NFL: Re-Drafting First Three Rounds of 2013 Draft
The 2013 NFL draft probably won’t go down as one of the better ones. While it’s still early, many of the first-round selections underachieved in their rookie campaign.
Should the draft be conducted all over again, there’s no way first overall pick Eric Fisher would maintain that spot. Fisher disappointed in year one, at times looking completely lost on the football field. If all 2013 rookies were reentered into a draft, Fisher may not even go in the first round.
In following the usual re-draft format, draft-day trades are not factored in. Hence, the St. Louis Rams—who traded up to the eighth overall pick to acquire Tavon Austin—will stick with the 16th pick, with Buffalo choosing eighth. Trades for players however will count, especially if they were conducted prior to the draft. That means the Seattle Seahawks will get the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round selection for Percy Harvin.
It’s difficult to know how these players will perform heading forward, but as of now, here’s a look at would happen.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
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Actual Pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Andy Reid is a proud and stubborn man. If you had him retake his first overall selection in the 2013 NFL draft, he may still stick with Eric Fisher. Fisher really struggled as a rookie but had a couple of strong performances in December, and he will get the chance to move to left tackle in 2014 since Branden Albert left in free agency.
But Reid would have to be downright foolish to ignore a football player like Sheldon Richardson. Richardson is Reid’s type of player—he’s a defensive lineman who just likes to hit people. Six of Reid’s first-round picks while coaching the Philadelphia Eagles were players on the defensive line, most recently Fletcher Cox.
Richardson absolutely thrived with the New York Jets, earning the top spot on my grades of the first-round rookies from the ’13 draft. He would play the exact same 5-technique role on the Chiefs, and can you imagine a defense with Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Richardson?
That’s a front seven that can hold its own against any in the business. Oh, and there’s even Richardson’s success as a short-yardage goal-line runner to factor in.
Re-Draft Pick: Sheldon Richardson, DE, Missouri
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Actual Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
The Jacksonville Jaguars liked Luke Joeckel enough that they traded away former first-round pick Eugene Monroe to the Baltimore Ravens, thus ensuring Joeckel will be given every opportunity to be their franchise left tackle.
Joeckel was just mediocre as a rookie, and he ended the season on injured reserve with a broken ankle.
Joeckel would be a fine re-pick, but defensive end Ezekiel Ansah made an immediate impact as a first-year player. Ansah recorded eight sacks and two forced fumbles as an edge-rusher, and the Jaguars desperately need that kind of a player. Gus Bradley is already loading up his defense with top talent on the line, and he would get a future star with Ansah.
Teaming Ansah with underrated interior lineman Sen’Derrick Marks would give Bradley a formidable defensive line to get after quarterback Andrew Luck.
Re-Draft Pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
3. Oakland Raiders
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Actual Pick: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon (selected by Miami Dolphins in trade up)
In a re-draft, the Oakland Raiders pick at the third overall spot, as opposed to the 12th selection they got after a trade with the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders conceivably need help at every single position, and this is a best player available selection for the franchise.
There’s no quarterback worth considering, so the team gets stud wide receiver Keenan Allen, a player who somehow fell to the third round before being taken by the San Diego Chargers. Allen caught 71 passes for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie. That’s a rare performance by a rookie receiver, let alone one drafted in the middle rounds.
Allen was just the third receiver since the 1970 NFL merger to be drafted outside of the first two rounds but still post a 1,000-yard line. Even the Raiders couldn’t mess up a player with that much talent.
Re-Draft Pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California
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4. Philadelphia Eagles
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Actual Pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Lane Johnson is Chip Kelly’s kind of player, and he has a bright future in the league, especially with this team. Johnson started all 16 games at right tackle and really developed as the season went on.
His nine sacks allowed rated him among the worst pass-blocking offensive tackles, but he improved substantially over time. Johnson was more than a competent blocker in pass protection by the time December rolled around, and he thrived as a run-blocker from day one.
Johnson’s sheer athleticism makes him a tremendous fit for Kelly’s offense. He ran a ridiculous 4.72 in the 40-yard dash, and he was a primary reason why LeSean McCoy led the NFL in rushing yards.
