RE-DRAFTING THE 2017 NFL DRAFT: ENTIRE FIRST ROUND DO-OVER
With just over a week until the start of the NFL Draft, the buzz has become palpable. It's a time when football fans look to the future, pining over incoming rookies and crossing their fingers in hopes that their team will select its next cornerstone piece. While first-round picks are prized possessions, let us not forget that not all future stars are decided solely on day one. With that in mind and the power of hindsight, let's look at one of the more intriguing drafts in recent history.
The 2017 NFL Draft class was brimming with game-changing prospects, still impacting the gridiron today. The first round had some swings and misses and a few absolute bomb home runs...but what if we could do it over?
Seven seasons later, we have a ton of on -- and off-field -- data for these veterans as they continue their stellar careers. Many teams could have altered the direction of their franchise with a different selection on draft day. Below, we'll look at what each team might have done differently in this redo of the 2017 NFL Draft's first round. Let's dive in.
Picks 1-10
1. Cleveland Browns - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
Original Pick: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
In the most no-brainer redo of all time, the Browns take Patrick Mahomes first overall -- nine slots higher than his original pick. The baby GOAT has all but cemented himself as a future Hall-of-Famer, torching defenses since his early days in the league. 2023 was no different. Even though Mahomes had a down year by his standards, he still led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory. That's my kind of St. Patrick's Day.
2. Chicago Bears (from 49ers) - T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin
Original Pick: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
The Bears traded three picks in this draft (#3, #67, #111) and a 2018 third-rounder to move up one slot and select Mitchell Trubisky -- potentially proving to be one of the biggest blunders in NFL Draft history. T.J. Watt's selection would have bolstered an already impressive Bears defense that ranked top 10 in both points and yards allowed.
Watt has haunted quarterbacks' nightmares for years with his unrelenting athleticism and a motor that doesn't quit. This pairing seems like a natural fit for a team that has prided itself on its defensive prowess through the decades.
3. San Francisco 49ers (from Bears) - Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
Original Pick: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
After committing grand theft against the Bears, San Francisco drafts arguably the top pass-rusher in this class. Solomon Thomas has been a fine player in his own right, but he doesn't even shake a stick at Watt or Garrett. They're very close for me, and you could make a case to flip their order here. Regardless, either would have been a massive upgrade over Solomon Thomas.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Original Pick: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
The Jacksonville Jaguars still get a running back and would be much happier with Christian McCaffrey than their original selection of Leonard Fournette. Run-CMC has proved to be one of the most versatile running backs ever to grace a professional field, showcasing an elite blend of agility and receiving ability. His play is reminiscent of LaDainian Tomlinson and is a constant reminder that the running back position still matters.
5. Tennessee Titans (from Rams) - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington University
Original Pick: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Titans traded away their first overall selection to the Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft -- a pick that turned into Jared Goff -- and received a bevy of draft selections, including LA's 2017 first. Corey Davis never quite lived up to his draft billing, though he has been a serviceable pro wide receiver.
Conversely, Cooper Kupp has turned his day-two selection (66th overall) into an impressive career. Kupp would have been a fantastic selection for Tennessee at the top of round one, but the Titans can only dream. This one seems to sting a bit more, considering the Rams got Kupp anyway.
6. New York Jets - George Kittle, TE, Iowa
Original Pick: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Jamal Adams was a good pick here for New York. With our current knowledge of Adams' injury history, though, he falls in the first round this time. Adams has been great, but Kittle has been better. It's been some time since the Jets have had a weapon at tight end. Kittle could have provided a stable underneath option in the offense to ease the woes the Jets have experienced at quarterback.
Kittle's versatility as a blocker and pass-catcher, paired with his bully-ball play style, would be a welcome addition to a Jets offense that has been bereft of talent for what seems like forever. The 'bright lights' of New York would also have suited Kittle's larger-than-life personality.
