With the 2019 NFL season almost over, we take a look and see what may change if the 2019 NFL Draft happened today. Who goes to the Patriots? How many receivers?
As sad as it is for NFL fans around the world, the 2019 season has just one game remaining. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Miami for Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, February 2 at 6:30 pm ET. With the season nearly complete, let’s take a look back at the 2019 NFL Draft.
Held in Nashville, the 2019 NFL Draft was kicked off by the Arizona Cardinals selection of quarterback Kyler Murray and featured 11 all-rookie players (according to Pro Football Writers of America) selected in the first round. But what would happen if we re-drafted the 2019 NFL Draft today?
Needless to say, there would be a lot of change if the teams knew what they know now after a full season of play from these rookie players. Would teams stick with their original instincts or take the chance on a player that landed elsewhere and maybe had a more productive rookie campaign?
We are less than one full year removed from the 2019 NFL Draft, so we aren’t out here trying to declare any prospects busts or first-ballot Hall of Famers at this point in their careers. This is just a fun way to look back and evaluate the rookie players, their seasons and their team’s draft performance.
In this re-draft, you’ll be able to see the clear strengths of the 2019 NFL Draft class, at least as it stands at this point. Six wide receivers, 10 defensive linemen/edge rushers and seven offensive linemen go in the first round, while just two running backs, two linebackers, two safeties, no cornerbacks and no tight ends remain as first-round selections. Ten picks stay exactly the same while a couple of players end up with the same team just at a different spot.
Let’s get things started! The Arizona Cardinals are on the clock! Will they stick with their presumptive quarterback of the future or switch up to a talented edge rusher that will be playing next Sunday?
Original pick: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Boy is it hard to pass up on a guy like Nick Bosa here. The likely Defensive Rookie of the Year totaled nine sacks, 32 solo tackles and helped lead a defensive unit that carried his squad to a Super Bowl appearance in his first NFL season. But the Arizona Cardinals clearly had a plan heading into the 2019 offseason and Kyler Murray’s play would not throw them off of that course.
After trading up for a quarterback in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cardinals quickly changed their tune, trading Josh Rosen away and selecting a top 10 quarterback for the second year in a row, this time first overall. But with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona had a plan for their offense and you could see it starting to develop in 2019.
While Kyler Murray may not have completely lit the world on fire like he did to win the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, the two-sport athlete committed to football and had a solid rookie season on a still improving team. Murray threw for over 3,700 yards and 20 touchdowns. He posted a respectable 64% completion percentage and added over 500 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Murray showed some clear signs that he was still learning and developing as a rookie, but that is to be expected from a first-year player thrust into a starting role right away. He displayed some shaky decision-making early in the season but seemed to get more and more comfortable as the year went on.
Giving Murray some more protection up front and more offensive weapons to work with should be a priority for the Cardinals going forward. Murray wasn’t perfect in 2019, but he was definitely good enough for the organization to not abandon their plan.
Original pick: Nick Bosa, Defensive End, Ohio State
Can you believe the San Francisco 49ers team that we have watched throughout the 2019 regular season and playoffs had the second-worst record in the league last season? What an incredible turnaround that GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have led. Now Super Bowl-bound, I’m sure they’re thanking their lucky stars that Arizona stayed with their initial selection.
Nick Bosa’s impact has been felt early and often all season long. Throughout the first half of the season, Bosa was disrupting a ton of plays but wasn’t quite posting impressive stats for the box score. But he always jumped off the screen when you watched the Niners play and eventually the sacks and tackles for loss started rolling in.
The favorite for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year ended the 2019 regular season with nine sacks, 47 combined tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 25 QB hits. He also added an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Bosa proved that he is a dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball and will be a building block for a stout San Francisco defense for years to come.
The 2019 NFL Draft had a lot of solid, productive defensive line prospects, but Nick Bosa is pretty clearly the best of the bunch. Really the only question is where he ranks among his Ohio State teammates, brother Joey Bosa and 2020 NFL Draft prospect Chase Young. The 49ers are glad to have him on their side and hope he proves to be the best of that bunch as well.
Original pick: Quinnen Williams, Defensive Lineman, Alabama
This Josh Allen (as opposed to Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen) is an incredibly dynamic defender. The youngster can play multiple spots on the defense and is just scratching the surface of his potential in the NFL.
