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Brian Branch says playing alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick would be a 'dream come true'

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh03/02/23griffin_mcveigh
The XXXX XXXXX selected former Alabama cornerback Brian Branch with the No. XX overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on THURSDAY NIGHT.
(Ford/Getty Images)

Multiple schools out there claim the DBU title and Alabama is certainly one of them. Since head coach Nick Saban took over, countless defensive backs have not only been drafted into the NFL, they have excelled at the next level. Brian Branch is hoping the be the next after three years in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama players love to play with other Alabama players once leaving town as well. Branch has one guy particularly in mind, shouting out Minkah Fitzpatrick. He said playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers safety would be a “dream come true” when speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine.

Branch could be considered a safety as well, potentially overlapping with Fitzpatrick. However, he played nickel under defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Position versatility is going to be something working in Branch’s favor during the draft process.

Of course, in order for Branch and Fitzpatrick to play on the same team, Pittsburgh would have the select the former this April. The Steelers currently hold the No. 17 pick in the NFL Draft, having a few areas of need to improve under head coach Mike Tomlin.

Fitzpatrick himself was a high draft pick but was selected by the Miami Dolphins. He was sent to Pittsburgh in a trade and has flourished ever since. Three out of the last four seasons, Fitzpatrick has ended up as a Pro Bowler and AP first-team.

It’s easy to see why any defensive back, let alone another Alabama guy, would want to play back there with Fitzpatrick.

Mel Kiper was the latest ESPN Draft guru to release a mock draft but did not have Branch anywhere in the first round. He was only mentioned as a possibility for the Eagles to take with one of the final picks. So if you were to ask Kiper, Pittsburgh selecting Branch in the vicinity of 17th overall would be an overdraft.

Fortunately for Branch, Kiper is not running the Steelers’ front office. There is a rich history of playing quality defensive football in Pittsburgh. If they feel like Branch can add to the secondary in a positive way, you would have to believe general manager Omar Khan would consider taking another Alabama product.