Re-Drafting the 2021 NFL Draft

A lot goes into making an NFL draft pick, including film study, athletic testing, interviews and analytical research. What teams can't bring to the equation is future sight.

A player can check every conceivable box and still wind up struggling as a rookie because of poor team fit, a bad situation or injury. Another player might exceed expectations and immediately be labeled a "draft steal."

In other words, the NFL draft would look quite a bit different if teams could go back a year and redo their selections. How different might the 2021 draft look? That's what we're here to examine.

This hypothetical redraft is based on factors like player performance, team performances, team needs, injuries and projected upside—basically everything we've learned over the past year is on the table. We're going with the final draft order before Round 1 began, meaning predraft trades are included but draft-day swaps are not.

Original Selection: Trevor Lawrence

Where he was actually picked: No. 1 overall

Trevor Lawrence had an up-and-down rookie campaign for the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a 71.9 passer rating. However, the Jaguars were a mess under head coach Urban Meyer, who was fired before the season ended.

Lawrence still carries the promise of a generational quarterback, and that's hard to pass over—especially with no can't-miss quarterback prospects in 2022.

"Overall, Lawrence is living up to the hype he received as the top high school quarterback in the country and looks like a Week 1 franchise quarterback with the upside to win multiple MVPs and only injuries or an incompetent franchise will put him on a path toward failure," Nate Tice wrote in his predraft profile for the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

One could argue that Jacksonville showed plenty of incompetence during Lawrence's inaugural season, but that's not enough reason to not take Lawrence a second time.

Original Selection: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Where he was actually picked: No. 15 overall

The New York Jets took a flier on the physically gifted but unpolished Zach Wilson, and the results were underwhelming. Like Lawrence, Wilson suffered from a poor supporting cast and disappointed in Year 1. He finished with 2,334 passing yards, nine touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 69.7 rating.

In the redraft, the Jets go with a more polished passer in Alabama's Mac Jones. The former Crimson Tide star finished with 22 touchdown passes, a 92.5 rating and a Pro Bowl appearance as a rookie.

Now, New York couldn't expect the same results, as New England surrounded Jones with far superior talent. However, the floor for Jones would still be high, and his poise and efficiency would benefit the Jets greatly.

Head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur worked with a similar quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo—an athletic pocket passer and high-end game-manager—with the San Francisco 49ers. They won with Garoppolo and would have little trouble learning how to win with Jones. The Jets would be tempted to take Ja'Marr Chase here, but that wouldn't solve their need for a franchise quarterback.

Original Selection: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Where he was actually picked: No. 3 overall

It's very tempting to give the San Francisco 49ers a different selection here. Trey Lance didn't get on the field often as a rookie, and he wasn't overwhelmingly impressive. The North Dakota State product did post a 97.3 passer rating and go 1-1 as a starter, but he also completed just 57.7 percent of his passes.

The bottom line, though, is San Francisco traded up before the draft to take a quarterback. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, San Francisco may have zeroed in on Jones before pivoting to Lance during the predraft process—though it has since claimed Lance was always the choice.

"49ers decision-makers implied to Jones during predraft interviews that he was their target, according to sources," Howe wrote.

Whether Jones was a smokescreen or not, he's off the board, so San Francisco sticks with its original selection. Lance showed a few flashes during his limited playing time, and San Francisco is likely done with Jimmy Garoppolo as a franchise quarterback.

Garoppolo is under contract through this season and may get one more year. However, if the 49ers still believed he could be the future, they never would have traded up to No. 3 to grab his replacement a year ago.

Original Selection: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Where he was actually picked: No. 5 overall

The Atlanta Falcons got plenty out of tight end Kyle Pitts as a rookie. The Florida product finished with 68 receptions and 1,026 receiving yards—just shy of Mike Ditka's tight-end rookie record of 1,076 yards.

However, the Falcons pivot here to former LSU wideout Ja'Marr Chase. While Pitts was impressive, Chase was even better. He racked up 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns while earning a Pro Bowl nod (like Pitts) and being named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Drafting Chase would also fill Atlanta's pressing need for a perimeter receiver. Calvin Ridley missed the majority of the 2021 season after stepping away to focus on his mental health. He has since been suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games.

