REDRAFTING THE 2017 NFL DRAFT
1. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Mahomes, QB
Original Pick: Myles Garrett, DE
There is no question to this one. Mahomes is the best player on the planet right now. His fortunes with Cleveland aren't guaranteed to be as rosy as with Kansas City, but Mahomes' talent transcends systems. He plays the most important position in a unique way. Mahomes has done nearly everything a player can do in three years: All-Pro, Pro Bowl and league MVP.
The question becomes the fit with Cleveland. The Browns always seem to be able to take a little bit of shine off somebody great, but Mahomes can overcome even the Cleveland curse. The Browns were really dedicated to giving DeShone Kizer a chance to win the job in 2017, but that idea quickly went awry. As great as Myles Garrett has been, there is no substitution for an MVP quarterback.
Photo Credit: Fox
2. San Francisco 49ers: T.J. Watt, OLB
Original Pick: Mitch Trubisky, QB (to Bears)
The second pick gets far more interesting, which goes to show how great the top of this class was. Myles Garrett, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Deshaun Watson are all worth consideration. However, T.J. Watt gets the spot due to his fit with the 49ers goals. He has been the best edge rusher in the class, narrowly edging Garrett. San Francisco was in the midst of the "draft defensive linemen every year" strategy. It paid off every other year but 2017. T.J. Watt opposite Nick Bosa with Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner in the middle and the 49ers may have had the defensive firepower to take down the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Watt has amassed 49.5 sacks, two All-Pro selections and three trips to the Pro Bowl. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year after the 2020 season.
Photo Credit: USA Today
3. Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB
Original Pick: Solomon Thomas, DE (to 49ers)
The Bears have taken a lot of ridicule for their handling of the 2017 quarterback class. They had Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes available to them, yet they passed on both. They don't make that mistake in the redraft. Deshaun Watson has been fantastic and continues to improve with age. In spite of Mahomes getting more of the headlines, Watson leads the class in the completions and yards. He has also earned three trips to the Pro Bowl.
This is a simple move for the Bears: they have no quarterback, they need a quarterback, take the best player available who can be a 15-year franchise cornerstone.
Photo Credit: Sporting News
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Garrett, DE
Original Pick: Leonard Fournette, RB
The original first overall pick, Myles Garrett falls a few slots through no fault of his own. He has been as great as advertised, he just happens to be part of an all-time class. More of a pure hand-in-the-dirt defensive end as opposed to T.J. Watt's standup outside linebacker, Garrett's 42.5 sacks are second best in the class. Garrett has been to two Pro Bowls and is an All-Pro. Garrett has done everything expected of a top pick, and he looks to have a decade of greatness ahead of him.
For Jacksonville, this is really more of an embarrassment of riches. They already had Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson and Yannick Ngakoue along the defensive line; that core got them to an AFC championship game. Picking Garrett is a move for the future.
Photo Credit: Washington Post
5. Tennessee Titans: Tre'Davious White, CB
Original Pick: Corey Davis, WR
This class is on pace to be one of the greatness defensive back groups in history, both at cornerback and safety. The best of the bunch is Tre'Davious White. Originally the 27th overall pick out of LSU and the fifth cornerback taken, White had some lofty expectations, but has arguably overachieved already. His 15 interceptions are best in the class, and he is third in tackles among cornerbacks. He is an All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler; he has also played in 61 of 64 regular season games.
Tennessee was after some new blood in the secondary; they drafted Adoree' Jackson with their second first-round pick. This go round they get White to make a great pair with safety Kevin Byard.
Photo Credit: USA Today
6. New York Jets: Budda Baker, S
Original Pick: Jamal Adams, S
The battle for best safety in the class is quite compelling between Budda Baker and Jamal Adams. By virtue of being the best all-around tackler in the class, the vote goes to Budda Baker. The former Washington Husky has been to three Pro Bowls and recognized on two All-Pro teams, albeit one as a special team player.
Also working in Baker's favor is Adams overall disdain for his time with the Jets; if a guy was unhappy during his first campaign with a team, why send him back there in the redraft? With that in mind, it makes more sense to slide this second-round steal all the way up to the Jets.
Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports
Photo Credit: 49ers
7. Los Angeles Chargers: George Kittle, TE
Original Pick: Mike Williams, WR
George Kittle is one of two candidates for best tight end in football; the debate between he and Travis Kelce continues every year, with both making strong arguments. The biggest steal of this draft, Kittle was a fifth round selection, 146th overall; he had a relatively forgettable rookie season and didn't look to be long for San Francisco. He then erupted in his sophomore season, posting a career high in yards and earning his first Pro Bowl nod; he has since added another trip to the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro spot. He is second in the class in receiving yards, regardless of position.
