Alabama's Brian Branch Dreams of Playing With Minkah Fitzpatrick on Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers could draft another star Alabama defender.

INDIANAPOLIS -- After months of watching tape on NFL prospects, I've yet to find more than a dozen players in this class that are better than Alabama defensive back Brian Branch. The Pittsburgh Steelers are among the many teams surely taking notice in his unique abilities as they've already met with him formally at the NFL Combine.

During his combine availability session, Branch was asked what set him apart from the rest of this deep defensive back class. 

"I feel like I'm versatile. I can play anywhere in the back end," Branch said. "I'm comfortable and can play everywhere at a high level."

The Alabama program has churned out a ton of talent in the secondary in recent years, but there's one player that Branch models his game after. 

"From the past, Minkah Fitzpatrick," Branch said. "I love his game, he can play every position in the back end and do it at a high level. I feel like I've been able to do that during my years at Alabama." 

Branch has played the famous "star" position, one that Minkah Fitzpatrick helped popularize several years ago.

I asked Branch what it would be like to form a tandem with Fitzpatrick in Pittsburgh. 

"It would be huge," he said. "It's something that I've dreamed of and have had visions of in my sleep. To get to play alongside a player like that is big to me."

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Fitzpatrick wasn't the only member of the Steelers organization to draw praise from Branch, who also had good things to say about Mike Tomlin. 

"Coach Mike Tomlin is definitely a player's coach and I love that about him. He connects with his players," he said.

On film, it's quite easy to tell that Branch has a high football IQ and spends quite a bit of time In the film room. He broke down his process by saying, "Tuesday, I'll start off by watching the whole game film. Wednesday, I'm watching the receivers, tendencies and the splits that they like to do. And then on Friday, I'm watching strictly third down." 

Branch has spent most of his time in college in the slot and as a box safety with little exposure to being a post safety. He's been asked by a number of teams where he feels most comfortable. 

"I have just been telling teams that I can play wherever they want me to play," Branch said.

Branch is one of the absolute best defensive players in this draft class and if he's available at pick 17, it's hard to envision a scenario in which he's not arguably the best player on the board. Adding Branch to a Steelers secondary, which already features many versatile chess pieces, would truly be an embarrassment of riches for Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. 

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