Much has been made of Alabama’s success in getting OL selected in the first round of the NFL draft (7 1st rounders in the last 12 years compared to 2 for Ohio State). But, considering the lack of performance by many of Alabama’s 1st rounders (Louis Riddick discusses Alabama OL not living up to hype ~9-min mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVVcjdVRjiE), combined with the fact that NFL players don’t start making “real” money until their 2nd contracts (Byron Jones warns rookies not to "live a lavish lifestyle": https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2020/4/23/21233113/dolphins-cb-byron-jones-offers-rookies-advice-prior-to-the-nfl-draft-first-round), I compared the 2020 salaries of Ohio State and Alabama’s active NFL OL.
First, some context…
Composite 5-Star OL Signees (2006-2017* Recruiting Classes):
Alabama (6**): Andre Smith (2006), Tyler Love (2008), DJ Fluker (2009), Cyrus Kuoandijo (2011), Cam Robinson (2014), & Jonah Williams (2016).
Ohio State (2): Michael Brewster (2008) & Mike Adams (2008).
*2017 data only includes early NFL draft entrants (i.e., Jedrick Wills).
**Alabama signed more 5-star OL in this time period than any other school (and Jedrick Wills missed out on being a 5-star by 0.0002 points).
Active NFL OL:
Ohio State (9): Taylor Decker (DET), Andrew Norwell (JAC), Corey Linsley (GB), Billy Price (CIN), Jonah Jackson (DET), Pat Elflein (MIN), Michael Jordan (CIN), Isaiah Prince (MIA), & Jamarco Jones (SEA).
Alabama (9): Ryan Kelly (IND), James Carpenter (ATL), Andre Smith (ARI), DJ Fluker (BAL), Jedrick Wills, Jr. (CLE), Jonah Williams (CIN), Cam Robinson (JAC), Chance Warmack (SEA), & Ross Pierschbacher (WA).
2020 Projected Starters (per PFF and/or NFL.com):
Ohio State (6): Taylor Decker (DET), Andrew Norwell (JAC), Corey Linsley (GB), Jonah Jackson (DET), Pat Elflein (MIN), & Michael Jordan (CIN).
Alabama (6): Ryan Kelly (IND), James Carpenter (ATL), DJ Fluker (BAL), Jedrick Wills, Jr. (CLE), Jonah Williams (CIN), & Cam Robinson (JAC).
…THE BOTTOM LINE…
2020 NFL OL Salaries:
Ohio State’s 6 OL Starters (Avg.): $4,792,189.17
Decker ($10.35M), Norwell ($10.3M), Linsley ($5.83M), Jackson ($937k), Elflein ($702k), Jordan ($630k).
Alabama’s 6 OL Starters (Avg.): $3,691,911.00
Kelly ($10.35M), Carpenter ($4.38M), Fluker ($2.5M), Wills ($1.95M), Williams ($1.7M), Robinson ($1.28M)
Ohio State’s 9 Active OL (Avg.): $3,475,190.44
…Price ($1.28M), Prince ($630k), Jones ($615k).
Alabama’s 9 Active OL (Avg.): $2,948,496.22
…Smith ($2.7M), Warmack ($1.05M), Pierschbacher ($630k).
Despite many of the Alabama OL being 1st round picks, the Ohio State OL are out earning their Alabama counterparts by more than $1M/year for the starters and more than $500k/year including all active OL. They are doing this by garnering larger 2nd and 3rd contracts based on superior performance.