Johnson will only get better with age. Even though the Eagles locked up Jason Peters long term, they could conceivably release him after 2015 at little cap penalty, and Johnson would be able to slide over to the blindside role.
Re-Draft Pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
5. Detroit Lions
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Actual Pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
The Detroit Lions would love to have Ezekiel Ansah back, but he performed well enough in his rookie season that the Jacksonville Jaguars grabbed him with the second overall re-draft pick. A handful of defensive linemen were first-round stars, but the Lions have no room for Star Lotulelei given that Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley have the tackle spots locked down.
In 2013, the Lions finished in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed, and they released safety Louis Delmas to save cap room. Adding Kenny Vaccaro from the University of Texas would give Detroit a replacement who is every bit the player now that Delmas is.
Vaccaro was on track to be a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate before he suffered an ankle injury in December and went on injured reserve. Vaccaro can play all over the field, and he’s a game-changing safety. He recorded 62 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a sack in his rookie campaign.
Re-Draft Pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
6. Cleveland Browns
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Actual Pick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
Barkevious Mingo was a solid addition as a rookie, and his five sacks finished second on the team. But he doesn’t fill the biggest position of need for the Cleveland Browns. Without Mingo, the organization still has pass-rushing outside linebackers Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard.
In a re-draft situation, it makes sense for the team to address the defensive backfield or the interior of the offensive line. Larry Warford gets a slight nod for the new sixth overall pick, as he was a standout player as a rookie. Pro Football Focus rated Warford as the fourth-best guard in the NFL in 2013, and he played over 1,100 snaps without surrendering a single sack.
Warford fills a pressing position of need for the Browns. Their right guard spot was a disaster in ’13, as the Browns rotated a slew of players like Oniel Cousins and Shawn Lauvao, none of whom was remotely successful. Warford can lock down the position for the next decade or more.
Re-Draft Pick: Larry Warford, G, Kentucky
7. Arizona Cardinals
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Actual Pick: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
The Arizona Cardinals made Jonathan Cooper the highest-drafted guard in years when they selected him seventh overall out of the University of North Carolina.
Cooper didn’t play a snap after suffering a season-ending injury in preseason. He will probably still develop into a good player, but the Cardinals can’t possibly pass on their third-round pick from the same year, Tyrann Mathieu.
Mathieu was every bit as good as promised when his stock was high prior to his off-field problems at LSU. There were no such off-the-field incidents in his rookie campaign. As a cornerback, Mathieu rated by Pro Football Focus as the fourth-best player at his position (subscription required). He finished second among cornerbacks with nine quarterback pressures. He was efficient in pass coverage and played the run very well. He really made plays all over the field.
In all, Mathieu looks like a future All-Pro as a defender.
Re-Draft Pick: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
8. Buffalo Bills
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Actual Pick: Tavon Austin, WR, Oklahoma (selected by St. Louis Rams in trade up)
The St. Louis Rams made a draft-day decision to trade up and acquire Tavon Austin with the eighth overall selection. In this re-draft, the Buffalo Bills get a player that they actually grabbed, but just a round later.
Inside linebacker Kiko Alonso was a second-round draft pick of the team, and he blossomed into a start within his first month in the NFL. In September alone, Alonso recorded four interceptions and a sack. For the season, Pro Football Focus rated Alonso as the second-best inside linebacker in the league in pass coverage (subscription required).
Alonso was just the second rookie in league history with at least four interceptions, two sacks and two fumble recoveries in his initial campaign. He is a big-play machine and wouldn’t last through the first 10 picks in a re-draft.
Re-Draft Pick: Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
9. New York Jets
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Actual Pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
The New York Jets grabbed Darrelle Revis’ replacement with the ninth overall selection in the 2013 NFL draft. After a frustrating rookie season, Dee Milliner earned Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in December.
There are slightly better options, though. With Sheldon Richardson off the board, the Jets get a similar player to play the 5-technique role on the defensive line. Star Lotulelei blossomed as a 4-3 defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers, but he’s large enough to play end in a three-man front for the Jets.