The Chargers needed weapons, and while Kittle isn't a pure wideout, his big-play abilities can match any more fleet-of-foot receiver. Kittle is the best pass-catcher in the class.
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB
Original Pick: Christian McCaffrey, RB
Running back may be the deepest position in this class. Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler, Joe Mixon, Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Aaron Jones, James Conner and Kareem Hunt have all been bona fide starters; add to that role players like Tarik Cohen, Marlon Mack and Chris Carson, and 2017 may be the best running back crop in recent memory. Each one brings something different to the table and no single back leads in many key categories, but the most well-rounded player has been Christian McCaffrey. Injuries derailed his 2020, but his previous three seasons featured blistering campaigns. He even posted 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in 2019.
The Panthers hit a home run with this original pick.
Photo Credit: ESPN
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Alvin Kamara, RB
Original Pick: John Ross, WR
Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara feel like mirror images of each other. Both are elite runners, they are the two best pass-catching backs in the league and both can find a seam and turn a small gain into a huge touchdown run. Kamara leads the class in rushing touchdowns with 43 and has added 15 receiving scores. Kamara is as dangerous a multi-purpose weapon as there is the game.
Cincinnati was in desperate need of new weapons in 2017. The class produced a handful of decent wide receivers, but Kamara has been a better pass-catcher than most of them. The Bengals basically take care of two birds with one stone in Kamara.
Photo Credit: Sporting News
10. Buffalo Bills: Marshon Lattimore, CB
Original Pick: Patrick Mahomes, QB (to Chiefs)
The first cornerback selected in the original draft, Marshon Lattimore was the 2017 edition of elite Ohio State cornerback taken in the first round, a tradition that extends to drafts to this day. Lattimore may be the best of the Buckeye defensive backs in the game today. His 10 interceptions are third in the class and he's been to three Pro Bowls. Also, the Saints crushed the 2017 draft; it may be the best single draft by any team in recent history: Lattimore, Kamara, Marcus Williams, Ryan Ramczyk and Trey Hendrickson. Each of those players appear elsewhere in the redraft.
As for the Bills, who maintain this spot due to no trades in the redraft, they have to backfill their original selection, as Tre'Davious White was taken earlier. Lattimore is a pretty amazing replacement.
Photo Credit: USA Today
11. New Orleans: Marlon Humphrey, CB
Original Pick: Marshon Lattimore, CB
Remember that claim about the depth of this secondary pool? Marlon Humphrey is usually the best cornerback on any football field, but here is the third one taken. Humphrey feels like the most physical of the elite corners. He is fourth in the class in interceptions and his shutdown prowess has garnered two Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro selection.
The trickle down effect of the Tre'Davious White pick continues and influences the Saints. With Marshon Lattimore off the board, they look to the next best cornerback available and hit a home run with Humphrey.
Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports
12. Cleveland Browns: Jamal Adams, S
Original Pick: Deshaun Watson, QB (to Texans)
Cleveland is back on the board, and they find a defensive superstar to complement their Patrick Mahomes pick. Jamal Adams may be the most exciting defensive player in the class. The safety hits like a truck but also has the athleticism to drop back into coverage and bat down deep passes over the middle. His freaky versatility has also led to 21 sacks and he's third in solo tackles. Throughout his stints with the Jets and Seahawks, Adams has been on three Pro Bowl rosters and one All-Pro team.
Cleveland had three first-round picks in 2017 and used the second one on a safety. They stick to that strategy in the redraft and come away with a second franchise-altering star.
Photo Credit: NBC Sports
13. Arizona Cardinals: Eddie Jackson, CB
Original Pick: Haason Reddick, LB
Eddie Jackson was nowhere near as touted as college teammate Marlon Humphrey. Jackson fell all the way to the fourth round, but he's been just as good as, if not better in some aspects, than Humphrey. Jackson has played both safety positions for the Bears and is as explosive as any defensive back in the game. His 10 picks are tied for third best in the draft.
