs, who also signed with the Packers on Day 1 of the legal tampering period.
Josh Jacobs, running backÂ
New team (contract): Green Bay Packers (four years, $48 million)
2023 team: Las Vegas Raiders
2023 stats: 17 games, 233 carries, 805 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns, 37 receptions 296 receiving yards, 3 fumbles, 1 lost fumble
Outlook: Jacobs was originally set to hit free agency last year until Las Vegas slapped a $10.091 million franchise tag on him last season. The former first-round pick responded by skipping the team’s offseason program, training camp and preseason. That ultimately contributed to Jacobs setting career lows in games played (13), rushing yards (805), yards per carry (3.5), rushing touchdowns (6), rushing first downs (34) and yards from scrimmage (1,101). Now with Green Bay, Jacobs will replace long-time Packers running back Aaron Jones, who was released by the team. According to ESPN, Jacobs’ new deal includes $12.5 million in guaranteed money.
Mack Wilson, linebackerÂ
New team (contract): Arizona Cardinals (three years, $12.75 million)
2023 team: New England Patriots
2023 stats: 17 games, 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 passes defended
Outlook: Wilson put up solid numbers in New England despite taking part in more snaps on special teams than on defense. Coming off a season with a career-high 3.5 sacks, he adds needed pass-rushing help to the Cardinals’ defense. According to NFL Network, Wilson’s contract can rise to $15 million with incentives.
STILL AVAILABLEÂ
Player (2023 team)
Damien Harris (Buffalo Bills)
J.C. Hassenauer (New York Giants)
Kareem Jackson (Houston Texans)
Julio Jones (Philadelphia Eagles)
AJ McCarron (Cincinnati Bengals)
Carson Tinker (Los Angeles Rams)
Levi Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers