Note: The RankKing has done his 2019 NFL Redraft earlier in the year! Check out how they compare here.
The 2020 NFL draft is quickly upon us and each of the Benchers participating have placed their 1.0’s on the site. With the itch to write about drafting, I wanted to take a small high level dive into the world of the 2019 draft and do a first year redraft knowning what we know now. Some picks remain the same, but one of the more intruiging things for me was the amount of teams who took later round guys they did select in the first here. Let’s get started!
#1: Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Number one pick stays the same, no brainer here for the Cardinals. Murray had a solid rookie campaign and the franchise will happily draft Murray no matter how many times we do this.
#2: San Francisco 49ers – Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The 49ers stay on course here and select the most productive rookie, leading the 49ers from the second pick to the Super Bowl. You can make a case that Bosa here was considered a steal.
#3: New York Jets – Josh Allen, DE, Kentucky
There’s nothing wrong with taking Quinnen Williams here, but Josh Allen was tremendous for the Jaguars in year one. The Jets are more than happy sticking with Williams, but a quality edge rusher is hard to replace.
#4: Oakland Raiders – Brian Burns, DE, Florida State
The Raiders had an extremely good draft in 2019 despite reaching for Clelin Ferrell at the number 4 spot. Gruden loves his edge rushers and Brian Burns lit the NFL on fire in his first year. Pair Burns with Maxx Crosby (who, I know, isn’t a Raider anymore cause of this draft) and the Raiders have an insanely young and talented rush.
#5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devin White, ILB, LSU
Devin White sticks it out at the fifth pick to the Bucs in my redraft. White is a complete player and whether he’s blitzing or in coverage, he is a crucial center piece to the Bucs defense moving forward.
#6: New York Giants – Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
I’ll admit that Daniel Jones has almost made me a full on believer in him from the few games he got to play in year one. The Giants seem to be on a consistent rebuild, but have finally gotten a few centerpieces for the future.
#7: Jacksonville Jaguars –Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
This one…this one breaks my heart. Devin Bush has proven as an instant impact player in the NFL in his first season in Pittsburgh and fills an instant need on the Jacksonville defense.
#8: Detroit Lions – Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Ed Oliver was an absolute steal for the Buffalo Bills and the Lions need some help on the line. Snacks Harrison didn’t exactly work out for the best in Detroit and adding an instant impact guy like Oliver should help the Lions secondary in the long run.
#9: Buffalo Bills – Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
And this is coming from a guy who loves Devin Singletary. The Bills originally took Oliver, but adding a 1k yard rusher to a solid offense is obviously a no brainer.
#10: Denver Broncos – Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
If there’s one team who would hate this redraft it’s the Denver Broncos who now have to take their signal caller in the first round. Lock was a second level type of talent compared to the top QB’s in this draft, but the kid looked extremely good towards the end of the season. Plus, he can spit.
#11: Cincinnati Bengals – A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
From one A.J. to another, the Bengals solidify their receiving core with arguably the top talent in ths draft. Brown did wonders for the Titans this season and surpassed former first round pick Corey Davis as the easy number one option. I thought about a QB here, but there aren’t many left I would take gladly over their current starter from this class.
#12: Green Bay Packers – D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
This would be the first skill player the Packers have drafted in like a bajillion years, and they finally get their #2 behind Adams. Metcalf came on HEAVY for the Seahawks late in the season, and giving him another elite level QB would only show similar stats.
#13: Miami Dolphins – Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
It’s insane to think that Williams fell this far, but his first year production wasn’t quite as insane as the names already listed. I still believe though that he has one of the highest ceilings in this entire draft, and the Miami Dolphins need playmakers.
#14: Atlanta Falcons – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
I REALLY wanted Williams to fall here to stop some of the terrible play from the D-Line for the Falcons, but a Pro Bowl caliber tackle is too good to pass up on. Get Matty Ice some protection and worry about that D-Line in FA or another draft. Williams missed the entire 2019 campaign with an injury but should be a much improved player for the Bengals in 2020.
#15: Washington Redskins – Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
I love this kid. Big concerns out of college mainly because of his size, but Gruden and Mayock found a legit diamond in the rough with the small school Crosby. The Redskins can match Crosby with Chase Young and arguably have a better tandem than Sweat and Young.
#16: Carolina Panthers – Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State
With the uncertainty that is Cam Newton and the backups in Allen and Grier not being instant impact guys, Minshew makes perfect sense in Carolina. The Washington State alum showed he is ready for the NFL now in Jacksonville, so why not bring in your starting QB now?
