Re-Drafting Every NFL Team's Worst Draft Pick Over Last 5 Years

Despite teams spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours studying prospects, the NFL draft is a crapshoot where “sure thing” prospects often become first-round busts. 

It’s become expected that about half of the players selected on Day 1 of the draft won’t pan out, to the point where several fanbases across the league have become numb to their teams picking a bust.

But what still stings is when a first-rounder who has a terrible career was selected in front of someone else who becomes a star.

Here, we’re opening up some old wounds and diving into each NFL team’s worst first-round pick over the last five years, and using hindsight to highlight who each club should have taken instead.  

Since the 2025 draft class hasn’t hit he field yet, the focus is on first-round picks from 2020 to 2024. 

To qualify as a bust, the respective player either didn’t receive a second contract from the team or isn’t expected to be a starter this season. For the hindsight picks, the player must have been selected after but within 32 draft slots of the original pick.

Arizona Cardinals

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Original Pick: LB Isaiah Simmons at No. 8 (2020)

It’s understandable what the Cardinals were thinking when they took Simmons with a top-10 draft pick. The NFL had become a passing league in which big college safeties were routinely converted into linebackers. 

However, the Clemson product ended up not having a natural position in the league and was eventually traded for a seventh-round pick. Simmons is currently on the Green Bay Packers, where he’ll be fighting for a roster spot during training camp.

New Pick: CB A.J. Terrell Jr. (originally 16th by the Atlanta Falcons)

At the time, cornerback wasn’t a big need since Arizona had Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy Jr. on the roster. But 2020 ended up being Peterson’s last season with the Cardinals, so adding an All-Pro-caliber corner like Terrell would have been a good investment. 

The position is one of the team’s current needs/weaknesses, so this would have been a better long-term solution in the desert.

Atlanta Falcons

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Original Pick: TE Kyle Pitts at No. 4 (2021)

The Falcons haven’t had many first-round misses over the last five years, almost making Pitts the worst selection by default.

However, just ask any of his fantasy owners how frustrating the tight end’s lack of production has been. He went from logging 1,000 yards as a rookie to being below 700 yards in each of the last three seasons.

New Pick: Edge Micah Parsons (originally 12th overall by the Dallas Cowboys)

What’s frustrating about Pitts’ selection for the Falcons is that there were several strong options on the board like Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell and Patrick Surtain II, to name a few. 

But the reason Parsons would be the best selection for Atlanta is that the defense has been desperately looking for some pass-rushing help over the last few years. The Penn State product’s 52.5 sacks over the last four seasons would have greatly helped the unit as a whole.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Original Pick: Edge Odafe Oweh at No. 31 (2021)

We have to bend the rules for the Ravens a bit since Oweh is projected to be a starter this season. But Baltimore doesn’t have a blatant first-round miss over the last five years, making it slim pickings. 

Linebacker Patrick Queen was the other player considered since he didn’t sign a second contract with the club, but Queen was a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and a Pro Bowler in Baltimore. So, somewhat unfairly, Oweh is the default pick even though he isn’t a “bust.”

New Pick: OL Landon Dickerson (originally 37th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles)

Dickerson has earned three Pro Bowl bids in four seasons and is currently the second-highest-paid guard in the NFL on a dollar-per-year basis, according to Over The Cap.

Meanwhile, the Ravens have questions on the interior offensive line, making him a suitable replacement for Oweh in this exercise.

Buffalo Bills

Michael Owens/Getty Images

Original Pick: CB Kaiir Elam at No. 23 (2022)

Buffalo drafted Elam because he was a long corner who ran a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash and had impressive ball skills. At the time, that felt like a steal of a pick in the back end of Round 1. However, partially due to Christian Benford’s emergence, the Florida product didn’t get much playing time with the Bills.

In three seasons, Elam made just 12 starts and only had six passes defended (two interceptions). That led the Bills to trade him and a sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for fifth- and seventh-round selections.