Lotulelei is a fabulous player in stopping the run. He should be able to make a smooth transition to the role of a 3-4 end. He’s exactly the kind of player Rex Ryan would love.
Re-Draft Pick: Star Lotulelei, DT/DE, Utah
10. Tennessee Titans
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Actual Pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The Tennessee Titans made Chance Warmack the second guard selected in the actual 2013 NFL draft. In this re-draft, he becomes the first guard picked, and he stays with his actual team.
Warmack wasn’t spectacular as a rookie, but he got much better as the season went on. Warmack’s long holdout led to a series of poor performances in training camp and preseason. Per Pro Football Focus, he gave up just five quarterback hurries in his final five games, after allowing 21 in his first 11 contests (subscription required).
Warmack has the physical tools to be a Pro Bowler in the future.
Re-Draft Pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
11. San Diego Chargers
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Actual Pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
The San Diego Chargers desperately needed to upgrade their offensive line, and they got a solid player in D.J. Fluker.
Fluker had his rough moments though, and his sheer size suggests he may be better suited as a guard. Even if he does develop as a quality offensive tackle, Justin Pugh outperformed Fluker as a rookie, and he gets the spot here.
Pugh was a mid-first-round pick of the New York Giants, and he was a Pro Bowl player for the last half of the season. He was the highest-rated rookie offensive tackle in the league this season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Pugh shut down Ryan Kerrigan in Week 13 and then again in Week 17, and he has a very bright future.
Re-Draft Pick: Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
12. Miami Dolphins
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Actual Pick: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston (selected by Oakland Raiders in trade down)
The Miami Dolphins absolutely have no choice but to address their offensive line. Jonathan Martin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and Richie Incognito won’t likely be back, due to the Bullygate scandal. Mike Pouncey may be suspended. And both John Jerry and Tyson Clabo are free agents who likely won’t be back with Miami in 2014.
Simply put, the Dolphins line needs any and all help it can get for next season. Bryant McKinnie may return as a stopgap left tackle, but he’s certainly not the long-term answer. Even with the Dolphins signing Branden Albert, the team needs to draft the best offensive tackle available, and that would be Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel.
Joeckel underperformed as a rookie, and then landed on injured reserve. But he still has an extremely bright future, and he probably has the highest upside of any tackle in the NFL draft.
Re-Draft Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
13. New York Jets
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Actual Pick: Sheldon Richardson, DE, Missouri
The New York Jets acquired this pick in a trade for cornerback Darrelle Revis, so this stands since it was not simply a draft pick for draft pick trade. They would love to have Sheldon Richardson back, but he’s long gone by this point. Star Lotulelei would be a great fall-back option, but he’s gone too.
The Jets’ best plan may be to invest in a franchise quarterback. In real life, they took Geno Smith in the second round, but he really struggled as a rookie. How about third-round pick Mike Glennon, who impressed in his first year in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Glennon threw 19 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He set the NFL record by completing a total of 106 passes in his first four weeks in the league, breaking Cam Newton’s mark of 97 back in 2011. Glennon was asked to throw the ball a lot, but his success through it all suggests he may be a solid quarterback in this league.
Re-Draft Pick: Mike Glennon, QB, NC State
14. Carolina Panthers
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Actual Pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Star Lotulelei is off the board by this point, which means the Carolina Panthers certainly made the right decision in the NFL draft. It’s tempting to give the team Kawann Short at this point, as Short outperformed the second-round pick the team used on him this same year.
But right guard was a colossal problem for the Panthers, as a revolving circle of players tried to fill the void. Rookie Edmund Kugbila went on injured reserve before the season started. Chris Scott and Nate Chandler struggled immensely when asked to start. By adding Kyle Long, the Panthers would have solved their problems at this position.
Long started all 16 games for the Chicago Bears, earning a Pro Bowl selection. His play wasn’t quite as good as the honor he received, but regardless, he is a talented blocker who could help any offensive line.
Re-Draft Pick: Kyle Long, G, Oregon
15. New Orleans Saints
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Actual Pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The New Orleans Saints made the right decision when they selected University of Texas playmaking safety, Kenny Vaccaro. With Vaccaro off the board at this point, the Saints will have to settle for Eric Reid, but he’s still a talented safety himself.
