With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, it's always fun to look back at last year's draft and analyze what teams could have done differently. We now know what rookies showed the potential to be really good and who could end being really bad. Hindsight is 20/20, but at this point we can safely look back and see what teams should have done differently in the draft. The fun of this exercise is even if a team nailed their pick later in the draft, we probably slotted that guy much earlier in this new version.
Of course, there's plenty of players like AJ Brown, Dre Greenlaw, and Terry McLaurin who weren't drafted in the first round last year, but absolutely played like they should have been. When you look back at their production, you wonder how they fell out of the first round, but that's the beauty of the draft. You really don't know. Of note, we kept all of the trades that were made during the first-round.
With all of that in mind, check out our official 2019 NFL re-draft below and get ready for the 2020 NFL Draft with our latest mock draft, which you can check out here.
No. 1 — Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray
Original Selection: Kyler Murray
Did anyone think this would change? Kyler Murray was not only handpicked to run Kliff Kingsbury's offense, but he won NFL Rookie of the Year last season. You could argue that Nick Bosa proved to be the best player in the draft, but the Cardinals needed a QB and Murray was the best of this group. You can't change this pick, especially with DeAndre Hopkins now in town.
No. 2 — San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa
Original Selection: Nick Bosa
All he did was go out and earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors so San Francisco wouldn’t even debate for two seconds whether they’d change this pick. According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa was the fourth-best pass rusher in the league last season and his 80 total pressures were better than Von Miller and Khalil Mack in their rookie campaigns.
No. 3 — New York Jets: Josh Allen
Original Selection: Quinnen Williams
And we come to our first change, it's no surprise that it involves the New York Jets. While Quinnen Williams had a pretty decent year for the Jets, they likely would have been better served taking Josh Allen, who racked up a total of 10.5 sacks last season for the Jaguars. Edge rushers are obviously one of the most important positions in football, and Allen looks like he's going to be a pure stud for Jacksonville. You could also make the case that maybe the Jets should have taken WR AJ Brown with this pick, but Allen is surely the safer selection.
No. 4 — Oakland Raiders: Devin White
Original Selection: Clelin Ferrell
There are other rookie linebackers that rated much higher than Devin White at the end of the season, but we sent him to the Raiders based on what we saw through 13 games—that he’s among the most versatile young LBs in football. He was billed as someone that could do it all at the position and he more than lived up to the hype. He’s a run-stopper who can easily drop back into coverage.
No. 5 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Greenalaw
Original Selection: Devin White
With Devin White now going to the Raiders in our draft, the Buccaneers have to look elsewhere for LB help and that comes via Dre Greenlaw, who the 49ers absolutely stole in the fifth-round. As a rookie, Greenlaw helped anchor the best defense in football while racking up over 90 tackles in just 11 starts. Certainly looks like the 49ers got one of the biggest steals of the draft here.
No. 6 — New York Giants: Daniel Jones
Original Selection: Daniel Jones
Giants GM Dave Gettleman fell in love with Daniel Jones before anyone (other than draft nerds) could pick him out of a lineup. New York needed to find Eli Manning’s replacement. After a pretty good rookie season, by all measures, it looks like they have. So no change for New York. They stick with Jones.
No. 7 — Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Bush
Original Selection: Josh Allen
With Josh Allen already off the board, the Jaguars need a new pick here and we went with Devin Bush, who the Steelers traded up for originally. Bush was made to be a Pittsburgh Steeler in the way he plays, but with the Jaguars in desperate need of defensive help, they snag the former Michigan Wolverine here. With over 100 tackles last season, two INTs, and a defensive TD, it's safe to say that Bush is going to be a force for years to come.
No. 8 — Detroit Lions: T.J. Hockenson
Original Selection: T.J. Hockenson
He was the most talented and highly-rated tight end in the draft—everybody was raving about him beforehand. The stats didn’t end up popping like we thought, but we’ll chalk that up largely to Matthew Stafford only playing half the season so no change here for the Lions who need all the offensive weapons they can accumulate.
No. 9 — Buffalo Bills: AJ Brown
Original Selection: Ed Oliver
While Ed Oliver is a really nice piece for the Bills, we have them taking AJ Brown in this re-draft. Brown was the best rookie WR of this class, despite not going in the first round. I'm sure a ton of GMs would now admit that he should have been taken way higher in the draft. A pretty great steal by the Tennessee Titans. For the Bills, they need weapons around Josh Allen and Brown gives them just that.