New Pick: G Tyler Smith (originally 24th by the Cowboys)

In 2023, the draft after taking Elam, general manager Brandon Beane took O’Cyrus Torrence in the second round to fill a need at guard.

However, had Beane known Benford’s rise was coming, he’d likely use the 2022 No. 23 overall pick on Smith, who has become a second-team All-Pro (2023) and two-time Pro Bowler (2023, 2024).

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Original Pick: WR Xavier Legette at No. 32 (2024)

In fairness to Legette, the jury is still out on whether he’s a bust, and he could remain a starter this season. However, the Panthers spent a first-round pick on another wideout last April, as the South Carolina product had an underwhelming rookie campaign and could get squeezed out of the starting lineup in training camp.

New Pick: WR Ladd McConkey (originally 34th by the Los Angeles Chargers)

What makes Legette’s first-year struggles sting for the Panthers is the fact that another wideout taken two picks later was immediately productive.

McConkey managed to rack up 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns last season, and those figures ranked third, third and tied for fourth among rookie wideouts.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo

Original Pick: QB Justin Fields at No. 11 (2021)

The Bears have been desperate for a quarterback for what feels like the franchise’s entire 104-year existence. So, it’s hard to fault them for taking Fields four years ago, as he was expected to become the next great dual-threat QB in the league. 

However, the Ohio State product ended up getting traded out of Chicago for a sixth-round pick and is about to play for his third team in as many years.

New Pick: LT Rashawn Slater (originally 13th by the Los Angeles Chargers)

Micah Parsons was also an option here, but left tackle has been a big question mark for the Bears over the last several years. Braxton Jones is a solid player, but head coach Ben Johnson and starting quarterback Caleb Williams would undoubtedly rather see a two-time Pro Bowler protect the blind side.

Plus, this would keep a Northwestern product in the Windy City.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Original Pick: Edge Myles Murphy at No. 28 (2023)

The decision here came down to Daxton Hill and Murphy. The former has had a pretty underwhelming career as a first-round pick so far, but he was at least a starter over the last two years before suffering a torn ACL in October last season. 

Meanwhile, Murphy has barely seen the field and hasn’t started a game during his couple of campaigns in the league. Granted, that could change this fall if the Bengals don’t figure out Trey Hendrickson’s and/or Shemar Stewart’s contract situations.

New Pick: DB Brian Branch (originally 45th by the Detroit Lions)

Coincidentally, this pick is a replacement for the other “bust” mentioned above, Hill. The Michigan product was drafted so high because he’s a defensive back who has safety and cornerback versatility, which is the role Branch has become a Pro Bowler in with the Lions.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard, FIle

Original Pick: OT Jedrick Wills Jr. at No. 10 (2020)

Since the Browns didn’t have a first-round pick from 2022 to 2024 and the other option is cornerback Greg Newsome II, Wills is an easy choice. He was just average during years one to three and then struggled to stay on the field over the last two seasons. 

As a result, he’s currently unsigned as a 26-year-old free agent and recently announced he won’t be playing this fall.

New Pick: OT Tristan Wirfs (originally 13th by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

This is what makes the Wills pick really sting for Cleveland. Wirfs has blossomed into one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, etching his name in the league’s history books by becoming the first tackle to earn first-team All-Pro selections on both the left and right sides.

Seeing as one guy is currently out of the league and the other seems destined for the Hall of Fame, it’s safe to say the Browns whiffed big time and took the wrong offensive lineman.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Original Pick: DT Mazi Smith at No. 26 (2023)

Tyler Guyton is threatening to take Smith’s spot here after struggling as a rookie. However, the latter has had more time to get his feet wet in the NFL and still looks like a fish out of water.

The Michigan product was drafted to help stop the run but has earned run-defense grades in the 30s from Pro Football Focus in his two seasons.