Reid made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, starting all 16 games for the San Francisco 49ers. He recorded four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 73 tackles and 12 passes defensed. Rob Ryan would have a lot of fun using a talented safety like Reid, who can certainly put a hit on a wide receiver.
Re-Draft Pick: Eric Reid, S, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams
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Actual Pick: EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State (selected by Buffalo Bills in trade down)
In this spot, the St. Louis Rams could redraft Tavon Austin, the player they traded up to the eighth selection to grab. Or they could even get Cordarrelle Patterson, a bigger version of Austin who made the All-Pro team as a kick returner.
But there are some other players who would fill the void better, notably cornerback Desmond Trufant. Cortland Finnegan all but fell off the face of the planet this season, and was predictably released. Janoris Jenkins took a step back in 2013 when asked to take on a bigger role. Trufant is a talented cover corner who showed glimpses of being a shutdown corner in just his rookie campaign.
I rated Trufant as the second-best rookie of all the 2013 first-round picks. Trufant started every game, recorded two interceptions, and tied for the NFL lead with 17 passes defensed. Trufant rated by Pro Football Focus as the seventh-best overall corner in the league, and he makes a good Rams defense even better.
Re-Draft Pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Actual Pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
The Pittsburgh Steelers added themselves a perfect fit to their defense when they drafted pass-rushing outside linebacker, Jarvis Jones, with the 17th overall selection. The only problem was that Jones didn’t play as well as expected as a rookie, so the Steelers will look elsewhere for their first-round pick.
No running back has been taken yet in this re-draft, and in fact, no running back was taken in the first round of the actual 2013 draft. The Steelers grabbed Le’Veon Bell in the second round, but they can’t possibly turn down Eddie Lacy at this point.
Lacy carried the football 284 times for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, earning a Pro Bowl selection. He’s a battering ram who can carry a full workload, and the Steelers would certainly get their worth from Lacy.
He may burn out quickly, but for now, he’s one of the best young running backs in the league.
Re-Draft Pick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
18. Dallas Cowboys
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Actual Pick: Eric Reid, S, LSU (selected by San Francisco 49ers in trade up)
In the re-draft, the Dallas Cowboys stay at the 18thoverall selection, but they still get to grab center Travis Frederick from Wisconsin.
Frederick was said to have been way overdrafted, but he didn’t play like that. Even as a rookie, he was one of the better centers in the NFL. Pro Football Focus rated Frederick as the league’s seventh-best center and the best overall as a run blocker.
Frederick should be able to lock down the center position for Dallas for the next decade or more.
Re-Draft Pick: Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
19. New York Giants
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Actual Pick: Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
The New York Giants made a pretty underrated pick when they grabbed Syracuse offensive tackle, Justin Pugh, with the 19th overall pick. Pugh anchored the right tackle position well enough that he may move to the blind side, given Will Beatty’s recent struggles.
He’s gone in the re-draft, which means the Giants go for a positional unit they’ve needed to upgrade for quite some time: linebacker. Alec Ogletree was a late first-round pick for the St. Louis Rams, and he played very well. Ogletree forced an impressive six fumbles and recorded 1.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, a pick-six and 98 tackles.
Add Ogletree to a unit that inherited Jon Beason in midseason, and the Giants suddenly have a solid core of players at this positional group.
Re-Draft Pick: Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia
20. Chicago Bears
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Actual Pick: Kyle Long, G, Oregon
The Chicago Bears made a risky move when they drafted guard Kyle Long in the first round, adding a player who barely played much in college. Long was an immediate sensation, starting every game and making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
He’s gone in this draft, which means Chicago can address the defensive side of the football. The Bears missed the playoffs largely due to a defense that finished third worst in the league in both points and yards allowed. As a unit, the Bears surrendered a 86.9 passer rating, 21st in the NFL.
With Charles Tillman having missed much of 2013 due to a torn triceps, the Bears could have used another cornerback.
