Re-Drafting the 2025 NFL Draft

They say that hindsight is always 20/20—a truism that NFL teams find out the hard way each and every year.

Here's a deep dark secret about the NFL draft—for all the scouting and research and poking and prodding teams do every spring, the draft is a series of educated guesses. Players that just about everyone thought were sure-fire stars wind up falling flat. Guys who fall from Round 1 entirely go on to star as rookies.

But what if teams could apply the benefit of hindsight to the NFL Draft. Travel back in time (with the knowledge of how those players panned out and the current state of the franchise) and have a do-over on the draft. Some times would gladly stand pat with the player they originally selected. Many more would not.

That's what we're going to do here. Any trades that were made after the draft began have been erased (who knows if they would have happened had things played out differently), but we're going to take another pass through the 2025 draft with the help of the lens of history.

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock.

1.01: Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Original Pick: QB Cam Ward, Miami

New Pick: QB Cam Ward, Miami

Don't worry. There will be plenty of shakeups coming in this 2025 re-draft. But the first overall pick remains the same.

Cam Ward admittedly had an uneven rookie season on a bad Tennessee Titans team—the 24-year-old won just three starts, completed less than 60 percent of his passes, threw just 15 touchdown passes and posted a passer rating of just 80.2.

But it's not like Ward was playing on an offense that was exactly replete with passing-game weapons, and he showed some real flashes as the season wore on. Over half of Ward's touchdown passes (eight) were thrown in December, and Ward led the Titans to two games in that month.

It was the first time since 2021 that the Titans won multiple games in that month—and enough for the Titans to stand pat with their original selection.

1.02: Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Original Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado (by JAX)

New Pick: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

This pick was originally traded to the Jaguars for a package that included a 2026 first-rounder, but there are no trades in this do-over, so the Browns are stuck making the pick here.

Much to the chagrin of Jaxson Dart.

It's hardly a state secret that the Browns need a long-term quarterback, and in terms of per-game play it can be argued no rookie signal-caller performed better in 2025 than Dart. Yes, there were injury issues (some self-inflicted), but Dart showed flashes as both a runner and a passer. For the season Dart completed almost 64 percent of his passes, threw three times as many touchdown passes as interceptions, posted a respectable 91.7 passer rating and topped 50 rushing yards in a game half a dozen times.

If the Browns had Dart, it's fair to wonder if the franchise would have felt the motivation to trade away Myles Garrett.

1.03: New York Giants

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Original Pick: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

New Pick: QB Tyler Shough, Louisville

The Giants just had their franchise quarterback yanked out from under them by the Browns, leaving Big Blue with a massive hole under center.

Enter Louisville's Tyler Shough, who was a second-round pick of the Saints last year.

The 6'5" 219-pounder surprised many as a rookie in the Big Easy last year, winning five of his nine starts. Shough completed over 67 percent of his passes, and while his numbers weren't eye popping (10 touchdown passes, 216.7 passing yards per game), that had as much to do with a lack of offensive firepower in New Orleans as Shough's play.

Shough isn't the threat to run the ball that Dart is, and he'll turn 27 in September. But age isn't as big a factor at the quarterback position, and the Giants can't pass on the chance to select a player who looked the part of a solid NFL starter a year ago.

1.04: New England Patriots

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

Original Pick: OT Will Campbell, LSU

New Pick: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

The Patriots made it all the way to Super Bowl LX last year with a rookie starting at left tackle. But the postseason (and especially that Super Bowl) were a nightmare for Will Campbell—enough so that the Patriots are going to go with a different offensive lineman at No. 4 overall.

Kelvin Banks was a top-10 selection in his own right last year, and the 6'4" 320-pounder was most reliable and consistent first-year tackle in the league. Despite playing almost 300 more snaps than Campbell last year per Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed the same number of snaps and had higher PFF grades both overall and as a run blocker.

Who knows? If Campbell hadn't been such a turnstile in that lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks, maybe that Super Bowl would have turned out differently.

1.05: Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Original Pick: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

New Pick: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

Last year, the Jaguars were so enamored with Hunter that they dealt two first-rounders to Cleveland for the right to move up three spots and select the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner.

If the Jaguars were that all-in on Hunter last year, they aren't going to pass up the chance to take him with their original pick in this re-draft despite an injury shortened rookie year.