New Pick: DT Keeanu Benton (originally 49th by the Pittsburgh Steelers)

There might be better players who were drafted between Smith and Benton, but the Cowboys needed some bulk on the interior defensive line, and those two were similar prospects. However, Benton is the superior player and has shown more promise than Smith has in the pros.

Denver Broncos

AP Photo

Original Pick: WR Jerry Jeudy at No. 15 (2020)

Jeudy’s time in Denver wasn’t that bad, as he compiled 211 catches for 3,053 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons. However, the Alabama product didn’t live up to the hype with no 1,000-yard campaigns or Pro Bowl appearances for the Broncos, and the only other options for Denver are Patrick Surtain II and Bo Nix. 

Also, his tenure with the club didn’t end particularly well, as he asked for a trade and the front office obliged by sending him to the Cleveland Browns for fifth- and sixth-round picks. Then, Jeudy had a career year in 2024 with 90 grabs and 1,229 yards to make his first Pro Bowl appearance.

New Pick: WR CeeDee Lamb (originally 17th by the Dallas Cowboys)

On top of Jeudy’s breakout season in Cleveland, part of what makes that pick hurt in Denver is that Lamb was taken just two picks later. It’s safe to say the Broncos would go with the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro in a 2020 draft do-over.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo

Original Pick: CB Jeff Okudah at No. 3 (2020)

It’s hard to blame the Lions for taking Okudah where they did. Heading into the 2020 NFL draft, He was widely considered one of the best cornerback prospects to enter the draft in several years.

However, early-career injuries significantly altered the Ohio State product’s NFL trajectory, as he was traded for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and is about to play for his fourth team in as many years this season.

New Pick: CB A.J. Terrell Jr. (originally 16th by the Atlanta Falcons)

In a way, Terrell has become the cornerback many thought Okudah would be. The Clemson product earned a second-team All-Pro bid in 2021 and has played well enough to receive a four-year, $81 million contract extension from the Falcons last summer.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Original Pick: CB Eric Stokes at No. 29 (2021)

Using a first-round pick on Stokes should haunt Packers fans because he hasn’t even been the best Georgia cornerback selected in that range. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars took Tyson Campbell just four picks later, and Campbell has earned a second contract in Jacksonville while Stokes got benched in the fall and left for Las Vegas this offseason on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. 

New Pick: DE Gregory Rousseau (originally 30th by the Buffalo Bills)

To be fair, Rousseau wasn’t a scheme fit for then-defensive coordinator Joe Barry. But he would be a good fit with current DC Jeff Hafley, and the defense could use the Miami product’s 25 career sacks and 46 TFLs. Those numbers helped him earn a four-year, $80 million contract extension with the Bills in the spring.

Houston Texans

AP Photo

Original Pick: G Kenyon Green at No. 15 (2022)

At the time, Green seemed like a solid selection for the Texans. He was a nasty offensive lineman who could generate movement in the running game and a decent value pick for a guard, in the middle of Round 1. 

However, the Texas A&M product struggled significantly in pass protection with Houston, resulting in him getting benched this past season. That also led to the front office trading Green to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he’ll likely serve as a backup.

New Pick: G Tyler Smith (originally 24th by the Dallas Cowboys)

As if the Texans don’t feel like the Cowboys’ little brother enough, taking the wrong guard in the draft three years ago while their in-state rivals land the right one has to make the feeling even worse.

Smith has quickly blossomed into a second-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler in Dallas, while Green isn't on Houston's roster anymore.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Original Pick: QB Anthony Richardson at No. 4 (2023)

There’s still a chance for Richardson to turn things around since he’s expected to enter a training camp battle with Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting quarterback job. But it isn’t looking too good for the former top-five pick, as he suffered another shoulder injury, putting him behind the eight-ball.

New Pick: CB Christian Gonzalez (originally 17th by the New England Patriots)

With no other quality quarterback options, the Colts pivot to addressing their need at cornerback instead of Richardson in this exercise. General manager Chris Ballard took JuJu Brents in Round 2 of the 2023 draft, who also hasn’t panned out yet, because Brents fit Ballard’s profile for a long-armed cornerback.