7. Los Angeles Chargers - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Original Pick: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Mike Williams has been a strong contributor when healthy. The whole 'when healthy' thing is a huge factor, though. Williams has missed at least one game every season but one since he became a pro. While the Chargers might need a receiver in this slot, it's hard to pass on Marshon Lattimore.
Lattimore only played two seasons at Ohio State before declaring for the NFL, hinting at his ability as a shutdown corner. Infamous for his battles on the field with future Buccaneers Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans, He's been a consistent defensive presence at the cornerback position.
8. Carolina Panthers - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Original Pick: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Carolina Panthers paired McCaffrey with then-franchise QB Cam Newton, adding an explosive option to an offense that needed weapons. McCaffrey was a great pick at this spot, but there were other positions of need. Instead of going offensive tackle, I have them shoring up their defensive backfield with Marlon Humphrey.
The Panthers had a pretty solid defense overall in 2017. Led by Luke Kuechley, they ranked seventh in total defense at 317.1 yards per game. 229.1 of those yards came through the air, though, as their defense never had the star power on the back end to complement their ferocious front seven. Marlon Humphrey fits nicely here and moved up a few slots from his draft day.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple
Original Pick: John Ross, WR, Washington
We can add John Ross to the growing list of one-trick burners to be over-drafted and flame out of the league nearly as fast as their 40-yard dash time. Maybe one day, the NFL will stop trying to turn every speedster they get their hands on into Tyreek Hill, but I digress.
Anyone on this list -- and maybe even the whole draft class -- might have been a better selection for the Bengals than Ross. It would be nice to see Dion Dawkins protecting Joe Burrow, but he's done a fine job as a staple on the Bills' offensive line. The three-time Pro Bowl selection just inked a three-year extension with Buffalo earlier this year.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills) - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Original Pick: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
The Chiefs take the largest L in this scenario since Mahomes is rightfully off the board at their selection. Deshaun Watson is a nice consolation prize, though. Watson would have gone higher in this redraft if only for his massage addiction. In pro football, though, the quarterback is vital, so he still gets picked early.
It's easy to forget the kind of player Watson was due to his antics off the field. Before his nonsensical decisions and holdout during the 2021 season, Watson was a consensus next 'big thing' at quarterback. He was an exciting prospect that immediately translated to the NFL field.
Picks 11-20
11. New Orleans Saints - Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic
Original Pick: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State University
The Saints get one of their picks from 2017 back, albeit at a far lesser value. New Orleans had an excellent draft in 2017, as we'll see four of their seven picks taken in this round -- proving how this draft helped elongate the success of this franchise led by an aging Drew Brees.
Hendrickson was an adequate player in his time with New Orleans, but he took his game to new heights after signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Bengals in 2021.
12. Houston Texans (from Browns via Eagles) - Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
Original Pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Oddly enough, Watson could have been a Brown from the get-go. Alas, we know how this story ends. Alvin Kamara marks the second pass-catching back to come off the board. The Texans want a quarterback, but Kamara would have been a slick grab for a Houston backfield that did not fare as well as they envisioned when grabbing Lamar Miller from the Miami Dolphins the year prior.
Kamara has been one of the best backs in the league since 2017. He's second only to CMC in receptions and receiving yards by a running back since then and third in touchdowns (Derrick Henry).
13. Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Ramczyk, OT, University of Wisconsin
Original Pick: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
That makes three Saints in a row as the Cardinals flip from defense to offense here at pick #13. Ramczyk has been a stable force at tackle for New Orleans, and he would serve the Cardinals well as a crucial piece protecting Kyler Murray.
Even with Ramczyk's playing career in question, he should not slide by Arizona. The Cardinals have been up-and-down in recent years regarding their offensive line play, and they desperately need to keep Murray healthy.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (from Vikings) - Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
Original Pick: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The combination of Nelson Agholor's failed development and Alshon Jeffery's failure to deliver are worthy reasons to draft Chris Godwin. The Eagles lacked consistency on offense outside of Zach Ertz, but they won the Super Bowl -- so does it matter? Derek Barnett has played well in his career. He's aided Philly's defense in keeping up its formidable nature against the rush over the last string of seasons -- he just doesn't measure up to Godwin.