Hunter played mostly at wide receiver last year, catching 28 passes for 298 yards and a score while adding 15 tackles on defense. While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said that Hunter will play both ways again this year—although the ratio may change.

"He is set to play both sides of the ball," Gladstone said. "The piece that we can expect to see is an uptick in corner usage."

See? Still all-in.

1.06: Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Original Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

New Pick: OT Will Campbell, LSU

The Raiders selection of Ashton Jeanty sixth overall last year was arguably the biggest gaffe in the top-10—not because Jeanty isn't a good player, but because the offensive in Vegas last year was hot garbage. The Raiders allowed a league-high 64 sacks and were dead last as a team in yards per carry on the ground.

Until that offensive line gets fixed, it could be Barry Sanders back there and he's going to have trouble finding holes.

Yes, much has been made of Will Campbell's struggles in the postseason last year, and the 6'6" 323-pounder missed four games. But when he was healthy and on his game Campbell showed more than a little promise, and Campbell has the athleticism (in theory, at least) to play multiple positions on the offensive line.

Vegas can get a running back on Day 2—like they should have a year ago.

1.07 New York Jets

AP Photo/John Locher

Original Pick: OT Armand Membou, Missouri

New Pick: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

The New York Jets have no shortage of holes to fill on both sides of the ball, and the offensive line is admittedly among them. But the Jets can't pass up the opportunity here to add the anchor for their pass rush that the team has lacked in recent years.

After being taken third overall by the New York Giants last year, Carter had an up-and-down rookie season. Carter had just four sacks for the season and was benched twice for disciplinary reasons. But the lightbulb appeared to come on later in the season—3.5 of Carter's four sacks came over the last five weeks of the season.

As things stand right now, the top two edge-rushers in New York are Will McDonald IV and rookie David Bailey.

Bailey and Carter could be an imposing duo for years to come.

1.08: Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Original Pick: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

New Pick: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

If it's not broken, don't fix it.

It didn't long for McMillan to emerge as Bryce Young's No. 1 target in Carolina—in his second professional game, McMillan caught six of 10 targets for 100 yards. By season's end, McMillan led the Panthers across the board in receiving stats, hauling in 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven scores on the way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

McMillan added some weight this offseason, and he told reporters that he has bigger and better things in mind for 2026.

"The weight that I'm at now is what I've normally been at in college," he said, "so kind of just used to it, got my power back, which allows me to be faster, stronger, so my focus was more in the weight room, strength, diet, and stuff like that."

There's no reason for the Panthers to change this pick.

1.09: New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Original Pick: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

New Pick: OT Armand Membou, Missouri

The New Orleans Saints can't be happy with how this re-draft has played out. Both the team's original first-rounder last year (Banks) and their second-round pick (Shough) have already been selected.

With that said, offensive tackle remains a need in this scenario, and one of last year's top-three prospects at the position is still available.

Membou started all 17 games for the New York Jets as a rookie, allowing eight sacks and committing 11 penalties in 1,045 snaps. Those numbers aren't especially good, but Jets center Josh Myers told reporters that Membou is a foundational piece of the offensive line in New York.

"He's got the strength, the athleticism, the smarts," he said. "He's got everything he needs and he's going to be a really good football player and definitely a cornerstone of this organization."

Now, Membou will be a cornerstone of the O-line in the Big Easy.

1.10: Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

Original Pick: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

New Pick: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

Another selection in this re-draft that doesn't get re-done—and with good reason.

It took Loveland a while to get going—the 6'6", 241-pounder didn't have 35 receiving yards in a game until Week 8. But Loveland played a big role in Chicago's improbable run to the NFC North title last year, and as Dan Parr wrote for NFL.com, Loveland was next to unstoppable in the postseason.

"Loveland became the first rookie tight end in NFL history with 8+ receptions and 100+ receiving yards in a playoff game," Parr said. "Also, he's the first rookie TE to lead a playoff team in receiving yards since Keith Jackson with the 1988 Eagles. Caleb Williams has a go-to guy."

The Bears admittedly have needs at other positions. But none are close to dire enough to justify the team letting go of a key offensive contributor.

1.11: San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Original Pick: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

New Pick: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

The San Francisco 49ers would likely jump at the chance to get a do-over in the 2025 draft. Georgia edge-rusher Mykel Williams may one day become a quality NFL player. But he made it just nine games (and one sack) into his first season before tearing his ACL.

Instead, this time the Niners are going to address a wide receiver room that currently features an aging Mike Evans and a who's who of "who?"