Arizona made a solid selection, as Haason Reddick shows up later on this list. However, Arizona's secondary was approaching a changing of the guard in 2017. Antoine Bethea, Tramon Williams and Tyvon Branch were all deep into their careers; add to that Budda Baker, Arizona's second round pick, has already been chosen in the redraft, thus making safety an even more pressing need.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Williams, FS
Original Pick: Derek Barnett, DE
The best ballhawking safety of the class, Marcus Williams has already snared 13 interceptions in his nascent career. Another of the aforementioned Saints picks, Williams has been a revelation for the franchise. A starter and playmaker from the jump, Williams' durability and reliability is nearly unrivaled.
Philadelphia had a few stars in the secondary at this time, with Malcolm Jenkins at safety and Ronald Darby at cornerback. However, the Eagles lacked true gamechangers on the back end of the defense, a problem that plagued the team for years; they even drafted two cornerbacks in 2017, but neither have matched the pro career of Williams.
Photo Credit: USA Today
15. Indianapolis Colts: Zach Cunningham, LB
Original Pick: Malik Hooker, S
Finally, somebody whose not a defensive back! In each of these redrafts there is an unheralded, underrated tackling machine linebacker; Zach Cunningham is the 2017 recipient of this designation. Originally a second round pick by the Texans, Cunningham has done nothing but excel in Houston. He is the quintessential middle linebacker, amassing 326 solo tackles in his career; that ranks second in the class. He has also been tremendously rugged, starting nearly every game since entering the league.
2017 was a low period for the Colts, as Andrew Luck missed the whole season and the roster was riddled with holes. The defense was in desperate need of a new, young leader. Insert Cunningham.
Photo Credit: USA Today
16. Baltimore Ravens: Shaquill Griffin, CB
Original Pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB
And back to the secondary. Some teams just know how to draft certain positions. The Steelers find linebackers, the Raven find defensive linemen and the Seahawks find defensive backs. Shaquill Griffin was a pleasant surprise after being selected in the third round. He had a decent rookie outing but wasn't setting the world on fire. But as time has gone on, Griffin has steadily improved, even earning a Pro Bowl spot in 2019. Griffin is not in the top tier of cornerbacks yet, but he is trending in the right direction.
The is another classic example of best available guy at a position; the Ravens want a cornerback, Griffin is the best one on the board.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
17. Washington Football Team: Dalvin Cook, RB
Original Pick: Johnathan Allen, DT
The current leader in rushing yards for the class, Dalvin Cook has been a monster in Minnesota. He is also third in touchdowns and second in rush attempts. Cook has also dealt with a lot of injuries throughout his career; had he been healthier he may be in a class all by himself. Cook's resume also boasts two Pro Bowls.
Washington has had a revolving door at running back for many years. Since Alfred Morris' peak season in 2014, the franchise's best back has been a past-his-prime Adrian Peterson. Dalvin Cook could stabilize the situation and provide a spark for a team often in desperate need of offensive firepower.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
18. Tennessee Titans: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
Original Pick: Adoree' Jackson, CB
Tennessee went wide receiver then cornerback in 2017, and in the redraft those choices are flipped. The wideout crop has not produced any elite talents, yet, but the closest prospect to achieving that feat is JuJu Smith-Schuster. The former USC Trojan falling to the second round and being the sixth receiver taken never made much sense, as he exhibited all the tools of a star receiver during his college career. He has steadily developed throughout his time in Pittsburgh and leads the class in receiving yards and touchdowns.
The Titans were smart to take a wide receiver in 2017, as several previous busts left them in a lurch. Smith-Schuster would have instantly become the team's best option for stretching the field.
Photo Credit: USA Today
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Godwin, WR
Original Pick: O.J. Howard, TE
There have only been three Pro Bowl appearances from 2017 wide receivers. JuJu Smith Schuster and Chris Godwin account for two-thirds of that. If Smith-Schuster was a steal, Godwin was a heist. The 84th overall pick and 11th wideout selected, the Penn State alum seemed to surprise even the Buccaneers. His rookie season was quiet, then he started percolating in as a role player in year two; finally by his third season, Godwin was a bona fide starter and his pairing with Mike Evans has given the Buccaneers perhaps the best receiver tandem in the league.
The Buccaneers redraft Godwin where he deserves to be selected.
Photo Credit: NY Post
20. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OL
Original Pick: Garrett Bolles, OL
Make this the fourth New Orleans Saints 2017 selection to be chosen. The 2017 class did not yield much elite offensive lineman talent, but Ramczyk is the best of the bunch. He is another of those strange cases of a guy with an All-Pro accolade but no Pro Bowls to his name. Ramczyk has only missed one game in his career and is integral to the potent Saints offense. Alvin Kamara's ample running room owes a lot to Ramczyk at right tackle.