Devon Witherspoon is another option here, but Witherspoon is more of a nickel, and Indianapolis has Kenny Moore II to fill that role. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has been impressive as a boundary corner over the last two years and has 32-inch arms to fit the general manager’s liking.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File

Original Pick: CB C.J. Henderson at No. 9 (2020)

To be honest, either of the Jaguars' 2020 first-round picks could fit here, as K’Lavon Chaisson didn’t pan out either. However, Henderson was the bigger bust after playing in just 10 games for the Jags before getting traded to the Carolina Panthers in September of his second NFL season. 

The former top-10 selection then spent time with the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers last season, but didn’t play a down in the regular season for either club. He’s currently a 26-year-old free agent.

New Pick: CB A.J. Terrell Jr. (originally 16th by the Atlanta Falcons)

Tristan Wirfs was also considered here and is another strong option, but we’ll stick with Jacksonville setting out to improve its secondary here. Terrell has become the best cornerback taken in the first round of the 2020 draft, earning second-team All-Pro honors and a lucrative contract extension from the Falcons.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Original Pick: Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah at No. 31 (2023)

It’s hard to blame the Chiefs too much for using a first-round pick on Anudike-Uzomah. With 20.5 career sacks in college and unreal bend around the corner, he was one of the best pass-rushers in the draft class to complement Chris Jones. 

However, the Kansas State product has struggled to get on the field in the pros, recording just three starts and 550 snaps in the last two regular seasons combined, per Pro Football Reference.

New Pick: Edge Tuli Tuipulotu (originally 54th by the Los Angeles Chargers)

Meanwhile, Tuipulotu has been a productive pass-rusher for the Chargers over the last two years, racking up 13 sacks and 19 TFLs. The added bonus for Kansas City here is that they’d be keeping the former Trojan away from one of its biggest division rivals and threats to the AFC West crown.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File

Original Pick: OL Alex Leatherwood at No. 17 (2021)

Then-head coach John Gruden and then-general manager Mike Mayock became infamously known for making first-round reaches that quickly turned into busts during their tenure in Las Vegas. The 2020 duo of wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and cornerback Damon Arnette could also fit here.

While Ruggs’ situation was certainly more tragic, Leatherwood only lasted one season with the Silver and Black. Granted, part of that had to do with a regime change, but there aren’t many top-20 selections who didn’t even make it to year two with the club that drafted them.

New Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw (originally 23rd by the Minnesota Vikings)

Part of what makes taking the Alabama product in 2021 so hard to swallow is that Darrisaw was drafted just six spots later. The latter has become a quality tackle in the NFL, earning a four-year, $76 million contract extension with the Vikings last summer. 

Granted, the former Hokie would be playing on the right side in Las Vegas, but he’d still be a better option than the guy who has taken just 32 offensive snaps since his rookie season, per Pro Football Reference.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/John Locher

Original Pick: WR Quentin Johnston at No. 21 (2023)

To be fair, Johnston is coming off a decent season where he had 55 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. However, his drops have become a major issue in Los Angeles, and the organization brought Mike Williams back and used a second-round pick on Tre Harris this offseason. 

That points to a reduced role for the TCU product heading into year three, despite putting up decent numbers last fall, making him look like an even bigger bust.

New Pick: WR Zay Flowers (originally 22nd by the Baltimore Ravens)

Part of the problem with the Chargers selecting Johnston where they did is that he was taken in the middle of a four-wide receiver run—Jaxson Smith-Njigba (20), Flowers (22) and Jordan Addison (23)—and is easily the worst of the bunch. 

