This NFL draft first round was quite a web of connected stories for Alabama's NFL hopefuls.

It took two hours and 16 picks before Marlon Humphrey was the first Crimson Tide name called. Cam Robinson never did as the star left tackle tumbled to the second round.

And the saga of Reuben Foster also took a national stage as the top-10 talent slipped all the way to 31st and San Francisco. Questions about his NFL combine incident and failed drug test were coupled with his lingering shoulder injuries.

Nick Saban spoke to AL.com late Thursday night about several issues related to Alabama's first-round picks. That included Foster's shoulder.

"Look, the way we like for things to get handled, that didn't get handled," Saban told AL.com. "We have the best doctors in the world in Dr. (James) Andrews and Dr. (Lyle) Cain who operate on most NFL players and his agent chose to take him someplace else. I think (Andrews and Cain) have tremendous credibility.

"So, you know, all these choices and decisions that you make have consequences and I hate it for our players when they do it, but he didn't seek my advice in what he should do. So, if that was an issue, that was an issue. It shouldn't have been an issue but if it was, I don't really know much about it."

In the days leading up to the draft, ESPN reported there was a possibility of a second shoulder surgery following a medical recheck in Indianapolis.

Widely considered the top middle linebacker in the draft, Foster was ultimately the third one taken Thursday. Temple's Haason Reddick was a surprise pick at No. 13 to Arizona followed by Florida's Jarrad Davis to Detroit with the 21st pick.