Jaylen Moody signs with NFL team after five seasons at Alabama

Former Alabama inside linebacker Jaylen Moody is signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent after not being selected in the 2023 draft, NFL Network reported Saturday night.

Moody was not projected by most major media outlets to be chosen in the 2023 draft after five seasons at Alabama. He was not invited to the NFL combine and attended, but did not participate in, the Senior Bowl and Alabama’s pro day in March. Moody reportedly visited the Bengals prior to the draft.

Once a three-star prospect and late addition to Alabama’s 2018 recruiting class, Moody played 55 games over four seasons for Alabama before earning his first start in 2022. The starting role came after Moody, a South Carolina native and special-teams contributor, entered the transfer portal last year but decided to return to Alabama.

Moody started the first five games last season before suffering a bruised kidney that caused him to miss the Texas A&M game in October. He returned in a reserve role against Tennessee and Mississippi State before starting the next three games. But a lingering shoulder injury ended Moody’s season, and he missed both the Iron Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

Deontae Lawson, who started four games in place of Moody last season, is expected to take over the full-time starting role this fall, although Lawson missed the spring because of injury.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.