No. 10 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Ed Oliver
Original Selection: Devin Bush
When Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, we know the offense hasn’t been an issue with the Steelers. The days of Pittsburgh being known for its defense feels like ancient history so an infusion of talent was needed on that side of the ball. Bush was well-regarded coming out of Michigan and certainly made sense for Pittsburgh at No. 10. But we think the Steelers would’ve been happier with Ed Oliver since the Houston product might have a higher ceiling.
No. 11 — Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams
Original Selection: Jonah Williams
When you have as many holes as the Bengals, you really just need to pick a weakness and build. For Cincy, we're keeping this pick as Jonah Williams because they were in need of an OT and while he missed all of last season, he's still projected to be very good. When you factor in that they're about to take a franchise QB in this year's draft, you want to make sure his blindside is protected.
No. 12 — Green Bay Packers: Terry McLaurin
Original Selection: Rashan Gary
Green Bay’s defense was improved last season, but when your star quarterback is on the back-nine of his career you need to give him all the weapons you can. Based on the rookie campaign Terry McLaurin had, I think the Packers would’ve been very happy taking him over Rashan Gary. Dropping all the way to Washington at pick No. 76, McLaurin was undeniably one of the biggest steals of the draft since he rated as the third most impactful rookie across positions by PFF.
No. 13 — Miami Dolphins: Quinnen Williams
Original Selection: Christian Wilkins
We have the Dolphins taking Quinnen Williams here after he's still on the board with the Jets taking Josh Allen. Williams had an up and down year for the Jets, but it's clear the talent is there. For the Dolphins, this is almost more of a best player available type deal, but they also do have a need up front on defense.
No. 14 — Atlanta Falcons: Jamel Dean
Original Selection: Chris Lindstrom
If Atlanta was going to re-draft a lineman, we could argue there turned out to be better ones available than Chris Lindstrom. But the Falcons really needed help defensively and Jamel Dean graded out as the top first-year corner in 2019. In fact, PFF said Dean ranked “second to only Stephon Gilmore” in its coverage grades from Week 10 on. Not bad for a rook.
No. 15 — Washington Redskins: Gardner Minshew
Original Selection: Dwyane Haskins
We're going to still have the Redskins draft a QB with this pick, but instead of having them take Dwyane Haskins we have them picking Gardner Minshew. Minshew slipped all the way to the sixth-round in last year's draft, but quickly proved that he had what it takes to be a starter in the NFL. For the Redskins, Minshew's upside is enough to replace Haskins here after the former Ohio State QB had a shaky rookie season.
No. 16 — Carolina Panthers: Chase Winovich
Original Selection: Brian Burns
While Chase Winovich didn’t start a game for the Patriots last season, he graded out in the top third of pass rushers, according to PFF. New England snagged the product out of Michigan with the 77th pick and turned him into a super-sub. Does Ron Rivera and the Panthers get that kind of production out of Winovich compared to the Patriots and Bill Belichick? Who knows? But he’s clearly way more talented than the middle of the third-round selection that he was.
No. 17 — New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence
Original Selection: Dexter Lawrence
We kept this pick the same because the Giants still desperately need help up front on defense and Lawrence is still the best option on the board. If you're keeping track at home, we've now kept both Giants picks the same. Maybe Gettleman isn't doing that bad of a job.
No. 18 — Minnesota Vikings: Marquise Brown
Original Selection: Garrett Bradbury
Knowing what we know now, of course Minnesota needs an impact wide receiver and Marquise Brown fits the bill. But even before the Vikings sent Stefon Diggs packing to Buffalo for a boatload of picks, Brown would’ve been an excellent selection considering how explosive he turned out to be for the Ravens.
No. 19 — Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons
Original Selection: Jeffery Simmons
We must really think NFL GMs didn't do that bad of a job last year because we have another pick staying the same, with the Tennessee Titans selecting Jeffery Simmons out of Mississippi State. While Simmons missed most of last season with an ACL injury, he started seven games for the Titans during the regular season. It quickly became apparent that he's going to be on the defensive line for them going forward, hence the pick staying the same.
No. 20 — Denver Broncos: Drew Lock
Original Selection: Noah Fant
Denver obviously came into last season needing a quarterback. John Elway continues to sputter trying to pick someone, anyone who can adequately run Denver’s offense. He’s never going to find a clone of himself, but Drew Lock, the highly-regarded Missouri quarterback, was arguably the best of the bunch available in last year’s draft and after going 4-1 as a starter to close out the Broncos’ 7-9 campaign, we feel safe saying the Broncos likely would’ve nabbed Lock at No. 20 rather than waiting to grab him with at No. 42.
