Redrafting the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft
It's been a week since the 2017 season came to an end and it seems an appropriate time to reflect on where the season began for most teams: at the draft.
With the clarity hindsight provides, we're able to go back over April's draft and envision the first-round picks teams wish they'd made.
Here's a do-over of the 2017 NFL Draft. Cleveland, you're back on the clock.
1. Browns - QB Deshaun WatsonActual pick: DE Myles Garrett
The Cleveland Browns will rue the day they passed on Watson. In this scenario, the franchise gets to right a wrong (and avoid an 0-16 season) by selecting the national championship-winning quarterback with the first pick in the 2017 NFL redraft.
Watson was well on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, despite a loaded field, before tearing his ACL. He's the kind of talent the Browns have spent years searching for.
2. Bears - QB Mitchell TrubiskyActual pick: Trubisky
The Chicago Bears just might have something in Trubisky.
His play didn't elicit the kind of headlines some of his fellow rookies received, but he fared much better than expected in his first season. Thrown into the fire in Week 5, he held is own the rest of the season, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes.
The rebuilding Bears laid their first stone with the selection of Trubisky.
3. 49ers - RB Alvin KamaraActual pick: DE Solomon Thomas
Imagine Jimmy Garoppolo and Kamara sharing a backfield for the next decade. It's a scenario the 49ers could have had if they had taken the eventual Rookie of the Year winner with the third pick. The Niners can't be faulted for that, however, as Kamara was passed over by every team, multiple times.
Kamara took the league by storm with 1,554 total yards and 13 touchdowns. He'd be a fine successor to Carlos Hyde as the 49ers lead back.
4. Jaguars - RB Leonard FournetteActual pick: Fournette
The Jags got it right the first time. With Fournette in their backfield, Jacksonville enjoyed a one-year turnaround from three wins to 10 and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
No one in Duval County is second-guessing that selection.
5. Titans - CB Marshon LattimoreActual pick: WR Corey Davis
The Titans entered the draft with gaping holes in their receiving corps and secondary. Instead of reaching for Corey Davis with the No. 5 pick, Tennessee could have had top-flight corner Marshon Lattimore, the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Titans addressed their need at corner with the 18th pick, but Lattimore was one of the best at his position in 2017, finishing the year as Pro Football Focus' fourth-ranked cornerback, while Adoree Jackson was ranked 35th.
6. Jets - S Jamal AdamsActual pick: Adams
Met with another opportunity to pick their quarterback of the future, the Jets would likely wait until 2018 and keep their selection of Adams.
He wasn't the sexiest pick of the draft, but the LSU star will solidify the Jets' back end for years to come.
7. Chargers - DE Solomon ThomasActual pick: WR Mike Williams
Williams was a forgotten man in his first year in the pros. A back injury nearly derailed his season before it began, and a knee ailment ended it after 10 games. He produced just 11 catches for 95 yards.
With the opportunity to pick again, the Chargers would instead address a run defense that ranked 31st in 2017 and select defensive end Solomon Thomas, a player celebrated for his run defense from the edge.
8. Panthers - WR JuJu Smith-SchusterActual pick: RB Christian McCaffrey
The Panthers appeared as though they didn't know what to do with McCaffrey.
With the in-season trade of Kelvin Benjamin in mind, the Panthers sure could have used the contributions of a receiver such as Smith-Schuster. The wideout finished the year with more yards than any Panthers pass-catcher.
9. Bengals - CB Tre'Davious WhiteActual pick: WR John Ross
Another failed receiver pick in the top 10. Instead of Ross, who finished the year without a catch, White proved much more deserving of a top-10 spot. The runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year would have slotted right in as a starting corner for the Bengals, where William Jackson has been unable to.
10. Chiefs - QB Patrick MahomesActual pick: Mahomes
Despite starting just one game his rookie season, Mahomes made Alex Smith expendable. He's the future, and now the present in Kansas City.
11. Saints - RB Kareem HuntActual pick: Lattimore
The Saints aced the 2017 draft. Lattimore and Kamara swept Rookie of the Year honors and the club ameliorated its O-line with the selection of tackle Ryan Ramczyk. If they were presented with an option of a 2017 draft redo, the Saints surely would opt out.
But if Kamara and Lattimore were off the board by the 11th pick, Hunt - the league leader in rushing - would be welcome in the Saints offense.
12. Texans - T Ryan RamczykActual pick: Watson
This is another team that doesn't need a do-over. They nailed their first-round pick when they traded up to get Watson.
In this scenario, Watson would be off the board and leave Houston with the option of addressing its need on the offensive line with the selection of Ramczyk.