Chris Godwin would have significantly improved the Eagle's receiving corps and potentially given Carson Wentz his best target ever. If not for his ACL injury in recent years, we might still be talking about Godwin as a top-six wideout in the league.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Budda Baker, S, University of Washington
Original Pick: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State University
Indianapolis stays within the position it drafted but gets a nice upgrade in selecting Budda Baker over Malik Hooker. Hooker has been solid for Indy, but Baker is a more decorated defensive player.
Baker has been selected for six Pro Bowls and thrice as an All-Pro. He's been a captain for the Cardinals for the past four seasons and has been an excellent, game-changing defender. Not many people can outrun D.K. Metcalf, though.
16. Baltimore Ravens - Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Original Pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Baltimore misses out on its stud cornerback but drafts his former Alabama running mate Jonathan Allen. Allen gets a bump-up one slot in the redo and adds a legitimate threat on the end of an already stout defensive front. The Ravens ranked Top 12 in points against and yards allowed in 2017.
17. Washington Commanders - Tre'davious White, CB, LSU
Original Pick: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
After just missing the first pick that aligned with my rankings, the Commanders stick to upgrading their defense -- just at a different position. Tre'davious White garnered an 89.8 coverage grade per Pro Football Focus his rookie year and has shown true, lockdown corner upside over his years as a pro.
While White has had some flaws in his game over recent seasons, he picked his game back up in 2023. After playing his past seven years in Buffalo, White will spend the '24 season in sunny Los Angeles as one of the newest members of the Rams defense sans Aaron Donald.
18. Tennessee Titans - Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
Original Pick: Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
Like Washington, Tennessee's second pick this round will be a varied position for them on defense. Adoree' Jackson nearly made the end of this round but will have to settle for an honorable mention. Again, this speaks to the quality of prospects in this class and just how good they've been in NFL uniforms.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Original Pick: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
O.J. Howard fell to pick #19 in 2017, and everyone nearly lost their minds. Howard was anointed as the next potential superstar at tight end, receiving a prospect grade of 7.00 by the NFL -- a 'Pro Bowl Talent.' It shows that as much as the NFL gets it right. Nobody is perfect.
This time, Tampa Bay actually upgrades its offensive unit. It isn't Chris Godwin, but a Mike Williams and Mike Evans WR duo would have been a red-zone nightmare for opposing defenses.
20. Denver Broncos - Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
Original Pick: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
Denver takes Garett Bolles at a great spot in this draft. I have Matt Milano over Bolles, but Denver did not need any more help at linebacker, and Bolles has been a good fit for the Broncos.
Picks 21-32
21. Detroit Lions - Matt Milano, LB, Boston College
Original Pick: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
Detroit still gets a linebacker at pick #21 but a slightly different caliber of player. Jarrad Davis and Matt Milano have been reliable defensive contributors, but Milano offers a bit more as a defender.
To this point in their careers, Milano has out-tackled Davis 645 - 462, has nine more interceptions, and scored the only touchdown between them.
22. Miami Dolphins - Rasul Douglas, CB, Nassau Community College
Original Pick: Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
Charles Harris hasn't been more than a rotational pass-rusher during his time in the league, while Rasul Douglas has been a solid, if not slightly above-average-defender.
The Dolphins still use this pick to help strengthen the defensive side of the ball, and they get a little more bang for their buck in this version.
23. New York Giants - Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State University
Original Pick: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Evan Engram broke out his rookie season as a Giant but fell a bit to the wayside as the Giants' offense experienced many changes over the next few seasons. Engram is good, but there is no possible scenario where I see them passing up Dalvin Cook at this spot.