Granted, Flowers isn’t the same type of receiver as Johnston, making this not a perfect player-for-player replacement. But the Bolts have a couple of big-bodied wideouts in Williams and Harris on the roster arleady, so there’s room for another smaller guy to fit into the receiver corps.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File

Original Pick: No qualifiers

The only first-round pick the Rams have made in the last five years is edge defender Jared Verse, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year. General manager Les Snead famously went with the “F them picks” strategy to land quarterback Matthew Stafford and win the Super Bowl in 2021.

The Rams have made the playoffs in two out of the three seasons since taking home the Lombardi Trophy, as Snead has found several gems in the second round of the draft or later, becoming one of the most respected GMs in the league.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Original Pick: CB Noah Igbinoghene at No. 30 (2020)

To be fair, the Dolphins had three first-round picks in 2020 and hit on the first two selections, with Tua Tagovailoa and Austin Jackson signing second contracts with the club and entering the upcoming season as projected starters. 

However, the same can’t be said for Igbinoghene. He only made five starts in three seasons in Miami before getting traded to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2023 campaign. The Auburn product did salvage his career a bit last fall, though, starting 10 games for the Washington Commanders.

New Pick: RB Jonathan Taylor (originally 41st by the Indianapolis Colts)

Taylor’s 6,013 rushing yards since getting drafted are the second-most and trail only Derrick Henry's (7,590) during that timeframe, according to StatMuse.

Putting the former second-rounder in Mike McDaniel’s running game might have led to even better numbers for Taylor.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Original Pick: S Lewis Cine at No. 32 (2022)

It’s hard to blame the Vikings for using a first-round pick on Cine, as he was considered the top safety in the draft class and had clean tape at Georgia. However, the former Bulldog suffered a compound fracture early in his rookie season, which pretty much derailed his NFL career.

In the three years since getting drafted, Cine has played in just 11 games and has one career tackle. He’s currently on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster and will be fighting to make the team during training camp.

New Pick: S Jalen Pitre (originally 37th by the Houston Texans)

Meanwhile, Pitre was drafted just five spots later and has become a fixture of the Texans defense. He’s managed to rack up six interceptions, 21 passes defended and nearly 300 total tackles, earning a three-year, $39 million contract extension during the 2024 offseason

New England Patriots

AP Photo

Original Pick: OL Cole Strange at No. 29 (2022)

Unlike the majority of first-round picks named in this exercise, it was a shock to see Strange get selected this high in the draft. Many viewed the FCS product as a middle-round prospect, so this was a pick where Bill Belichick thought he knew better than everyone else. 

However, Strange has battled injuries and been mediocre at best when on the field, meaning this decision didn’t work in Belichick’s favor. Quarterback Mac Jones was also considered here, but Jones at least had a strong rookie season in which he led the Patriots to the playoffs and earned a Pro Bowl bid.

New Pick: OL Cam Jurgens (originally 51st by the Philadelphia Eagles)

If New England was looking for an interior offensive lineman with guard and center versatility, Jurgens should have been the pick at 29.

The Nebraska product has logged starts at both positions in Philadelphia, replacing Jason Kelce last season and playing well enough to earn a four-year, $68 million contract extension this spring.

New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Original Pick: Edge Payton Turner at 28 (2021)

Offensive lineman Trevor Penning was also considered here, but the Saints have at least gotten several starts and some good run blocking out of Penning. 

Meanwhile, Turner battled injuries during his tenure in New Orleans, playing in just 31 games with no starts in four seasons. As a result, the Houston product tallied just 50 total tackles and five sacks in that time frame, and he’s about to enter training camp in a battle to make the Dallas Cowboys’ roster.

New Pick: Edge Gregory Rousseau (originally 30th by the Buffalo Bills)

This pick was a big whiff by the Saints, seeing as a much better edge-rusher was taken just two draft slots later. For comparison, Rousseau has logged 62 starts and 25 sacks in the NFL while earning a four-year, $80 million contract extension from the Bills last March.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Original Pick: WR Kadarius Toney at No. 20 (2021)

This one was a bit of a toss-up between offensive lineman Evan Neal (2022) and Toney, but Neal is at least still on the roster and will likely play out his rookie contract with the Giants. 