How about New York Jets’ rookie, Dee Milliner? Milliner had his ups and downs in year one. He struggled immensely for the first three months of 2013 but hit his stride in December, even earning the Defensive Rookie of the Month award.
Re-Draft Pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals
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Actual Pick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
In actuality, tight end Tyler Eifert was a solid acquisition for the Cincinnati Bengals. He didn’t light the world on fire, but his receiving numbers (39 receptions, 445 yards, two touchdowns) showed he was another weapon for Andy Dalton, and he caused 10 missed tackles from opposing defenders.
But Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz was every bit as good, and he probably has a higher upside. Ertz has the ability to line up in the slot or out wide, and Chip Kelly frequently utilized him that way. Ertz hit his stride as the season went on, and his year one stats (36 receptions, 469 yards, four scores) were slightly better than Eifert’s.
Re-Draft Pick: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
22. St. Louis Rams
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Actual Pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington (selected by Atlanta Falcons in trade up)
If the St. Louis Rams could go back in time, they have to take Cordarrelle Patterson instead of Tavon Austin. They’re similar players in terms of skill, but Patterson is bigger and showed a more explosiveness as a rookie, namely as a kick returner.
With the Rams having taken a corner (Desmond Trufant) in this re-draft, they still have the opportunity to take Patterson here. As a rookie, Patterson led the NFL in kick return average, running back two for scores and earning a Pro Bowl selection. He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and he’s a much-needed weapon for young quarterback Sam Bradford.
Re-Draft Pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
23. Minnesota Vikings
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Actual Pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
The Minnesota Vikings had Florida’s Sharrif Floyd fall into their laps with the 23rd overall pick, but in the re-draft, he falls a little more. Floyd disappointed in his rookie season, and the Vikings desperately need a quarterback of the future.
Florida State’s EJ Manuel was the only QB to go in the first round, and he gets snatched up by the Buffalo Bills here. Manuel had growing pains as a rookie, throwing 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions and flashing the ability to run.
He’s a project who may or may not make it, but he’s certainly better than Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel, and he has enough potential to still go in the top 32 picks.
Re-Draft Pick: EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
24. Indianapolis Colts
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Actual Pick: Bjoern Werner, OLB, Florida State
The Indianapolis Colts made a bit of a gamble when they selected Bjoern Werner out of Florida State, seeing as Werner projected best as a 4-3 end but would have to play a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker position.
Werner picked up just 2.5 sacks and no forced fumbles in 13 games as a rookie. There are far better options than him in a re-draft. In this version, the Colts will select guard Jonathan Cooper, a player who actually went seventh overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
Cooper missed the entire season due to a preseason broken leg. But Cooper is a talented player who should be able to protect Andrew Luck in the upcoming years. In actuality, Donald Thomas projects to be a solid player for Indianapolis (he missed nearly his entire first season with a torn quadriceps injury), but Mike McGlynn is extremely replaceable at right guard.
Re-Draft Pick: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
25. Minnesota Vikings
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Actual Pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
The Minnesota Vikings made themselves a pretty good pick when they added Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes in the draft. Rhodes played well, but there’s a little bit of a better option for the Vikings.
DeAndre Hopkins looks to be a future No. 1 receiver in this league, and he would help newly drafted Vikings quarterback, EJ Manuel. Hopkins caught 52 passes for 802 yards and two touchdowns as just a rookie, doing so from quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Case Keenum. He would provide another weapon to a receiving corps that lost Percy Harvin via trade.
Re-Draft Pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
26. Green Bay Packers
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Actual Pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
The Green Bay Packers added a solid 5-technique defensive end when they drafted UCLA’s Datone Jones. Jones had a limited impact as a rookie; Pro Football Focus graded him out as the 74th-best player out of 79 3-4 ends.
In their re-draft, the Packers will add running back Gio Bernard, a player who went to Cincinnati in the second round. Bernard is a tremendous pass catcher out of the backfield. He rushed for 695 yards and five touchdowns, caught 56 passes for 514 yards and three scores and finished with 1,209 total yards out of the backfield.