Given Atlanta's recent trade of quarterback Matt Ryan, a quarterback could also make sense here. However, the rest of the 2021 class remains largely unproven, and passing on a sure thing like Chase would be a mistake. The Falcons could take a quarterback with this year's No. 8 pick and have a star waiting to aid him in Chase.

Original Selection: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Where he was actually picked: No. 4 overall

With Chase off the board, the Cincinnati Bengals take a different Pro Bowl pass-catcher in Pitts. Naturally, Pitts wouldn't possess the same preexisting chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow that Chase had. However, he's still a dynamic playmaker who would help lift the Cincinnati offense.

Choosing Pitts over a wideout like Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith comes down to the fact that the Bengals already had solid perimeter targets coming into the draft. A trio of Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Pitts would be nearly as formidable as Cincinnati's current group. Additionally, tight end C.J. Uzomah departed this offseason in free agency.

An offensive tackle would also make a lot of sense here, seeing as how Burrow was sacked an NFL-high 51 times in 2021. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl with a lackluster line, though, and they have worked to improve it through free agency this offseason—adding the likes of La'el Collins, Alex Cappa and Ted Karras. Cincinnati opts for the instant-impact receiver instead.

Original Selection: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Where he was actually picked: No. 6 overall

The Miami Dolphins will continue to try building around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for at least one more season. Therefore, there aren't many reasons for them to move away from their original choice here, Alabama's Jaylen Waddle.

While Waddle didn't have the raw statistics or the buzz of Chase, he was fantastic as a rookie. He caught 104 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns in an offense that ranked just 25th overall. Waddle is a centerpiece receiver around which new head coach Mike McDaniel will look to build.

Waddle will pair with tight end Mike Gesicki and new additions Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr. to give Miami one of the better receiving corps in the AFC.

While Waddle wasn't a Pro Bowler like some of the players left on the board, he did nothing to disappoint as a rookie. Miami sticks with its original pick and leaves Tagovailoa no room for excuses entering the 2022 season.

Original Selection: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Where he was actually picked: No. 7 overall

The Detroit Lions also have little reason to move away from their original pick, so they don't. Penei Sewell struggled a little early while transitioning from left to right tackle, but he eventually proved to be an anchor opposite blindside protector Taylor Decker.

Sewell missed the season finale with a thumb injury and illness, but he played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the 16 games in which he appeared. He finished with 11 penalties but only five sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

There was some consideration of swapping Sewell for Pro Bowl tackle Rashawn Slater here, but given the progress Sewell showed in his move to the right side—along with Decker's presence—the pick stays the same.

As Detroit continues to defer its decision to replace Jared Goff at quarterback, it ensures that it has bookend tackles for whoever comes next.

Original Selection: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Where he was actually picked: No. 2 overall

In a somewhat ironic twist, the Carolina Panthers look to replace quarterback Sam Darnold with Wilson—which is precisely what the Jets did a year ago. The trade for Darnold was a failure, though Carolina insists it wants to see Darnold be the Week 1 starter.

"We want him to take it and run with it,'' general manager Scott Fitterer said, per ESPN's David Newton. "But we're gonna add a lot of competition to that room."

Darnold was a disaster in 2021, throwing a mere nine touchdown passes with 13 interceptions and a 71.9 rating. Here, competition comes in the form of Wilson, who lacked the polish to be a successful rookie starter. However, Darnold's presence—he started the first nine games before being forced out with a shoulder injury—allows the Panthers to work in Wilson slowly.

Original pick Jaycee Horn was great in limited action before landing on injured reserve, but the Panthers need to find their franchise quarterback. Darnold isn't it. Wilson could be.

Original Selection: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Where he was actually picked: No. 12 overall (by DAL via trade)

The Denver Broncos might consider going with a quarterback, but the knowledge that they can eventually go out and get Russell Wilson takes that option off the table. Instead, they go with the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

Now, Denver's original pick, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, was a perfectly fine choice. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie, intercepted four passes and allowed an opposing quarterback rating of only 61.3. Parsons, though, was a difference-maker against both the run and the pass.