Emeka Egbuka came roaring out of the gate last year before fading over the second half of his rookie season. But Egbuka posted three 100-yard games as a rookie and had an equal number of contests with double-digit catches.

Egbuka faded last year because his targets dropped. He's absolutely capable of being the No. 1 wide receiver for an NFL offense—and the Niners need all the help at the position they can get.

1.12 Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Original Pick: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama

New Pick: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama

Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager/grand poobah Jerry Jones has never been shy about raising eyebrows on draft day, and more than a few went skyward when Dallas took a guard 12th overall last year.

But as has (oddly) often been the case in the past, Jones knew what he was doing—the 6'5" 325-pounder made an immediate impact in Dallas, performing well as a run blocker and allowing just three sacks in just over 1,000 snaps per Pro Football Focus.

Cowboys guard Tyler Smith told reporters he sees a superstar in the making with Booker.

"I think the sky is the limit," Smith said. "He approaches every day the right way, he's a guy that's constantly trying to get better, constantly asking questions. We're on the phone all the time.  I think sky is the limit in this second year. He's starting from a great launch point in his career for that rookie year for sure."

In this re-draft, Booker will continue to develop in Big D.

1.13: Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/David Dermer

Original Pick: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan

New Pick: DT Mason Graham, Michigan

Defensive tackle Mason Graham was the fifth overall pick by the Cleveland Browns last year, and while the 6'4" 315-pounder wasn't a factor in the pass rush, he was a stout run defender, making 49 total tackles and adding seven tackles for loss over 17 starts as a rookie.

Former Michigan teammate Kenneth Grant out-played Graham where sacks are concerned, but two is hardly a knee-knocking number, and Grant had just 18 solo stops while starting just five games in Miami in 2025.

It's no secret that the Dolphins are tearing the team down to the studs. This is a franchise that badly needs as many young, talented players on rookie contracts as they can get.

Graham is just that kind of player. And with all due respect to Grant, Graham is on an entirely different level as both a prospect and player.

1.14: Indianapolis Colts

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Original Pick: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

New Pick: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Yep. Another re-draft pick that isn't one.

Hey. Sometimes teams get it right.

Tyler Warren's numbers admittedly fell off later in the 2025 season after the entire Indianapolis offense imploded, but when that offense was rolling along Warren made an immediate impact. For the season, Warren reeled in 76 of 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns on the way to making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

Warren told reporters that he is confident his second season will be even better than his first.

"I think just coming in and not being a rookie, and kind of understanding what this will all look like and kind of what to expect as a player," Warren said. "So, it's just been a little more comfortable for me and being able to just get into certain things a little more, not worrying about the big picture because you've been here before."

Warren is far too important to the Colts offense to even consider throwing him back.

1.15: Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Original Pick: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

New Pick: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

This is admittedly something of a controversial pick.

It has nothing to do with Pearce's performance as a rookie—while he started a bit slowly (as rookie pass-rushers often do), Pearce caught fire over the season's second half. From Week 10 on, Pearce logged 10 sacks.

However, there is also a massive cloud hanging over Pearce's future—after a February altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Pearce was charged with three felonies, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence. Pearce has entered a year-long pre-trial intervention program that could result in those charges being dropped, but he could be facing a suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

But two years ago, the Falcons were 31st in the league with just 31 sacks. Last year, only the Denver Broncos had more sacks than Atlanta's 57.

The team can't afford to throw Pearce back.

1.16: Arizona Cardinals

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Original Pick: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

New Pick: OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

The Arizona Cardinals are another team that would gladly take a mulligan on their first draft pick from a year ago. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen was a complete non-factor in the desert as a rookie—he made it just 169 snaps into his first professional season before he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Zabel was the first pick of the Seattle Seahawks last year, and while his regular season wasn't great, as Bradley Locker wrote for PFF once the postseason started Zabel took his game to an entirely different level.

"Zabel finished his rookie season with a mediocre 61.7 overall PFF grade, sitting in the 48th percentile in PFF pass-blocking grade and no better than the 37th percentile in run-blocking mark on both gap and zone concepts," he said. "But when the stage got brighter, Zabel thrived: His 86.8 overall grade from Week 17 onward led all guards, and he permitted just nine pressures over those six contests."

He'd be a welcome addition to an offensive line that was atrocious in 2025.