No. 21 — Green Bay Packers: Juan Thornhill
Original Selection: Darnell Savage
While Darnell Savage had a pretty good rookie year for the Packers last season, we have them going with Juan Thornhill at safety instead. Thornhill started all 16 games during the regular season for the Chiefs last season before injuring his knee before the playoffs. He proved to be one of the most dynamic rookies in the NFL and thus, we now have him as the first safety off the board.
No. 22 — Philadelphia Eagles: DK Metcalf
Original Selection: Andre Dillard
Metcalf is a physical freak who developed good chemistry with Russell Wilson in Seattle. He wasn’t immune to drops and fumbles, but the talent is undeniable and we all know a segment of the incredibly fickle Eagles fan base would have traded the receiving corps for a bag of balls last season.
No. 23 — Houston Texans: Josh Jacobs
Original Selection: Tytus Howard
We're taking best available here and Josh Jacobs fits that bill since he originally went to Oakland at No. 24 and had himself a very respectable rookie campaign by racking up 1,150 yards rushing—8th best in the league—for the Raiders.
No. 24 — Oakland Raiders: Deebo Samuel
Original Selection: Josh Jacobs
The drops are a bit of an issue, but Deebo Samuel has turned out to be a great after-the-catch receiver. The product out of South Carolina actually led wide outs in broken tackles with 16 after Week 9, according to PFF.
No. 25 — Baltimore Ravens: Mecole Hardman
Original Selection: Marquise "Hollywood" Brown
He's not a physical presence since he checks in at 5'10", but Hardman would've been an excellent backup option without Marquise Brown on the board since Hardman displayed excellent hands (only one drop after Week 1) and averaged a robust 11.5 YAC.
No. 26 — Washington Redskins: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Original Selection: Montez Sweat
The extremely versatile defensive back ended up being a steal for the Saints since he went in the fourth-round at pick No. 105 and ended the season rated as one of the top 20 corners in slot coverage, according to PFF. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson also turned out to be a respectable blitzer, racking up 11 QB pressures in 43 attempts. You’re telling me Washington couldn’t have used someone like that?
No. 27 — Oakland Raiders: Maxx Crosby
Original Selection: Johnathan Abram
Maxx Crosby was originally selected in the fourth-round by Oakland, but considering he graded out as one of the best rookie edge pass rushers last season, finishing third in QB pressures behind Nick Bosa and Josh Allen among first year players, the Raiders would've been fine nabbing him here.
No. 28 — Los Angeles Chargers: Shy Tuttle
Original Selection: Jerry Tillery
The Chargers picked the wrong defensive tackle. LA’s other team missed nabbing Shy Tuttle—just like everybody, to be fair—since the product out of Tennessee went undrafted. The Saints signed him and all he did was appear in 16 games, record a couple of sacks, pick off a pass, and finish the 2019 season with the 29th best grade at his position, according to PFF.
No. 29 — Seattle Seahawks: Devin Singletary
Original Selection: LJ Collier
He's not as dynamic as you'd like him to be since he struggled catching balls out of the backfield last season for the Bills, but Devan Singletary proved to be one of the best rookie rushers who could make guys miss and break off long runs.
No. 30 — New York Giants: Darius Slayton
Original Selection: Deandre Baker
Daniel Jones needs weapons and, based on how he graded out, we think the Giants would’ve been happy taking Darius Slayton here instead of Deandre Baker considering Slayton turned out to be one of the better rookie receivers in 2019. His production—740 yards receiving and 8 TDs—out-paced what you’d expect from the 171st pick in last year’s draft.
No. 31 — Atlanta Falcons: Elgton Jenkins
Original Selection: Kaleb McGary
Atlanta needed to get itself a lineman in the first round and here's the opportunity. Elgton Jenkins would've been an awesome addition since he finished among the 10 best guards in the NFL last season, according to PFF. Most impressively, he didn't allow a sack in pass protection.
No. 32 — New England Patriots: Dawson Knox
Original Selection: N'Keal Harry
We all know the Patriots needed a tight end to replace Rob Gronkowski who retired after the 2018 season and while Dawson Knox wasn’t a fantasy revelation during his rookie season in Buffalo, we like the Ole Miss product a lot. Knox actually felt like he was headed to the Patriots on the draft’s second day last year before the Bills traded up to grab him at No. 96. Meanwhile, N’Keal Harry has a lot to prove after a disappointing rookie season in New England.