Meanwhile, Toney played in just 12 games for New York, making five starts and posting a stat line of 41 catches, 420 yards and three touchdowns.

The wideout was traded in October of his second season and won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he wasn’t a major factor in the Chiefs offense and is currently not on an NFL roster.

New Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw (originally 23rd by the Minnesota Vikings)

The rationale for the new pick here is the domino effect it would have created. With Andrew Thomas and Darrisaw at offensive tackle, the Giants wouldn’t have taken Neal at No. 7 the following year and then, essentially, would be able to exchange Toney for Drake London, Garrett Wilson or Chris Olave.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Original Pick: QB Zach Wilson at No. 2 (2021)

It’s hard to blame the Jets for taking a swing on Wilson. The team desperately needed a quarterback after Sam Darnold flamed out, but the 2021 QB class ended up being a flop as a whole. 

However, it's undeniable that the BYU product is one of the biggest busts of the last five years, as he’s gone from the No. 2 overall pick to a backup at best.

New Pick: OT Penei Sewell (originally 7th by the Detroit Lions)

Again, it’s not like Trey Lance, Justin Fields or Mac Jones have been that much better than Wilson. Granted, Fields is currently getting a shot to start in New York, but he would have quickly worn out his welcome with the organization with how his career started in Chicago.

So, instead of chasing another signal-caller, the Jets add a two-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle in this exercise. Sewell would shore up what’s been a shaky offensive line over the last few years and give the front office the flexibility to find another solution behind center.

Philadelphia Eagles

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Original Pick: WR Jalen Reagor at No. 21 (2020)

In full disclosure, Reagor is the inspiration for this article. 

Now, the Eagles have been fine, as they’ve made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, including winning the Super Bowl last February. Also, general manager Howie Roseman made up for his blunder by drafting DeVonta Smith in 2021 and trading for A.J. Brown in 2022.

But taking the TCU wide receiver in the first round will go down as one of the biggest draft whiffs in NFL history, considering the player who was drafted right after him.

New Pick: WR Justin Jefferson (originally 22nd by the Minnesota Vikings)

Jefferson quickly became one of the best receivers in the league, logging 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. 

He’s only gotten better since then, racking up at least 1,000 yards every year, earning four Pro Bowl bids, four All-Pro selections (two first-team, two second-team) and the Offensive Player of the Year Award.

The only campaign the wideout didn’t get any postseason recognition was 2023, when he was injured and missed seven games.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Original Pick: QB Kenny Pickett at No. 20 (2022)

The 2022 draft was not the time to need a quarterback. We had a feeling the class was underwhelming heading into the draft, and Pickett ended up being the only signal-caller selected in the first round. He made just 24 starts in two seasons for the Steelers, tossing as many touchdowns as interceptions, 13.

That led Pittsburgh to go after Russell Wilson during free agency last year, so the former Pitt Panther was traded ahead of his third NFL season.

New Pick: CB Trent McDuffie (originally 21st by the Kansas City Chiefs)

Again, the Steelers weren’t going to find a quality quarterback in the 2022 draft class. Instead, opting to improve the defense’s secondary would have been the smarter move, as McDuffie has earned All-Pro bids (one first-team, one second-team) in each of the last two seasons.

San Francisco 49ers

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Original Pick: QB Trey Lance at No. 3 (2021)

There isn’t much of a debate here since Lance might be the biggest draft bust in 49ers’ history. Not only did the organization use a high pick on him, but it traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to get him. That comes out to one draft pick per start that the North Dakota State product had in San Francisco.

Granted, Lance flaming out paved the way for Brock Purdy to emerge as the biggest draft steal in the last several years.

New Pick: OT Rashawn Slater (originally 13th by the Los Angeles Chargers)

In this exercise, the 49ers get the benefit of knowing Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones are not worth taking in the first round. So, we’ll assume they’ll stick at pick No. 12 in this scenario, meaning the new pick has to be at that spot or later.