1.17: Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Original Pick: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

New Pick: LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

The Cincinnati Bengals actually went with a youth movement last year at linebacker—by the end of the regular season, the Bengals were starting a pair of rookies at linebacker in Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. Knight was OK. Carter was terrible. And the Bengals were dead last in the league in run defense, allowing 147.1 yards per game.

Meanwhile, up Interstate 71 in Cleveland, the Browns were allowing 116.4 yards per game on the game—and Carson Schwesinger played a big role in that. The Browns' second pick of the draft, Schwesinger finished his first season with the sixth-most tackles in the league (156) on the way to taking home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

The Bengals invested all kinds of resources this offseason in making that porous defense better in 2026. If the team had Schwesinger in the middle of that defense, Cincy would be getting a lot more Super Bowl buzz this summer.

1.18: Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Original Pick: OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

New Pick: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

The Seahawks have already lost one big-time contributor to their Super Bowl run last year with offensive lineman Grey Zabel off the board.

The team isn't about to lose a second.

As last season wore on. Emmanwori became more and more valuable to the team in the slot. At season's end, he had made 11 starts, logging 81 tackles, while adding 2.5 sacks, an interception and 11 passes defensed. He finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Per Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, there wasn't much that Emmanwori didn't do last year.

"Emmanwori seamlessly transitioned from safety to slot cornerback to linebacker to defensive end," he said. "In fact, he lined up at five different positions over 944 defensive snaps, per PFF, showing impressive versatility as a pass rusher, matchup specialist and quarterback spy."

Can't let a guy like that walk out the door.

1.19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Original Pick: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

New Pick: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

It's a blow to the Buccaneers that Egbuka is off the board here, especially with Mike Evans gone. But that's not the only fairly pressing need Tampa has in this scenario. The team has struggled to add a consistent edge-rusher for years—no one on Tampa's roster had eight sacks in 2025.

Of course, Walker didn't either—the 6'2", 245-pounder had 5.5 as a rookie. But that came in less than 500 snaps, and it's worth pointing out that Walker spent most of his collegiate career as an off-ball linebacker.

Walker is the kind of player that Tampa head coach Todd Bowles would love to have on his defense—a movable chess piece capable of lining up both on the edge and at inside linebacker.

There isn't a coach in the NFL who loves "A Gap" blitzes more than Bowles, so that versatility would be a welcome addition to the Buccaneers defense.

1.20: Denver Broncos

AP Photo/John Locher

Original Pick: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

New Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Cornerback Jahdae Barron may well turn out to be an excellent NFL player before his career is over. But Barron was a non-factor for Denver's defense last year, playing less than 350 snaps.

Now imagine the impact that Ashton Jeanty's arrival would have on the Denver offense.

Yes, Jeanty's numbers as a rookie weren't great—he failed to hit 1,000 rushing yards and managed just 3.7 yards per carry. But those struggles had a lot more to do with the Vegas offense being absolute trash last year than any issues with Jeanty—when you average a miserable 1.6 yards per carry before contact, it's just about impossible to have success.

Even with everything working against him last year, Jeanty still had over 1,300 total yards, caught 55 passes and found the end zone 10 times.

Denver's offense with Jeanty and Jaylen Waddle would be—something.

1.21: Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Original Pick: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

New Pick: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

This really shouldn't be a surprising—the Pittsburgh Steelers have spent much of the franchise's history hitting on late-first round selections with an impressive amount of regularity.

The team appears to have done so once again with the 6'4", 313-pound Harmon. Yes, he missed five games in 2025. Yes, his stats aren't especially impressive—27 total tackles and three sacks. But those stats don't tell the true story of a healthy Harmon's impact on games, and while speaking to reporters Harmon said that Year 2 is going to be a far more impactful one.

"I know what to expect (at the NFL level) and what's going to be asked of me," Harmon said. "So now it's a matter of working on those things over the offseason and coming back prepared. I've just got to look back on this film and see what I can do better. Nothing's ever perfect, so I've just gotta clean up the little things and come back next year. And take that next step."

Dude's a Steeler through and through.

1.22: Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Original Pick: RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

New Pick: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

Were the team to pass on Omarion Hampton in this re-draft, you can bet the rent that the Bolts would be looking to draft a running back on Day 2—because the depth chart in the backfield would be—rough. But it's not like Hampton made a big dent for the team as a rookie—he missed eight games and failed to crack 550 rushing yards.