Despite not being listed as a starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Allen made the Pro Bowl in his first season, one of just three rookies to accomplish the feat this year. Allen racked up a rookie-best 10.5 sacks in 2019. Add in 22 total QB hits, 11 tackles for loss and 44 combined tackles, you have one of the most promising young defenders in the NFL.
Coming out of Kentucky, where Allen would play at the next level was a question. Some questioned if he had the size to put his hand in the ground and play on the line while others weren’t sure he had the speed and athleticism to be an off-ball linebacker. Allen can do it all and is listed as a defensive end in the Jags 4-3 defensive scheme.
I think he fits best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. A position that the New York Jets desperately need help at. I know they would hate to give up Quinnen Williams, who was the one name that was said to be untouchable for the team amidst rumors at the trade deadline. But the young lineman didn’t have a very productive year while Allen impressed greatly.
No one on the Jets roster had as many sacks as Allen in 2019, with the team only managing 35 total sacks for the season. As much promise they believe Williams has, they really need that presence on the edge. And as an outside linebacker, Allen would be able to be even more versatile than if he just lines up on the end of the defensive line.
Original pick: Clelin Ferrell, Defensive End, Oakland Raiders
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to pick 10 in order to select linebacker from Michigan, Devin Bush. Bush certainly did not disappoint, making an impact early and often for the strong Steelers defense.
After Ryan Shazier’s injury a few years ago, the Steelers have lacked that playmaker in the middle of their defense. Something that they have had going back to Joey Porter, James Farrior, and even Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Devin Bush has brought back that dominating presence back to the Steel City.
The Raiders, however, took a swing and a miss on free agent Vontaze Burfict, leaving their linebacking corps very thin and the future of the position even bleaker. Based on his performance in 2019, I think it would be very hard to pass on Bush even this high for a team like the Raiders.
Bush racked up 109 total tackles as a rookie, 72 of which were solo. He had nine tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, four fumble recoveries and a touchdown over the course of his impressive rookie campaign.
Bush showed his ability to range sideline-to-sideline to bring down ball carriers, as well as his instincts and ball skills when dropping back in coverage. He is truly a dynamic player at the inside linebacker position for the Steelers and would be able to anchor down in the middle of the field in the 4-3 Raiders scheme.
Clelin Ferrell played well throughout the 2019 season, but his 4.5 sacks do not match the production that Bush brought to the table this year. Ferrell was even slightly outshined by a guy at the same position drafted much later by his team, so I think Bush is the best option at this point in the draft for the Raiders.
Original pick: Devin White, Linebacker, LSU
Back-to-back linebackers! Devin and Devin were both very hot names leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft and neither disappointed over the course of the season. Devin White played in three fewer games than Bush in 2019 and still managed to rack up 91 total tackles, 58 solo, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two touchdowns and 2.5 sacks.
Another versatile player, White can make an impact on any and every play. He is lightning fast as a linebacker, with the ability to recognize a play and make a break to wrap up the ball carrier in an instant.
The Tampa Bay defense has been lacking playmakers all across the defense for quite some time. But they are definitely moving in the right direction. With Vita Vea in the middle, Shaquille Barrett having a breakout season on the edge and now Devin White covering the middle of the field, they just need to improve their secondary.
Their secondary really is awful right now, so I’m sure they’d love to be able to land a blue-chip corner or safety with a top-five pick in the NFL Draft. But there really are no corners that proved to be even solid starters from this class, let alone standout game-changers. There are a few good safeties, but their value isn’t quite this early. White is a much better option if they are trying to reshape their defense.
After the season that Jameis Winston had this season, would the Bucs consider an insurance policy at QB here? Maybe, but the quarterback prospects available here are far from sure things, so I think they stick with Jameis and cross that road down the line if they have to. Devin White sticks here at five.
Original pick: Daniel Jones, Quarterback, Duke
The shock and hate were flying when the sixth pick of the 2019 NFL Draft was announced for the Giants. People couldn’t believe that Dave Gettleman and the Giants “reached” for this particular quarterback so early in the draft when many felt there was a better option (or two) or they could have at least waited until their next pick to select Daniel Jones.