13. Cardinals - LB T.J. WattActual pick: LB Haason Reddick
Watt had two sacks in his NFL debut and finished the year with seven. Reddick had 2.5 sacks all season and was removed from the starting lineup after three games. It's obvious who had the stronger rookie season.
14. Eagles - DE Myles GarrettActual pick: DE Derek Barnett
Garrett is deserving of a much higher spot in this redraft, but after the Browns chose their quarterback of the future, he was bound to slip.
He could do worse than to land with the Super Bowl-champion Eagles and their collection of pass-rushing talents.
15. Colts - S Malik HookerActual pick: Hooker
A torn ACL and MCL sapped Hooker's season after seven games, but, in his limited time, he proved to be the playmaker the Colts need at the safety position.
16. Ravens - CB Marlon HumphreyActual pick: Humphrey
Humphrey was solid, yet unspectacular in his first season. Picking smack in the middle of the first round, the Alabama corner proved a quality choice.
17. Redskins - DE Jonathan AllenActual pick: Allen
The Redskins didn't get to see much of Allen, as he played just five games before succumbing to a foot injury. Washington's run defense suffered without him. The team finished the year last against the run. They'll be much better with a healthy Allen.
18. Titans - WR Corey DavisActual pick: CB Adoree Jackson
Ah, a much more appropriate slot for Davis.
His season pales in comparison to other rookie receivers, but he showed in the postseason - particularly a two-touchdown performance against the Patriots - why he's worthy of a first-round selection.
19. Buccaneers - RB Dalvin CookActual pick: TE O.J. Howard
Had the Bucs cut ties with Doug Martin after his suspension at the end of the 2016 season, a worthy replacement was available with the 19th pick.
In just four games, Cook averaged a full two yards per carry more than Martin did in 2017. If only the team had listened to quarterback Jameis Winston and facilitated a reunion with his college running back.
20. Broncos - T Garett BollesActual pick: Bolles
At pick No. 20, the Broncos were unable to solve their quarterbacking issues with Watson, Trubisky, and Mahomes off the board, Denver's best suited waiting until either free agency or the 2018 draft to address the situation.
Bolles remains the pick.
21. Lions - RB Christian McCaffreyActual pick: LB Jarrad Davis
The Lions haven't had a 100-yard rusher in a game or a running back eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since 2013. It's clear Detroit needs to address the position, and McCaffrey is capable of accomplishing both.
22. Dolphins - CB Shaquill GriffinActual pick: LB Charles Harris
Kenyan Drake appears to have locked down the running back job entering next season. The next area of need is at corner, where the Dolphins could have used the services of Griffin, who thrived with the Legion of Boom.
23. Giants - T Cam RobinsonActual pick: TE Evan Engram
The Giants' fortunes won't improve in the running game until they address their awful offensive line. Instead of waiting until the sixth round to draft an O-lineman, New York could have nabbed a starting left tackle for the foreseeable future by picking Robinson out of Alabama.
24. Raiders - CB Chidobe AwuzieActual pick: CB Gareon Conley
The Raiders were right to focus on the secondary with their first-round pick. After Lattimore, White, and Humphrey, the talent available at corner drops off significantly, but there is value available with Awuzie.
25. Browns - S Marcus WilliamsActual pick: S Jabrill Peppers
The Browns had the right position but the wrong player, a problem that's been plaguing the team for decades.
26. Falcons - DE Carl LawsonActual pick: DE Takkarist McKinley
The pass-rushing help the Falcons sought could have come in the form of Lawson, who led all rookies with 8.5 sacks.
27. Bills - WR Cooper KuppActual pick: White
The Bills made the ideal pick with White. With no first-round talent left at quarterback, the team instead finds a possession receiver in Kupp.
28. Cowboys - TE Evan EngramActual pick: DE Taco Charlton
Jason Witten won't be around forever. Engram is the future at the tight end position.
29. Browns - DE Takkarist McKinleyActual pick: TE David Njoku
McKinley's a step down from Garrett, but he had just one less sack in 2017.
30. Steelers - DT Deatrich WiseActual pick: Watt
The Steelers nailed their early draft picks. With Watt unavailable, Pittsburgh can afford a value pick like Wise at the back half of the first round.
31. 49ers - LB Reuben FosterActual pick: Foster
Foster proved worth the risk in his first season. But his post-season arrests cloud his future with the franchise.
32. Saints - DE Derek BarnettActual pick: Ramczyk
Poached of all their real-life picks, in this alternate universe, the Saints focus on their defensive line.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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