Give Jim Harbaugh say Quinshon Judkins, and he'll be fine—especially if it means an already-solid Chargers defense can address a potential weak spot with safety Xavier Watts.

Watts lasted until the latter stages of Round 3 in the 2025 draft, but he certainly didn't play like it with the Atlanta Falcons—Watts tallied almost 100 total tackles and intercepted five passes with a passer rating against of less than 90.

Pairing Watts with Derwin James would give the Chargers one of the best safety duos in the NFL—if not the best.

1.23: Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Original Pick: WR Matthew Golden, Texas

New Pick: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

The Green Bay Packers may never take a wide receiver in the first round again—after making Golden the first Round 1 pick for the Packers at wideout since 2002, the team saw him catch just 29 passes in the regular season and fail to score a touchdown.

Not ideal.

Of course, Josh Simmons' first season in Kansas City wasn't ideal, either—he played in just eight games as a rookie, missing a big chunk of the middle of the season before getting shut down for the season with a broken wrist in November. However, when Simmons was on the field he impressed—per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, when Simmons was out there the 6'5" 310-pounder allowed a pressure rate of 6.6%, the third-lowest mark among left tackles.

The Packers need help at tackle. And when healthy, Simmons has the potential to be the best left tackle in the 2025 draft class.

1.24: Minnesota Vikings

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Original Pick: OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

New Pick: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

To be fair, Minnesota's original pick in the 2025 draft was just fine—Donovan Jackson started 14 games for the Vikings last season, allowing just two sacks in just under 800 snaps per Pro Football Focus.

But if Kyler Murray is at all capable of a Sam Darnold-esque career revival playing under Kevin O' Connell, then swapping out Jackson for tight end Harold Fannin Jr. could make an already potent Minnesota offense abjectly terrifying.

Fannin was a third-round steal by the Browns last year, making the leap from the MAC to the NFL with ease—he led the Browns in every major statistical receiving category last year, and his six touchdown grabs would have led the Vikings in 2025.

Forget T.J. Hockenson, who clearly isn't the player he once was. Add Fannin to a passing attack that already includes Jauan Jennings, Jordan Addison and some guy named Justin Jefferson, and opposing defenses are going to have a problem.

1.25: Houston Texans

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Original Pick: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (by NYG)

New Pick: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans dealt this pick to the New York Giants. But with no in-draft trades permitted in this do-over, Houston is forced to make a pick.

As it turns out, it's a guy already on the team.

The trade of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil left the Texans with a hole on C.J. Stroud's blind side. Houston tried veteran Cam Robinson in that spot, but eventually they turned the job over to youngster Aireontae Ersery. Ersery had his share of first-year struggles (seven sacks allowed in 1,082 snaps per Pro Football Focus), but the 6'6" 330-pounder improved steadily as the season wore on, drawing praise from his quarterback.

"Tae has one of the best mindsets I've seen from a rookie in my couple years in the league.," Stroud told reporters. "He wants to be great."

1.26: Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/John Locher

Original Pick: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee (by ATL)

New Pick: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

The Los Angeles Rams have arguably the NFL's most complete roster on paper. There's aren't many holes on either side of the ball, and the team blasted away at the biggest one entering the offseason (cornerback) with the trade for Trent McDuffie and the signing of Jaylen Watson.

However, the Rams were reportedly searching for an upgrade at wide receiver this offseason, and in that regard the team was unsuccessful—until now.

Luther Burden III didn't post huge numbers as a rookie with the Chicago Bears—47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns. But he posted a pir of games with both 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, displaying ability to do some real damage from the slot.

As if the Rams aren't frightening enough as constructed, imagine them with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Burden as their top three wideouts.

1.27: Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Original Pick: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

New Pick: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

One more do-over that is less do-over than repeat.

It didn't take long for Starks to make an impact at the professional level—he made 15 starts as a rookie opposite Kyle Hamilton at safety, played 94 percent of Baltimore's defensive snaps, posted 84 total tackles and intercepted a pair of passes.

Starks bulked up a bit in the offseason, and he told reporters he plans to take his game to a whole new level in Year 2.

"I'm around 214 pounds, and I think I ended last season around 202," Starks said. "I'm not sure I'm going to play at this weight when the season starts. I want to be able to move quickly. But right now, I feel good, definitely stronger. How I played last season was okay, but it's not the standard I set for myself. I know I can play at a higher level. There were plays I should've made and didn't. This season, I'm expecting to make them."