But the front office clearly coveted the Duke quarterback, and in the NFL Draft, you have to go get your guy. People can play out what-if scenarios all they want, but New York ultimately felt that they needed to the Jones at six if they wanted to guarantee that they could bring him into the fold.
The initial plan, at least as everyone in the organization stated before the season was for Eli Manning to be the starter all season while Jones sits and learns. But the newest David Cutcliffe project must have impressed enough to take advantage of Eli’s struggles to earn the starting gig rather early in the 2019 season.
From that point, Daniel Jones’ season was a real rollercoaster. He came in and immediately impressed, both with his arm and his legs. Jones up very impressive numbers in two straight victories once he took over as QB1 in week three. In his first start, Jones threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns and added two more scores on the ground, leading the Giants to their first win of the season.
After those two quick wins? Eight straight losses and a multitude of turnovers. A more realistic expectation for a rookie quarterback on a bad team. Add in a late-season injury and a 350+ yard and five-touchdown game in the penultimate game of the season and you have a whirlwind of a season that is really hard to evaluate.
But overall, I liked what I saw from Jones throughout the year. The Giants were my favorite landing spot for Jones leading up to the draft (albeit later in the first round) and I think he showed glimpses of why he has the potential to be a great fit for the franchise moving forward.
The more experience he gains and the more he learns to take care of the ball, the more the offense and the team can grow. Provide him with some more help on the offensive line to give him more time to make better decisions and I think he can really develop into something.
While he generally may not seem worthy of a top-six pick based on his rookie season, you have to take a couple of other things into account. So far, this seems to be a rather week quarterback class, with Jones showing as much promise as any QB prospect. The team really seemed to want him, so I don’t believe his play this season would have done anything to change their opinion.
Now sitting with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Giants have the chance to round out a solid young core on offense if they play their cards right.
Original pick: Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky
The first loser in this redraft are the Jacksonville Jaguars who no longer have their original pick on the board here at seven. Josh Allen was a favorite by many to go even a bit higher in the original 2019 NFL Draft, so his availability at seven was a bit of a steal for the Jags in the first place. And Allen’s rookie campaign vaulted him up even higher in the redraft, leading Jacksonville to look in a different direction.
Having secured Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles to a pretty rich contract, the Jags seemed to be all in on getting things turned back around quickly and trying to make a run with the solid defense and steady run game that they had remaining from their recent deep playoff run just a couple seasons ago. But boy, it sure didn’t work out that way.
Nick Foles quickly suffered an injury, late-round quarterback Gardner Minshew came in and was very impressive for a stretch, but ultimately the team still could not find the consistent quarterback play that they have been lacking for some years now.
So naturally, the quarterback position was given an early look here. But as I stated a moment ago, this quarterback class is certainly not the best. So taking a look back on the 2019 season, I decided to lock up a guy that many (including myself) projected to Jacksonville at this spot early and often in mocks leading up the 2019 NFL Draft. The best tackle prospect, Jawaan Taylor.
Taylor proved that whatever reason teams had to pass on him until the second round was bogus. Injury concerns? Off the field concerns? Nothing stopped Taylor from seeing the field early and often for the Jags as a rookie. He started from day one at right tackle and played every single offensive snap for his squad in 2019.
Taylor played very well all season. He very well could be settled into his home on the right side of the line, or Jacksonville could opt to make him their franchise left tackle to protect the blindside of whoever is playing quarterback for them in 2020.
It’s a real bummer for Jacksonville that they not only miss out on their first pick in this redraft but now they can’t even get their second-rounder in the same slot. Taylor showed why he was regarded as the top tackle prospect going into the draft and as a potential cornerstone for the franchise, is worthy of the pick here at seven.
Original pick: T.J. Hockenson, Tight End, Iowa
Here we have what appears to be the first big miss of the 2019 NFL Draft. While we are just one year removed from the draft and tight end can be a position that takes a little time to develop, you can’t help but assume that the Detroit Lions had hoped to get a little more out of T.J. Hockenson this season.
Spending a top ten pick on a tight end in the NFL Draft is always a little eye-opening. While many thought that Hockenson was one of the most complete tight end prospects to enter the draft in quite some time, there are obviously a ton of talented players at different positions available at this point in the draft.