#17: New York Giants – Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
I thought that Sweat had a stellar first year considering the Redskins always being behind, so the Giants get their edge rusher. It’s not a super sexy pick, but Sweat has a big engine and if the heart condition doesn’t cause any issues, he should have a solid career.
#18: Minnesota Vikings – Chris Lidstrom, G, Boston College
Originally drafted by the Falcons, Lidstrom missed the 2019 season but should be an elite level O-Lineman moving forward. The Vikings took Bradbury originally and although Bradburry has been good, I feel the guard position is slightly more important in todays game.
#19: Tennessee Titans – Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Since the Titans can’t get A.J. Brown, you have to go with the most intriguing WR in this draft in Deebo Samuel. Samuel was electric for the 49ers and can easily step into a similar role for the Titans.
#20: Pittsburgh Steelers – T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
I really wanted Minshew to fall here, but why not give the Steelers their tight end. Hock had an injury ridden rookie campaign but absolutely showed flashes of elite TE. I would adore this man in the black and gold and he easily can fit into this offense. No more Vance McDonald!
#21: Seattle Seahawks – Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Dean is an under the radar player for the casual NFL fan, but has been one of the best picks in this draft for the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Seahawks are too far removed from the L.O.B. for my liking, so bring in a talented play now corner to get this defense going.
#22: Baltimore Ravens – Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Stay true to the process on this one! Hollywood Brown was an explosive talent even if the Ravens really only needed him here and there. I love his upside, especially with the continued rise of one Lamar Jackson.
#23: Houston Texans – Andre Dillard, OT, Washington
Dillard wasn’t as exciting as most would expect in his first season with the Eagles, but he also is playing behind two pro bowl linemen. The Texans make this pick and they might not have to trade for Laremy Tunsil, saving themselves a first round selection. I still believe this team would make a Super Bowl run in the near future, but that line just continues to need work.
#24: Oakland Raiders – Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
SCARY TERRY! The Raiders thought they had their receiver in AB, but it turned out he was only interested in causing chaos. Enter McLaurin, an insanly productive receiver in his first year with the Redskins. I love this pick, especially considering that the Raiders might have squeaked into the playoffs with a better receiving core.
#25: Philadelphia Eagles – Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
The Eagles found a guy in Sanders that’s almost perfect for their team. I thought about Singletary or Montgomery here, but Sanders is Peterson’s dream RB, just sucks they had to get him in the first this time around.
#26: Indianapolis Colts – Darnell Savage, S, Maryland
I’m a big fan of the homegrown Malik Hooker, but injuries continue to hurt his career. Bring in arguably the most productive Safety from the past year in Savage and instantly propel this Colts Defense to top five in the NFL.
#27: Oakland Raiders – Devin Singletary, RB, FAU
Since the Raiders can’t connect on Josh Jacobs, grab the man I think is the second best back in the class. Singletary had a good first year and came on strong towards the end. The Raiders offense needs a young RB and although he may not produce 1,000 yards, Singletary is my favorite back for the future remaining.
#28: Los Angeles Chargers – Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
I loved Thornhill in this draft and was very upset he got injured before the Super Bowl, but the athletic S would be an amazing compliment to James in the Chargers backfield. Thornhill was one of the most intruiging players in this draft, mainly because of his freakish athletic abilities.
#29: Seattle Seahawks – Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
I don’t exactly know what Ferrell’s career will produce, but there’s no denying that he is a first round talent. He got overshadowed by Crosby for the Raiders in 2019, but the guy is a locker room leader with an engine. The Seahawks won’t need to trade away anything for Clowney now hopefully and set themselves up for the future with these two first round picks.
#30: Green Bay Packers – Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
I debated with Greg pretty heavily on the Simmons in the First Round discussion, but the kid balled out in the Playoffs even after his injury in college. With the Packers going receiver with their first selection, take the guy who can be an anchor for this defense for years to come.
The Packers
#31: Los Angeles Rams – Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
The Rams need a new O-Line, plain and simple. It’s almost insane to consider that this fantasy draft type of roster has holes in it, but that line if the difference between a Super Bowl and missing the playoffs. Taylor did allowe 8 sacks his first year with the Jaguars, but would be a massive upgrade on talent and youth for this organization.
#32: New England Patriots –Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
The Gronk Replacement! It was too perfect not to select Fant here, especially considering he had a better year than Harry who was taken here originally. Fant has flashes of greatness in Denver and I’m very excited to see the kid’s future there. Add him into this Patriots team and you can make a case that the Pat’s season would have ended much differently.
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