Ramczyk and Garrett Bolles were the only two offensive linemen taken in the first round of 2017. They just swap teams in the redraft (spoiler alert), as Ramczyk has been a notch better.
Photo Credit: ESPN
21. Detroit Lions: Haason Reddick, LB
Original Pick: Jarrad Davis, DE
Timing plays a factor for some of the picks in these redrafts, especially as the exercise gets to more modern drafts. Such is the case for Haason Reddick. Prior to the 2020 season, Reddick was almost flirting with "bust" status. Despite being one of the few players in the class to play every game of their career so far, Reddick started sparingly and hadn't made a significant impact prior to the 2020 season. Then he erupted for 12 sacks in 2020 and now stands fourth in the class in career sacks. Not only is he tough and a fierce pass rusher, but he's also been versatile enough to play each linebacker position in the Cardinals defense.
Reddick and Jarrad Davis are very similar defenders, but Reddick has the sack advantage.
Photo Credit: NFL.com
22. Miami Dolphins: Trey Hendrickson, DE
Original Pick: Charles Harris, DE
Speaking of players who benefited from career years in 2020, Trey Hendrickson exploded in his first year as a starter for the Saints. Playing his college ball at Florida Atlantic and not being drafted until pick 103, Hendrickson was about as unheralded as a player could be. He barely saw the field during his first three seasons, but seemingly out of nowhere collected 13 sacks in 2020. He is now in the top five in sacks and looks like the best edge rusher outside of T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett.
Miami was sporting a surprisingly good defense in this era with guys like Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh, Reshad Jones and Xavien Howard leading the way. Hendrickson would have had time to develop and learn from some great players before stepping into a starting role.
Photo Credit: ESPN
23. New York Giants: Evan Engram, TE
Original Pick: Evan Engram, TE
A rather random but nonetheless impressive perfect pick, the Giants made a fantastic choice in Evan Engram. This doesn't necessarily mean they picked the absolute best player on the board, but that they picked the right guy for their situation at the time. The Giants had some weapons on the outside, but they needed a big body to work the middle. That's where Engram came into play. He and Kittle are the only tight ends from the class with 200-plus receptions and more than 2,000 career yards. Engram has also earned a Pro Bowl nod.
Not only has Engram been a stud in the middle, but he has also shown the speed and athleticism to stretch the field and be an all-around deep threat.
Photo Credit: ESPN
24. Oakland Raiders: Aaron Jones, RB
Original Pick: Gareon Conley, CB
Either the Packers scouting department are all geniuses or even they didn't know what they had in Aaron Jones. Coming out of UTEP and being drafted in the fifth round, few people had ever seen or heard of Aaron Jones. Green Bay loves the running back by committee system, and Jones was unremarkable during his rookie season. Out of nowehere he became the man in 2018, posting eight touchdowns and putting defenses on notice. He's now amassed 37 touchdowns and more than 3,300 yards, both second best in the class.
This is a bit of a left-field selection, as the Raiders did not place a high value on running back in the 2017 draft. However, Jones is a touchdown factory and would have been an instant upgrade.
Photo Credit: NBC Sports
25. Houston Texans: Kareem Hunt, RB
Original Pick: Jabrill Peppers, DB (to Browns)
After one season, Kareem Hunt looked well on his way to being the best back in this class, on top of being an absolute steal out of the third round. Hunt is still top six in the class in rushes, yards and rushing touchdowns; he is also tied with Christian McCaffrey for most receiving touchdowns by a running back. Hunt is a Pro Bowler and even led the league in rushing as a rookie.
In the redraft universe, Houston holds onto this pick instead of shipping it off to Cleveland and uses it to provide a spark for an offense sorely in need of one. Lamar Miller had a great stint in Houston during this time, but the Texans could have used a great 1-2 punch in the backfield before Hunt became the solo star; plus, Miller was not the receiver out of the backfield Hunt is.
Photo Credit: NFL
Photo Credit: PFF
26. Seattle Seahawks: Dion Dawkins, OL
Original Pick: Tak McKinley, DE (to Falcons)
Six draftees from 2017 have seen the field in every regular season game of their career; Dion Dawkins is one of them. Originally drafted as a guard, Dawkins moved out to left tackle and has anchored the Bills line for four years. He took a few weeks to learn the system, but since those inchoate days, he's been the most reliable lineman in Buffalo. Dawkins even has two touchdowns!