After an incredible week one performance of six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown, Hock totaled just 32 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns on the year. So needless to say, after earning themselves a top-three pick in the 2020 NFL Draft with their year in 2019, the Lions are going to go in a different direction in this redraft.
Since former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia took over as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, the team has selected center Frank Ragnow and tight end T.J. Hockenson with their two first-round picks. Not exactly playing to the coach’s strengths if you ask me.
Here, the Lions opt for a raw but extremely talented and versatile defensive line prospect in Quinnen Williams. Williams had the top overall grade of any prospect by many draft evaluators and is still just 22-years-old.
An average rookie season, production-wise, causes Williams to drop down the draft board just a bit in this redraft, but his raw talent and ability still warrant a top-10 selection. Williams is a player that Patricia would love to bring in and work with. He has the ability to disrupt any play from nearly any positioning on the defensive line and would help a Lions defense that struggled mightily in 2019 against both the run and the pass.
Original pick: Ed Oliver, Defensive Lineman, Houston
What a polarizing prospect D.K. Metcalf was throughout the 2019 NFL Draft process. From shirtless muscle pictures to an abysmal three-cone drill. From outstanding athleticism to route running criticism. No one really knew where Metcalf would end up going on draft day.
While many evaluators had him projected to go somewhere in this range, primarily based on his size, strength, athleticism and potential, Metcalf ultimately fell to pick 64. Eight different receivers came off the board before Pete Carroll and the Seahawks selected D.K. late in the second round.
For his rookie campaign, Metcalf totaled 58 catches for 900 yards and seven touchdowns. More importantly, Metcalf had an outstanding performance against the Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Catching seven balls for 160 yards and a touchdown, including a game-sealing grab down the field late in the game to seal the victory, Metcalf displayed just how valuable he will be to the Seahawks for years to come.
There just so happens to be another team that made the playoffs this year that would have LOVED to have a big-body receiver like Metcalf down the stretch. And this team just so happens to pick ninth here in the redraft. So the Bills have the chance to grab this guy and have him on their side for their own tight playoff game.
Ed Oliver had a very solid season for the Bills and, like Williams, has a ton of potential. But he wasn’t even listed as a starter for the Bills throughout the season, whereas Metcalf would have played and been able to make an impact snap after snap.
How would the Bills have fared in the playoffs if Josh Allen had a guy like Metcalf to through the ball up to in tight situations and down the field to in spots like the Seahawks often used him in? It’s all hypothetical at this point, but I would have loved to see it and I’m sure the Houston Texans wouldn’t have.
Original pick: Devin Bush, Linebacker, Michigan
Another big loser in this first round redraft in the Pittsburgh Steelers. They made a splash by trading up into the top 10 to select a very talented linebacker out of Michigan, and I believe that Devin Bush displayed throughout his rookie season that he was worth the move.
Now with Bush off the board, the Steelers may opt to stand pat and not make the trade up to this spot. But since they did make a pick here at 10 in the original 2019 NFL Draft, they’re going to do so in this redraft. And the more I think about it, the more I think this scenario would be realistic knowing what we know today.
Heading into the 2019 NFL season, the Steelers thought they were pretty well-off at the quarterback position. They had veteran Ben Roethlisberger who was healthy and who they believed had enough left in the tank to lead a successful season. And if anything were to happen to Big Ben? They a third-round pick the year prior on Mason Rudolph, a guy that they believed had a ton of potential as the heir apparent to Roethlisberger.
But with Ben suffering a season-ending injury and Rudolph playing wildly inconsistent and suffering an injury of his own, the Steelers soon found Devlin Hodges leading the team under center. The undrafted rookie played well at times, but the Steelers were unable to make the playoffs in 2019, despite coming rather close even with their poor quarterback play.
What if the Steelers had a very talented rookie who showed a lot of promise in the few games he ended up playing in 2019? Drew Lock was a prospect with a ton of potential coming into the 2019 NFL Draft, with many feeling that we would be selected in the top half of the first round.
But after falling to the second round, the Denver Broncos, the very team that traded the 10th overall pick to the Steelers, took a chance on him. And while he still clearly has room to develop as a young gunslinger, Lock showed a lot of good signs in his five starts. Signs that any franchise would be happy with looking forward to the future, and signs that the Steelers would have loved down the stretch of the 2019 season.