Look for a big season from Starks in 2026.

1.28: Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Original Pick: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

New Pick: OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia

There has been more than one team in this re-draft that has eschewed their first pick in 2025 for a player they selected on Day 2. That's what the Detroit Lions are doing with the selection of guard Tate Ratledge.

After center Frank Ragnow suddenly retired in June of 2025, Ratledge was pressed into full-time duty as a rookie. Making all 17 starts for the Lions at right guard, Ratledge didn't look like a rookie—he gave up just two sacks in almost 1,100 snaps per PFF and didn't surrender a sack over the last 12 games of the season.

While addressing the media, Ratledge said he feels like he has plenty of room to improve.

"I don't think I played to this offensive line's standard and this team's standard. So, definitely a lot of things I can improve on. It's pretty disappointing because I hold myself to a high standard. It's a building block and something I have a baseline to build on."

If Ratledge gets that improvement in 2026, he could quickly become one of the NFL's better young guards.

1.29: Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Mark Stockwell

Original Pick: OT Josh Conerly Jr., OT Oregon

New Pick: RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

To be fair, Josh Conerly was hardly a bad pick by the Commanders last year—the youngster from Oregon started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2026.

But thanks to a combination of injuries and a lack of explosiveness, the Washington offense took a massive step backward a year ago. In 2024, the Commanders were seventh in the NFL in total offense and fifth in scoring offense. Last year, those numbers free-fell to 22nd in yards per game and 22nd in points per game.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt wasn't a bad player as a rookie, but in terms of game-breaking ability he's just not on the same level as TreVeyon Henderson. Last year as a rookie with the New England Patriots, Henderson averaged over five yards a carry and became just the second player in NFL history to have two games with multiple 50-yard rushing touchdowns.

Henderson is a threat to house it every time he touches the ball.

1.30: Buffalo Bills

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Original Pick: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

New Pick: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

Jihaad Campbell had a relatively modest rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles—80 total tackles in 17 games and 10 starts. However, while talking to reporters, former teammate Nakobe Dean said that he expects Campbell's game to go to the next level in 2026.

"You're talking about a guy who's got the size, the ability to do everything on the field from the linebacker position, from covering, to blitzing, to stopping the run," Dean said. He's a three-down linebacker. He can do it all. He's going to be great for sure, and he's got a crazy work ethic."

In this re-draft, Campbell will be attempting to make that Year 2 surge for a Bills team that could use an upgrade at linebacker after fielding a bottom-five run defense last year. Terrel Bernard is a capable NFL starter, but Dorian Williams is a replacement-level talent. Campbell would provide immediate help opposite Bernard with the potential to eventually take over as the team's "green dot" linebacker.

1.31: Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Original Pick: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama (by PHI)

New Pick: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

The participants in Super Bowl LIX swapped picks last year, with the Kansas City Chiefs eventually settling on Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons with the final pick of Round 1. However, Simmons is off the board here, and the Chiefs still have a fairly pressing need at the position.

Josh Conerly could potentially fill that need quite nicely.

Now, there is a complication to this whole scenario—the 6'5" 311-pound played every offensive snap for the Commanders last year, but at right tackle. However, that had more to do with the presence of Laremy Tunsil in the nation's capital than any deficiencies in Conerly's game, and he made 28 starts at left tackle for the Ducks in college.

As a matter of fact, after an up-and-down rookie season in Washington in which he allowed eight sacks per PFF, Conerly might welcome a shift back to the left side.

1.32: Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Original Pick: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State (by KC)

New Pick: OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

Donovan Jackson's rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings had its share of ups and downs. But he was on the field for almost 800 snaps over 14 games, and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com wrote that Jackson has the potential to be a foundational piece along the offensive line.

"The first-year starter suffered through a bumpy start before emerging as a solid guard on a revamped offensive front," Brooks said. "Although the Vikings' record did not reflect his impact, Jackson is an essential building block on the line of scrimmage."

The Eagles don't necessarily have a dire need along the offensive line—or really at any position for that matter. But Howie Roseman has long had a reputation for hoarding talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball—a proclivity that has served him well in the past.

The Eagles appear set at guard with Tyler Steen and Landon Dickerson. But when you're a team with Super Bowl aspirations that likes to run the ball, depth on the interior is a good thing—and Jackson is arguably the best player available at this point.