Bernard would be a great fit on the Packers. He’s not the workhorse back Eddie Lacy is, but the Packers have a talented enough QB in Aaron Rodgers that they don’t need a 300-carry back.
Re-Draft Pick: Gio Bernard, RB, North Carolina
27. Houston Texans
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Actual Pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
In actuality, the Houston Texans picked wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In the re-draft, Hopkins is off the board, as are Cordarrelle Patterson and Keenan Allen. The Texans could go with undersized slot receiver, Tavon Austin, but they really need a franchise quarterback.
The 2013 draft isn’t the ideal time to pick a signal-caller. But Bill O’Brien gets a developmental QB with a lot of potential in Geno Smith. Smith was absolutely brutal for the first three-quarters of last season, but he really picked it up.
In the final four contests, Smith accounted for eight touchdowns to just two interceptions, winning three of his four starts. He will get himself a strong supporting cast in Houston with running back Arian Foster, receiver Andre Johnson and a rock-solid left tackle in Duane Brown.
Re-Draft Pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
28. Denver Broncos
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Actual Pick: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
In picking Sylvester Williams, the Denver Broncos got themselves a solid defensive tackle who played sparingly in 2013. Williams was buried behind Terrance ‘Pot Roast’ Knighton and 2012 fifth-round standout Malik Jackson, who looks like a future star at the position.
What the Broncos really need is a new pass-rushing defensive end, especially after the Faxgate scandal that saw Elvis Dumervil depart for Baltimore. Dion Jordan had little to no production as a rookie (just two sacks), but he has enough upside that the Miami Dolphins still made him the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, as they actually traded up to get him.
Re-Draft Pick: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
29. New England Patriots
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Actual Pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (selected by Minnesota Vikings in trade up)
The New England Patriots keep their original pick in the re-draft, and they have to address their offense to help out Tom Brady. For a great majority of the season, Brady was without players like Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Amendola.
That makes it essential that the team adds tight end Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame. Eifert played well for the Cincinnati Bengals in year one, catching 39 passes for 446 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots will get Gronkowski back next year, and the duo of Eifert and Gronk will allow Bill Belichick the opportunity to run two-tight end systems again like he did in the days of Gronk and Aaron Hernandez.
Re-Draft Pick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
30. Atlanta Falcons
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Actual Pick: Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia (selected by St. Louis Rams in trade down)
Atlanta traded up eight spots in last year’s draft to select cornerback Desmond Trufant, a player who performed admirably enough as a rookie that he didn’t make it out of the first half of the first round.
For anyone who watched the 2013 Atlanta Falcons, it’s evident just how poorly the offensive line played. Former first-round tackle Sam Baker missed the majority of the season to injury, and his replacement, Lamar Holmes, was frequently exposed in pass protection.
There’s no way the organization could pass on D.J. Fluker if he’s still available at this point. Fluker actually played well as a rookie, but falls 19 spots in the re-draft because of how well Justin Pugh played in 2013. Fluker was a right tackle for the San Diego Chargers, but the Falcons may opt to use him at left tackle.
In the first 12 weeks of the regular season, Fluker allowed 33 quarterback pressures, including seven in a miserable outing against then-Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson. Over the final month, Fluker didn’t allow a single pressure. That’s a remarkable turnaround for a once-struggling rookie, and he may be a future blindside protector.
Re-Draft Pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
31. San Francisco 49ers
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Actual Pick: Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin (selected by Dallas Cowboys in trade up)
In the re-draft, the San Francisco 49ers hold onto their 31st overall pick. There aren’t many weaknesses to Jim Harbaugh’s roster. But their actual 2013 first-round pick, Eric Reid, went 16 spots higher to the New Orleans Saints (and Kenny Vaccaro went in the top five) in this re-draft.
So the Niners will go for the next-highest rated safety, Johnathan Cyprien, who went 33rd overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cyprien had an up-and-down campaign, rating poorly by Pro Football Focus’s standards. He actually rated as the third-worst player in the league at his position.
But Cyprien appeared in 15 of a possible 16 games. He played every defensive snap for the first 14 weeks. He rated as the third-best pass-rushing safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He picked up 86 tackles, a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles, and he did that on a lousy defense. Behind the San Francisco front seven, Cyprien would be a star.