Lock put up decent numbers in his five games, but the most impressive stat for the young quarterback was his 4-1 record as a starter. The Broncos beat everyone they played but the Super Bowl bound Chiefs with Drew Lock, and with some of the throws that Lock was able to make, the Broncos (or the Steelers) will be happy to turn over the reigns of their offense to Drew Lock for the forseeable future.
Original pick: Jonah Williams, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Same idea here with this pick, just a different player. And this isn’t necessarily a knock on the original selection. You really can’t predict injuries and Jonah Williams may prove to be a very good player at the next level and a very good pick here. But having not played a single snap in the NFL, I’ll go with a bit more of a proven commodity.
Kaleb McGary had a sneaky good season for the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. Similar to Jawaan Taylor, McGary started every game for the Falcons, playing every offensive snap from week three on. He played very well as a run blocker and a pass protector and with Jake Matthews at left tackle, should be in his home at right tackle for the Falcons and would likely fill the same spot for the Bengals and their shiny new quarterback from the 2020 NFL Draft.
Original pick: Rashan Gary, Edge, Michigan
Despite D.K. Metcalf being selected higher in this redraft, I would say that no rookie receiver had a better first season that his former Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown. Brown caught 52 balls for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns in his inaugural season as a Tennessee Titan.
Brown made big play after big play for the Titans this season, really thriving once Ryan Tannehill settled in as the team’s starting quarterback. Can you imagine what he would be with Aaron Rodgers?
Rodgers and the Packers really lacked wide receiver depth behind top guy, Davante Adams. Some of the guys that they have showed some flashes of potential, but the lacked the production to really take the Packers offense to the next level. A.J. Brown could be that guy for Green Bay to come in and contribute right away to take advantage of the time they have left with an elite Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
With Zadarius and Preston Smith both having breakout seasons as edge rushers for the Packers this year, Rashan Gary didn’t play a whole lot. While he does have potential and should be learning from two of the best, a guy like Brown would help the Packers win now.
Original pick: Christian Wilkins, Defensive Lineman, Clemson
Another receiver who had a very impressive rookie season his former Buckeye Terry McLaurin. With 58 catches for 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 14 games, McLaurin produced throughout the season, regardless of who was at quarterback. A trait that would pay off for him if he played for the Dolphins.
Whether it was Case Keenum, his former college quarterback Dwayne Haskins or even Colt McCoy for a game, Terry McLaurin made play after play as one of the very few bright spots for a very underwhelming Washington offense.
If the Dolphins opted for McLaurin instead of Christian Wilkins (three sacks and 56 total tackles), they would have another young weapon for whichever young quarterback they decide to go with in the 2020 NFL Draft. DeVante Parker had a monster season and Preston Williams showed a lot of talent and potential catching passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen. Building a powerful young nucleus on offense may be the way to get things turned around in Miami.
Original pick: Chris Lindstrom, Interior Offensive Lineman, Boston College
Changing this pick may not be fair to the original selection, Chris Lindstrom, who played just five games in 2019 due to injury. But availability is always a factor and it was pretty clear which side of the ball really needed to be addressed for the Falcons this season.
While Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Austin Hooper and even Devonta Freeman excelled in the passing game on offense for Atlanta, the Falcons were abysmal on defense. With injuries and inconsistent play from the talented players on the unit, the Atlanta defense struggled all over the place in 2019.
Ed Oliver is a promising young player who can disrupt any play. He can rip through and get to the quarterback or disengage and bring down the ball carrier in the run game. Oliver totaled five sacks, eight quarterback hits and 43 total tackles while playing primarily in a back-up role for Buffalo as a rookie. He would pair well with Grady Jarrett in the middle of the Falcon defensive line.
Original pick: Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback, Ohio State
As I said earlier, the brightest spot of the Washington offense this season was Terry McLaurin. With McLaurin off the board here at 15, I think the Skins opt for another talented young receiver. Deebo Samuel has been the most productive receiver on a team that will be playing in the Super Bowl this weekend and is a very solid, well-rounded receiver that does just about everything well.
Now the original pick here was highly-regarded quarterback prospect Dwayne Haskins. Many people thought that Haskins “fell” to the Redskins here at 15, feeling that he should have gone earlier in the draft. But Haskins struggled throughout his playing time with Washington as a rookie, so I think they go in a different direction here.
