2018 NFL Draft first round re-draft: What changes one year later?
31. New England Patriots: Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
Original Pick: Sony Michel
The Patriots now lose both of their original first-round picks. With Michel in Tampa and Wynn in Jacksonville, New England will look to find some other impact players for their yearly Super Bowl run.
One spot where the Patriots have struggled recently is rushing the passer. Behind Trey Flowers, no Patriot was able to manage over 4.5 sacks. Now that is the total that Marcus Davenport put up for the Saints after they traded up to get him, but the Patriots won the Super Bowl anyone with that sack production.
Davenport could have time to develop in New England while contributing as a rotational pass rusher right away. With Trey Flowers departing to reunite with Matt Patricia in Detroit, the Patriots need a reliable pass rusher now more than ever. Davenport is not that guy yet, but certainly has the talent and potential to develop into an elite edge played in the NFL.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Original Pick: Lamar Jackson
The Ravens already got their quarterback at 25 and original 25th pick, tight end Hayden Hurst, struggled to find a way to contribute in 2018. So where do the Ravens go with the final pick of this first round re-draft? How about another Alabama linebacker to pair with (or replace) C.J. Mosley?
The league seems to be moving in the direction of dynamic, athletic linebacker duos that can cover the entire field. Mosley is a mentor to Rashaan Evans and the pair could wreak havoc on a perennial powerhouse Baltimore defense.
Evans got a late start to his NFL career, as a hamstring injury caused him to miss the preseason and the first two games of the regular season. But by the end of the season, Evans showed some of the promise that made him a first-round pick.
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After a season playing together with Mosley, Evans could be primed to fill his shoes, as Mosley left Baltimore to join the Jets in 2019 free agency. Alabama linebackers have been rather successful in the NFL, and Ozzie Newsome (who would be making his final first-round selection as a general manager) loves his Crimson Tide defenders.