Re-Draft Pick: Johnathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
32. Baltimore Ravens
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Actual Pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida
Safety Matt Elam had an underwhelming rookie season for the Baltimore Ravens, struggling in pass coverage for all 16 games he played.
In the re-draft, the Baltimore Ravens can’t possibly ignore a player who has plummeted down the draft board—Kansas City offensive tackle, Eric Fisher, who went first overall in the actual 2013 draft. Fisher had a nightmarish rookie season, with Pro Football Focus rating 70th among 76 offensive tackles. Fisher allowed seven sacks, 35 pressures and racked up six penalties. He also missed three games due to injuries.
I rated him as an F in my offseason grades, and Rotoworld’s Lance Zierlein summed it up best when he said Fisher has played like the little kid getting pushed around by his bigger brother on the playground. Still, the sheer upside of a player like Fisher has to put him somewhere in the first round of a re-draft.
Baltimore re-signed Pro Bowler Eugene Monroe to play left tackle, but Fisher could fill the void at right tackle now that Michael Oher has departed for Tennessee.
Re-Draft Pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Round 2 Re-Draft Players
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33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Miss
34. San Francisco 49ers: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
35. Philadelphia Eagles: Sharrif Floyd, DE, Florida
36. Detroit Lions: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
37. Cincinnati Bengals: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
38. Arizona Cardinals: Le’Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State
39. New York Jets: Robert Woods, WR, USC
40. Tennessee Titans: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
41. Buffalo Bills: Jordan Reed, TE, Florida
42. Miami Dolphins: Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
44. Carolina Panthers: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
45. Arizona Cardinals: Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
46. Buffalo Bills: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
47. Dallas Cowboys: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
48. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sio Moore, OLB, Connecticut
49. New York Giants: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
50. Chicago Bears: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
51. Washington Redskins: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
52. Minnesota Vikings: Marcus Cooper, CB, Rutgers
53. Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Stacy, RB, Vanderbilt
54. Miami Dolphins: Nickell Robey, CB, USC
55. Green Bay Packers: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame
56. Seattle Seahawks: David Bakhtiari, OT, Colorado
57. Houston Texans: Matt Elam, S, Florida
58. Denver Broncos: Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M
59. New England Patriots: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
60. Atlanta Falcons: Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
61. San Francisco 49ers: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
62. Baltimore Ravens: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Round 3 Re-Draft Players
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63. Kansas City Chiefs: Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State
64. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alvin Bailey, G, Arkansas
65. Detroit Lions: T.J. McDonald, S, USC
66. Oakland Raiders: Brian Winters, G, Kent State
67. Philadelphia Eagles: J.J. Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
68. Cleveland Browns: Matt McGloin, QB, Penn State
69. Arizona Cardinals: Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
70. Tennessee Titans: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
71. Buffalo Bills: Robert Lester, S, Alabama
72. New York Jets: Ace Sanders, WR, South Carolina
73. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
74. Carolina Panthers: Da’Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech
75. New Orleans Saints: Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall
76. San Diego Chargers: Shawn Williams, S, Georgia
77. Miami Dolphins: Earl Watford, G, James Madison
78. St. Louis Rams: Dwayne Gratz, CB, Connecticut
79. Pittsburgh Steelers: Paul Worrilow, ILB, Delaware
80. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Bowie, OT, Northeastern State
81. New York Giants: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
82. Chicago Bears: Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, Cincinnati
83. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State
84. Cincinnati Bengals: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
85. Washington Redskins: Khiry Robinson, RB, West Texas A&M
86. Indianapolis Colts: Kayvon Webster, CB, South Florida
87. Seattle Seahawks: LaAdrian Waddle, OT, Texas Tech
88. San Francisco 49ers: Vince Williams, ILB, Florida State
89. Green Bay Packers: David Amerson, CB, NC State
90. Houston Texans: Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA
91. Denver Broncos: D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
92. New England Patriots: Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
93. Atlanta Falcons: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
94. San Francisco 49ers: Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas
95. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Lemonier, OLB, Auburn
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