Now I’m sure the team still believes that Haskins has the potential to be a very good NFL quarterback. But where would he rank among the 2020 NFL Draft quarterback prospects? I think there are a handful of guys in this upcoming draft that are at least in the same ballpark as Haskins.
Without McLaurin or Samuel, the Redskins wide receivers to end the 2019 season are as follows: Kelvin Harmon, Steven Sims Jr., Cam Sims, Darvin Kidsy and Jester Weah. A bunch of household names, right? There are a couple of other guys on the roster that ended the season on IR, but no one as good as Samuel.
Original pick: Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State
Over the first six games of the 2019 season, this pick seemed like a home run for the Carolina Panthers. Brian Burns was a raw and very talented edge rusher coming out of Florida State and produced early on for the Carolina defense.
Through six games, Burns had racked up 4.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He ended the season with 7.5 sacks and 16 QB hits, so he wasn’t quite as impressive later in the season, but it is clear that the guy can get after the passer. That is such a valuable trait in today’s NFL and Burns will be a cornerstone for a rebuilding Panthers defense going forward.
Original pick: Dexter Lawrence, Defensive Lineman, Clemson
Using the first-round pick that they acquired from the Cleveland Browns in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, the New York Giants drafted Clemson big man Dexter Lawrence. At 6-foot-4 and 342 lbs, Lawrence is a monster in the middle and a solid anchor to build around for the Giants defensive line.
Lawrence got home for just 2.5 sacks but totaled nine QB hits. He also added 38 total tackles, playing more and more snaps throughout the season. It isn’t a flashy pick, but Lawrence is a very good young player. If they are able to resign Leonard Williams, who they traded for at the 2019 trade deadline, the Giants will have a very solid and versatile front that could just use a talented edge rusher or two to really wreak havoc.
Original pick: Garrett Bradbury, Center, NC State
This was an outstanding pick for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft. Center is often overlooked when discussing the most important positions in football and the Vikes nabbed a very good one in Garrett Bradbury.
Bradbury started every game at center for the Vikings, who boasted one of the best all-around offenses in the NFL. Often leading the way for Dalvin Cook or making sure pass protection is in place for Kirk Cousins and the passing attack, Bradbury was very important to the success that Minnesota had this season, and I don’t see him going anywhere in this redraft.
Original pick: Jeffery Simmons, Defensive Lineman, Mississippi State
Jeffery Simmons may have been a top-five pick in the 2019 NFL Draft if he had not torn his ACL while training for the draft. He exuded loads of talent and potential at Mississippi State and showed in in flashes once he was able to hit the field in 2019.
The Titans defensive front is very talented so they didn’t need to rely on Simmons heavily to succeed in his rookie season. He totaled just two sacks and 32 total tackles in his nine games and seven starts, but never played more than 69% of his team’s defensive snaps. I’m looking forward to seeing what Simmons can do with a full, healthy offseason/preseason and expanded role in 2020.
Original pick: Noah Fant, Tight End, Iowa
This is another pick that may be a little early to really judge. Noah Fant had some really great moments in 2019 and could become more and more involved in the offense in 2020 and going forward. But with 40 catches, 562 yards and just three touchdowns, the Broncos could probably go in a different direction and get a little more production out of this spot.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was actually the only wide receiver in this 2019 NFL Draft that was selected in the first round. The speedster from Oklahoma was taken by the Ravens at 25 in the original draft and is now the fifth receiver off the board before the Ravens even get to make a selection.
Despite dealing with injuries throughout his rookie year, Brown made a big impact for the Ravens offense this year. His big-play capability led him to scoring seven touchdowns on 46 catches and 584 yards. Brown would fit perfectly alongside Courtland Sutton in Denver’s offense as a dynamic weapon for whoever ends up playing quarterback now that Drew Lock is in Pittsburgh.
Original pick: Darnell Savage Jr., Safety, Maryland
Many people questioned this pick by the Green Bay Packers when it happened in 2019. Darnell Savage Jr. wasn’t a fixture in the first round of mock drafts leading up to the draft so it was a bit surprising to hear his name called so early.