Seattle's offensive line woes are well-documented and frequently addressed in these redrafts. Russell Wilson has been running for his life for years, but a blindside tackle like Dawkins would buy him some much needed time to set and throw, instead of constantly being on the move.
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Joe Mixon, RB
Original Pick: Tre'Davious White, CB (to Bills)
The workhorse of this vaunted running back class, Joe Mixon is the only back with more than 800 carries in his career, which is amazing considering the time he's missed due to injury. Mixon is also third in the class in rushing yards with 3,359. Those aforementioned injuries are really the only things holding Mixon back; when healthy, he is as explosive as any back in the class.
With Kareem Hunt off the board, the Chiefs need to find a new answer at running back. Mixon can be the workhorse to grind out hard runs but is also lightning quick off the edge. The Chiefs were in desperate need of ball carriers in 2017, and Joe Mixon would have been an immediate spark plug.
Photo Credit: Sporting News
28. Dallas Cowboys: Marcus Maye, S
Original Pick: Taco Charlton, DE
With all the attention paid to Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye was a bit of a forgotten man for the Jets. The Jets top two 2017 draft picks took different paths to prominence. Adams came into the league on fire and offenses quickly took notice. Maye, on the other hand, took the slow burn approach. He's been a consistent starter and impact player for New York, and 2020 was the best year of his career; all signs point to Maye trending upward in years to come.
Dallas went defensive end in 2017, but they desperately needed defensive back help. They chose four secondary players in later rounds, but in a class rich with safeties and cornerbacks, they need to strike while the iron is hot.
Photo Credit: New York Jets
29. Green Bay Packers: John Johnson, S
Original Pick: David Njoku, TE (to Browns)
Who is John Johnson? That is a completely fair question, as Johnson has largely gone unappreciated, not just underappreciated, throughout his four-year career. Johnson is another guy who truly arrived in 2020. Johnson is fourth in the class in tackles, sixth in interceptions and has become the leading tackler for what's evolved into the league's best defense in Los Angeles. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey get all the headlines, but Johnson is the workman for the Rams.
The Packers love selecting defensive backs with high draft picks and did so in 2017. Green Bay did not have a first round pick this year, but the franchise used both second round selections on defensive backs. Johnson would be a tremendous fit as the Packers gritty, smashmouth safety.
Photo Credit: Los Angeles Rams
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cooper Kupp, WR
Original Pick: T.J. Watt, OLB
Someday Cooper Kupp will get his due credit. Despite back-to-back 90-plus reception seasons, people still seem to talk about Kupp like he's a flash-in-the-pan novelty. Another overlooked prospect, Kupp was passed over until the third round. Also, how about the Rams finding Kupp and John Johnson both in the third round? Kupp is second in the class in receiving touchdowns and third in receiving yards.
With both their first and second picks, T.J. Watt and JuJu Smith-Schuster, already off the board, the Steelers have to look elsewhere. The decision becomes pass-rusher or pass-catcher, and Kupp outranks any edge rushers available.
Photo Credit: ESPN
31. Atlanta Falcons: Jayon Brown, LB
Original Pick: Reuben Foster, LB (to 49ers)
Who is Jayon Brown? That is another fair question. He's the best available combination of roving linebacker and sack machine. Brown is sixth among draftees in tackles and has 9.5 sacks to his name. He's only missed a handful of games and has quietly become a consistently more integral part of the Titans defense.
Atlanta's typically shorthanded defense gets a boost with Jayon Brown. The Falcons used their first two 2017 picks on a defensive end and a linebacker. They combine both with a linebacker whose outperformed both of those prospects.
Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports
32. New Orlean Saints: Garrett Bolles, OL
Original Pick: Ryan Ramczyk, OL
The second half of the Garrett Bolles-Ryan Ramczyk swap, the Saints get the other quality tackle in this class. While Ramczyk was great from the jump, it took Bolles some time to find his consistency. He made the All-Rookie team but was also a penalty machine, particularly amassing holding penalties during his first two seasons. He's steadily improved his technique and now stands as one of the best left tackles in the game. He's also tremendously durable, missing only one start in his career.
This one is easy--the Saints wanted a lineman, so they take the last viable first round option.
Photo Credit: Denver Post
* The draft order includes pre-draft trades, but trades made during the draft are not included.
* All stats are from ProFootballReference.com
* Stats are current as of the end of the 2020 season
* All-Pro designations mean AP First Team All-Pro