Micah Parsons (drafted 12th by the Dallas Cowboys) was also considered here, but San Francisco had taken Nick Bosa just two years prior. Meanwhile, the team could have used a right tackle, which Slater played during his first two years at Northwestern. 

Having the two-time Pro Bowler play opposite Trent Williams would have given San Francisco a nasty offensive line, and Slater could've been the heir apparent to Williams on the blind side.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Darryl Webb

Original Pick: LB Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 (2020)

The pickings are slim here as the Seahawks have done a good job of hitting on their first-round picks over the last five years. Brooks was selected more by default as he’s the only first-rounder who isn’t on the roster anymore. Plus, a better linebacker was taken with the next pick in the 2020 draft.

New Pick: LB Patrick Queen (originally 28th by the Baltimore Ravens)

There aren’t many linebackers in the league who can impact the passing game as much as Queen does. He’s recorded 22 passes defended and four interceptions in coverage during his five-year career and has also racked up 14.5 sacks. 

On top of that, he has nearly 600 career tackles and earned Pro Bowl bids in each of the last two seasons, tacking on a second-team All-Pro designation in 2023.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Original Pick: Edge Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at No. 32 (2021)

Tryon-Shoyinka wasn’t terrible in Tampa Bay with 45 starts and 15 sacks in four seasons. But he also wasn’t more than average and didn’t live up to the billing as a first-round pick, allowing the front office to feel comfortable letting him walk this offseason.

As a result, the Washington product signed a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Cleveland Browns during free agency.

New Pick: OL Landon Dickerson (originally 37th by the Philadelphia Eagles)

The Buccaneers ended up losing starting guard Alex Cappa during the 2022 offseason, so Dickerson would have become a first-stringer by his second season with the club at the least.

The three-time Pro Bowler also has the versatility to play center, a position that Tampa needed just a few years later when it took Graham Barton in 2024. 

Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File

Original Pick: OT Isaiah Wilson at No. 29 (2020)

Part of the reason the Titans are in the position they are right now is that the organization had some massive first-round whiffs from 2020 to 2022. Cornerback Caleb Farley (22nd in 2021) or wide receiver Treylon Burks (18th in 2022) could also be listed here. 

However, Wilson played in just one game for Tennessee before getting traded with a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a 2021 seventh-round pick, only to get cut three days after getting acquired by the Dolphins. He’s one of the biggest busts in NFL history. 

New Pick: WR Tee Higgins (originally 33rd by the Cincinnati Bengals)

Literally anyone else would have been a better selection for the Titans, but we’re maximizing the team’s potential in this exercise. Higgins has become an excellent wide receiver for the Bengals, logging at least 900 yards and six touchdowns in four out of five seasons. 

If the Titans had taken the Clemson product over Wilson, maybe they also would have avoided the Burks fiasco two years later. Granted, trading A.J. Brown was the biggest reason the club took the former Razorback.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Original Pick: CB Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16 (2023)

The Commanders have a couple of options here, and coincidentally, both were taken with the 16th overall pick. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson (2022) was also considered, but Dotson at least lasted two full seasons with the club, while Forbes was waived before his second campaign in Washington was over.

The Mississippi State product was an interception machine and playmaker in college, collecting 14 picks in three seasons and leaving as the FBS leader in career pick-sixes with six. 

However, his razor-thin build at just under 6’1” and 166 pounds has been an issue in the NFL, as Forbes attempts to revive his career with the Los Angeles Rams.

New Pick: CB Christian Gonzalez (originally 17th by the New England Patriots)

Another reason why the former Bulldog is the Commanders’ biggest draft whiff is that Gonzalez was the next player off the board. The Oregon product was the better prospect and earned a second-team All-Pro bid last year, so this is a case where Washington’s decision makers at the time just over thought the pick.