Savage proved the doubters wrong, having a great rookie season as the starting strong safety for the Packers in all 18 games he ended up playing (missed two games due to injury). Over the course of the year, Savage racked up 55 total tackles (42 solo), five passes defended, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He proved to be a force in the run game and in coverage and will be a big part of the Green Bay secondary going forward.
Original pick: Andre Dillard, Offensive Tackle, Washington State
This was a tough spot to redraft for the Philadelphia Eagles. There are quite a few options with this pick. Obviously, after watching the 2019 season a cornerback would be optimal, but there really aren’t any great options in this draft class. With so many wide receivers already going in this first round, and with the 2020 NFL Draft being so deep at wide receiver and offensive tackle, Philly will go a different direction here.
The Eagles own rookie running back, Miles Sanders, ended up having a very good year for the team. He thrives as a receiver and has great big-play potential. And although he improved over the course of the season as a between-the-tackles runner, there appears to be a better option on the board.
The only running back actually taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft was former Alabama back Josh Jacobs, who was selected 24th overall by the Raiders. In just 13 games, the rookie ran for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns.
Rushing for 1,000 yards is a great accomplishment for any running back. For a rookie to do it and to do it in just 13 games? Very impressive. Jacobs wasn’t used all that much at Alabama, so he should still have a ton left in his tank. And with such an impressive rookie campaign, the sky is the limit for Jacobs.
Original pick: Tytus Howard, Offensive Tackle, Alabama State
Tytus Howard was another pick that was questioned by many when the Texans made the selection last April. The Alabama State tackle is a huge, powerful player who played well when on the field for Houston in 2019, but was only able to play eight games.
Cody Ford started 15 of 16 games for the Buffalo Bills in 2019. While he may not have the athletic upside that Howard has, Ford may be a bit more consistent and was available to play when his team needed him to in the playoffs. The Texans still came out on top in the head-to-head playoff matchup, but they may have fared even better with a guy like Ford.
Original pick: Josh Jacobs, Running Back, Alabama
In all reality, after the season he had in 2019, Maxx Crosby may not even be available at this spot in a redraft. The fourth-round pick proved to be arguably the steal of the draft for the Raiders, producing as one of the top edge rushers of the class.
Crosby is just half a sack behind Josh Allen to be the top sackman of the class. In addition to his 10 sacks, Crosby totaled 46 tackles, 35 solo tackles, 14 QB hits, four forced fumbles and four passes defended.
Crosby is a very versatile defender who finds a way to make an impact play after play. With Josh Jacobs off the board, this pick came down to the two edge defenders they got in this draft. They selected Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick, so they clearly think highly of him, but after this season I would say Crosby is more valuable to the organization.
Original pick: Marquise Brown, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
This pick is about as close as you can get to the original without being the original pick from the 2019 NFL Draft. As I stated earlier when he was selected in the redraft, Hollywood Brown was the only wide receiver taken in the first round last year. The Baltimore Ravens tabbed him with the 25th overall selection, but in this redraft, he (as well as four other receivers) is off the board.
So instead of Brown, the Ravens opt for a different speedster in Mecole Hardman out of Georgia. Hardman has very similar deep threat capabilities to Brown and was an All-Pro return man as a rookie. While he may not be quite as developed as a route runner, Hardman serves the same purpose that Brown does, and even adds that extra element in the return game, although the Ravens have another very good former Chief returning kicks for them in De’Anthony Thomas.
Original pick: Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State
Montez Sweat is another young, promising edge rusher in the 2019 NFL Draft class. With seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and 50 total sacks, Sweat had a very solid rookie year with the Redskins.
This was a pretty tough decision between the two players that Washington selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. People in the organization clearly like Dwayne Haskins, but I’m just not sold that he is a franchise quarterback in the NFL. So here they stick with Sweat to add to their talented defensive line.
This opens up their options for the 2020 NFL Draft. If they love a guy like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, or even Joe Burrow if he somehow falls a spot, they can get a much better QB prospect. If not, they can add Chase Young to their already powerful front and go a different route for a quarterback. Maybe bring in a free agent like Teddy Bridgewater to see if he is the long-term answer or at least as a bridge to a 2021 prospect like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields.
