Only a handful of players walked the NFL draft red carpet Thursday only to go home unsatisfied.

Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson certainly wasn't expecting to go undrafted on Night 1 in Philadelphia. Less than a week earlier, he just nodded with a certain look when asked if he was sure about his first-round status.

"I think nobody really knows what's going to happen in the draft," Alabama coach Nick Saban told AL.com Thursday night. "A lot of people have different needs. A lot of people who speculate about where guys are going to get picked don't really know what every team is looking for."

Alabama had four players taken in the first round beginning with Marlon Humphrey's No. 16 selection. Jonathan Allen followed at 17 to Washington. O.J. Howard was taken 19th by Tampa and Reuben Foster was the No. 31 pick to San Francisco.

"I think Cam was on the bubble a little bit to start with," Saban said. "He was the one guy I was worried that he would make it or not."

That doesn't mean Saban agrees with the 32 teams that passed on the All-American left tackle.

"In my opinion, I think a lot of people are wrong," Saban told AL.com. "I think he might be the best offensive lineman we've ever had since I've been at Alabama at least, in terms of what he can be as a pro player. But that's the way it goes sometimes. You know, sometimes people get a little bit of a rap in the NFL and it's hard to shake and I don't know how that happens sometimes. But it's certainly not what we think of the guy."

Alabama's had a few first-round picks from the offensive line in Saban's era. Andre Smith went sixth overall in 2009 followed by first rounders James Carpenter (25th in 2011), Chance Warmack (10th in 2013) and D.J. Fluker (11th in 2013).

Robinson was an All-American in 2017 after starting every game in his three Alabama seasons.

"Joe Pendry has coached for us for a long time and he coached in the NFL for a long time and he thinks he's going to be a great pro," Saban said. "I'm disappointed for him and his family but I'm sure things will work out for him (Friday)."

A year ago, Alabama had three players attend the first round only to go undrafted. Reggie Ragland, A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed each returned the next day to hear their name called in Round 2.

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is the other high-profile name who was in Philadelphia without being drafted Thursday.

Saban just hopes Robinson doesn't let his draft number become too much of a stumbling block.

"In some ways, if you're going to get picked late in the first round, you're almost better off getting picked in the second round because you can become a free agent quicker," Saban said. "I'm sure he's going to be a great player. I'm sure he's disappointed but he's going to have a great opportunity tomorrow and I think when he gets that, he'll be fine."