As NFL draft season begins, the opinions roll in. Mock drafts are hitting the internet streets and those doing the projecting are discussing their first drafts.
Perhaps no draft expert draws as much attention as ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. The veteran broadcaster helped carve the niche industry that surrounds the months-long NFL draft process.
Kiper did a media teleconference Thursday after releasing his first forecast for April's big event. He faced a number of questions about Alabama's draft class after including four Crimson Tide players in his first-round projection.
A rundown on what Kiper said about this handful of Alabama prospects, with context added.