Original pick: Jonathan Abram, Safety, Mississippi State
And the Raiders still get their guy! Mike Mayock, Jon Gruden and the Raiders clearly really, really liked Clelin Ferrell to take him fourth overall when he was projected much lower by most evaluators.
Although he may not have lived up to that top-five selection, Ferrell certainly didn’t have a bad season. With 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, eight QB hits, 38 total tackles and five pass deflections, Ferrell played well overall. I’m sure the Raiders organization wasn’t displeased with his performance as a rookie and would be happy to get him with their third and final first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Original pick: Jerry Tillery, Defensive Lineman, Notre Dame
As I stated earlier with the Vikings pick, center is a very underrated position in the NFL. These guys play a huge role in the offense and having a good one is instrumental to success. Erik McCoy was drafted in the second round by the New Orleans Saints. He then started every single game for the Saints, playing almost every single snap on the season.
Like Bradbury for the Vikings, McCoy helped lead one of the best offenses in the NFL and started a playoff game as a rookie. Meanwhile, the Chargers earned the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Overall, the Chargers offensive line is still a weak point and adding a very solid young player like McCoy in the middle would be a great move to help turn things around. Original pick, Jerry Tillery, had just two sacks and 17 total tackles as a rookie, so going in a different direction is a must.
Original pick: L.J. Collier, Edge, TCU
Juan Thornhill is one of my favorite prospects from the 2019 NFL Draft. He is an incredibly well-rounded free safety who can make plays roaming deep in centerfield or when lurking around the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, Thornhill will not get to play in the Super Bowl as he has missed the playoffs due to injury, but his playmaking on defense really helped get them there.
With Earl Thomas signing with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, the Seattle Seahawks had a clear vacancy at free safety that they had not had in quite some time. They ultimately sent a fifth-round pick to the Lions for safety Quandre Diggs (and a seventh-rounder), but drafting Thornhill would have saved them that pick and gave them a younger and arguable already better player at the position.
Thornhill would certainly be a better option than arguably the biggest bust of the first round, L.J. Collier who had next to no production for Seattle as a rookie.
Original pick: Deandre Baker, Cornerback, Georgia
After landing their quarterback of the future with the sixth overall pick, the Giants take the opportunity to protect Daniel Jones here with a guy that ended up with a division rival. Now Eagle Andre Dillard falls a bit in this redraft, but he still gained some valuable experience at multiple positions as a rookie and still has the makings to become a very solid tackle in the NFL.
Although Nate Solder was given a rather large contract and still has two years remaining with the Giants, I would think New York would be preparing for life after Solder sooner than later. And with Dillard seeing some time at both right and left tackle in 2019, the Giants could play him on either side of the line.
Deandre Baker didn’t play bad as a rookie, but I think the Giants should really work to protect their young quarterback. Sure, they may take a tackle with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but it can’t hurt to have two really good, young ones. If they hold onto Janoris Jenkins instead of cutting him and Sam Beal continues to develop, I think the Giants could get by just fine without Baker here.
Original pick: Kaleb McGary, Offensive Tackle, Washington
With their original pick gone and switching their first pick in the draft from offensive to the defensive line, the Falcons go with a versatile offensive lineman that had a very productive rookie year with the Houston Texans.
After not playing the first two games, Max Scharping played every snap for the Texans at left guard. While the Texans line still had some spots that were exploited, Scharping played very well as a rookie. With the Falcons originally going with two offensive linemen in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, they grab one here with the penultimate pick of the first round of the redraft.
Original pick: N’Keal Harry, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
Here’s a really interesting selection to round out the 2019 NFL Draft redraft. After a disappointing season by the New England Patriots barometer, the Patriots have to look ahead to their future. Without winning a playoff game for the first time in what seems like 100 years, the questions naturally arises if the New England dynasty is finished.
That remains to be seen. And another question at the forefront in Foxboro is the future of Tom Brady with the franchise. Will he go play elsewhere? If he does stay, how long does he have left? The quarterback situation will have to be addressed and in this scenario, Bill Belichick jumps on it with the selection of Dwayne Haskins.
While Haskins had his struggles in 2019, he did do a lot of good things as well. Belichick may want to show that he can win with anyone, and bring in his own guy to be the future of the franchise. With some molding under Belichick, Josh McDaniels and “The Patriot Way”, Haskins may have a shot to become something special.