Cook had a stretch of dominance as an elite big-play threat in his time as a Viking. The Giants selecting Cook leads to an interesting thought experiment where they would not feel forced to take Saquon Barkley the following year as they already have their hyper-athletic backfield lead.
24. Las Vegas Raiders - Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Original Pick: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
When the Raiders were still in Oakland, they chose Gareon Conley at pick #24. I still have them adding to their defensive backfield, this time from Ohio State's arch-nemesis: Michigan.
Conley played just three years in the league, while Peppers is still kicking -- most recently contributing 104 total tackles and two interceptions for the Patriots in 2023.
25. Cleveland Browns (from Texans) - Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
Original Pick: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Cleveland is up again, and they're still taking a safety at this pick. While it was almost Peppers, they'll "settle" for Eddie Jackson. Jackson originally wasn't drafted until the fourth round- pick #112.
26. Atlanta Falcons (from Seahawks) - Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
Original Pick: Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
The redraft has been oddly succinct with the original draft from 2017. Even if the players aren't the same, most teams still attack their position of need. This trend continues here as Carl Lawson replaces Takkarist McKinley. Lawson was drafted in the fourth round in 2017, too, a few picks after Eddie Jackson at #116.
27. Buffalo Bills (from Chiefs) - Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Original Pick: Tre'davious White, CB, LSU
Buffalo doesn't get its stud cornerback but gets an equally dynamic player in Jamal Adams. Adams fell a bit from his original draft pick and landing spot. Mostly, that is due to injuries as Adams has had trouble staying on the field.
He does not possess the coverage ability of White, though when healthy, he plays up in the run game with the best in the league. Adams has always been a terror when assigned to blitz, too -- even when he doesn't get there.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Original Pick: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
Taco Charlton only played in Dallas for two seasons before spending the next four seasons on four separate teams. He did not play in 2023 or provide much value for the Cowboys in his time there.
Evan Engram would slide in as the defacto replacement for an aging Jason Witten and probably play a critical role for the offense in 2017. Engram had more yards, receptions, and touchdowns than every Dallas player not named Dez Bryant that year.
29. Cleveland Browns (from Packers) - David Njoku, TE, Miami
Original Pick: David Njoku, TE, Miami
This selection is the second pick that perfectly aligns with timing and necessity. Back-to-back tight ends mean Njoku lands in Cleveland as intended.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers - Deatrich Wise, DL, Arkansas
Original Pick: T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin
There may be no team on this list -- besides Kansas City -- that hates this redo more than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafting T.J. Watt at the end of the first round feels criminal.
The Steelers aren't as lucky this time, but they still get a quality, versatile defensive lineman in Deatrich Wise. Wise has spent his whole career as a Patriot thus far, and he's shown adaptability by playing each position on the line.
31. San Francisco 49ers (from Seahawks via Falcons) - Aaron Jones, RB, University of Texas at El Paso
Original Pick: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
Aaron Jones was the latest selection on this list, but he still garners first-round value. He's the fourth running back taken -- something we're unlikely to see in the first round ever again -- and adds another agile, versatile pass-catcher to this list.
Jones does not carry the same shine as the three taken before him. He does provide this 49ers squad with a complement to Carlos Hyde, though. Coincidentally, this was Hyde's last year as a 49er. Aaron Jones in a Kyle Shanahan offense would have been a sight indeed.
32. New Orleans Saints - Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
Original Pick: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
The fifth and final running back on this list is the first to bring a bit more 'boom' than 'zoom,' but that doesn't diminish his contributions. Joe Mixon was a second-round pick in 2017 -- #48 overall -- and well worth it. While Mixon may not provide the same burst Kamara does, he is a superb option in this spot.
Mixon has been a gritty runner in his career, consistently grinding out yards after contact behind a rough Cincinnati front. Even this past year, in the wake of Joe Burrow's injury, he was frequently given carries to supplement Jake Browning's lackluster play -- and scored a bunch of touchdowns.
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