Alabama Football’s Deonte Brown, Thomas Fletcher Selected on Day Three of 2021 NFL Draft

The Crimson Tide produced 10 draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, tying the second-most in program history

CLEVELAND – The University of Alabama football program had 10 former players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, including two on day three, as the annual event concluded Saturday afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio.

Offensive lineman Deonte Brown was selected as the 193rd overall pick, while long snapper Thomas Fletcher was selected as the 222nd overall pick, both going in the sixth round to the Carolina Panthers.

Brown and Fletcher joined a pair of second-round picks – Landon Dickerson (No. 37 Philadelphia Eagles) and Christian Barmore (No. 38, New England Patriots) – to go with the Tide’s record-setting six first-round picks – Jaylen Waddle (No. 6, Miami Dolphins), Patrick Surtain II (No. 9, Denver Broncos), DeVonta Smith (No. 10, Philadelphia Eagles), Mac Jones (No. 15, New England Patriots), Alex Leatherwood (No. 17, Las Vegas Raiders) and Najee Harris (No. 24, Pittsburgh Steelers) – to complete Alabama’s 2021 NFL Draft class.

Draft Notes

• The Crimson Tide’s 10 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft are tied for the second-most draft picks in a single draft in program history.
  • Alabama has had at least 10 draft picks in a single draft five total times in program history, including four instances under head coach Nick Saban (10 in 1945, 2017, 2019 and 2021 and 12 in 2018)
  • The Crimson Tide has had at least nine draft picks in a single draft for five straight years, including this year, with the streak starting in 2017.
  • UA’s 10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft is one more than the program notched in 2020
• Alabama head coach Nick Saban has produced 106 draft picks since 2009.
• The Crimson Tide’s 10 draft picks span seven different positions (three guards, two wide receivers, one cornerback, one quarterback, one running back, one defensive tackle and one long snapper).
• Thomas Fletcher was the first long snapper to be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
• Deonte Brown and Thomas Fletcher became the fifth and sixth picks in the 2021 NFL Draft from Alabama’s Class of 2017, behind DeVonta Smith (No. 10, Philadelphia Eagles), Mac Jones (No. 15, New England Patriots), Alex Leatherwood (No. 17, Las Vegas Raiders) and Najee Harris (No. 24, Pittsburgh Steelers).
• Alabama tied Miami for most first-round draft picks in a single year with six selections on Thursday, April 29.

Players who were not selected in this season’s draft are now eligible to sign free agent contracts. The 2021-22 NFL schedule will be released on May 12 at 7 p.m. CT.

Alabama Draft Recap

Deonte Brown, Offensive Lineman (No. 193 | Carolina Panthers)

The Crimson Tide’s starting left guard in 2020, Brown anchored an Alabama offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award at season’s end. The Tide unit blocked for the top scoring offense (48.5 ppg) and pass efficiency offense (198.9) in the Power 5 last season. Through 459 dropbacks, UA’s front surrendered just 11 sacks while quarterback Mac Jones was on the field (.85 sacks per game) to rank eighth in the nation and had just 19 sacks on the season overall (1.46 sacks per game). Brown played a key role on an interior line that opened holes for UA’s running backs to average 5.0 yards per carry and record 78 runs of 10 or more yards, while UA scored 37 rushing touchdowns to lead the nation. Brown was named to the 2020 All-SEC First Team after contributing 843 snaps with only two missed assignments. He closed out his career having played in 48 games with 26 starts.

Thomas Fletcher, Long Snapper (No.  222 | Carolina Panthers)

Fletcher started every game during his Alabama tenure and was perfect on all snapping duties through his four seasons at the Capstone. He was rewarded with the 2020 Patrick Mannelly Award, presented annually to the nation’s top long snapper, while also picking up first team All-America honors from Rubio Long Snapping.