Parsons finished his rookie season with 84 tackles, 64 solo stops, an opposing passer rating of 71.5 and a whopping 13 sacks. His ability to rush the passer is key, as the Broncos traded away sack artist Von Miller midseason.

Denver should be completely happy to have Surtain in the fold, but Parsons is a player the Broncos simply cannot afford to pass over given a second opportunity.

Original Selection: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (by PHI via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 9 overall

In the real world, the Dallas Cowboys traded out of the No. 10 spot—allowing the Philadelphia Eagles to snag wideout DeVonta Smith—and still landed Parsons. With Parsons off the board, though, Dallas instead takes Surtain.

This might seem like a luxury pick, given Dallas' ability to haul in interceptions. The Cowboys led the NFL with 26 of them while ranking seventh in touchdown passes allowed (24).

However, Dallas very much had a boom-or-bust defense in 2021. The Cowboys ranked 20th in passing yards allowed and 19th in total yards allowed. They were also just 1-3 in games without a takeaway. Even Defensive Player of the Year candidate Trevon Diggs was a risk-reward player for Dallas.

The standout corner led the NFL with 11 interceptions but also allowed 907 yards and four touchdowns in coverage.

Drafting Surtain would help add a little more depth and consistency to Dallas' defense. That's not a bad consolation prize after missing out on Parsons in the redraft.

Original Selection: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State (by CHI via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 11 overall

The New York Giants originally traded this pick to the Chicago Bears so that they could draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. In the redraft, they stand pat and take Fields for themselves.

To be fair, this is a risky decision. The Giants have quarterback Daniel Jones under contract for another year, and Fields had a rough rookie campaign with Chicago. However, he was hampered by some very questionable decision-making by coach Matt Nagy. In Fields' first career start, for example, Nagy went with a pass-first game plan against a fearsome Cleveland Browns pass rush. Fields was sacked a whopping nine times.

"It was bad," Fields' private quarterback coach Ron Veal told 670 The Score in Chicago (h/t Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk). "He took a beating that day."

While Fields has plenty left to prove, Jones has largely proven that he isn't franchise-quarterback material. He has a 12-25 record and a career passer rating of just 84.3. According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Giants are unlikely to pick up Jones' fifth-year option.

Given the uncertainty surrounding this year's rookie quarterback class, preemptively pairing Fields with new head coach Brian Daboll would make plenty of sense.

Original Selection: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (by PHI via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 10 overall

The Eagles luck out and find the receiver they originally traded up to get still on the board at No. 12. They scoop him up knowing they'll get a legitimate playmaker and a tremendous teammate for quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts and Smith spent time together at Alabama before Hurts transferred. They've built a strong connection in Philadelphia, and Smith openly supports his quarterback.

"I can't exaggerate how much he really wants to make us just go. Most people might shy away from that challenge," Smith said of Hurts, per Josh Tolentino of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Smith wasted little time establishing himself as the top receiver in Philadelphia, finishing with 64 receptions, 916 yards and five touchdowns. While those might not seem like overly impressive stats, it's worth noting that Philadelphia had a run-oriented offense that ranked last in pass attempts.

The Eagles got a great player in Smith, and they take him again here.

Original Selection: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

Where he was actually picked: No. 13 overall

The Lions sticking with Sewell over Slater would be great news to the Los Angeles Chargers. L.A. snatched up the Northwestern product with the 13th overall pick and solidified their left tackle spot for the foreseeable future.

Slater missed one game on the reserve/COVID-19 list but played 100 percent of the offensive snaps otherwise. He was a reliable starter, too, responsible for only six penalties and four sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

Quarterback Justin Herbert made a big second-year leap in 2021, thanks in no small part to Slater's presence. The rookie tackle joined Herbert in the Pro Bowl following the regular season.

Herbert and Slater are poised to be longtime building blocks for the Chargers offense, and there's little reason for the Chargers to deviate from that reality in a redraft.

Original Selection: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC (by Jets via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 26 overall

A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings traded out of the No. 14 spot, allowing the New York Jets to move up and select interior lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. In this redraft, the Vikings stay put and scoop up Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II.

While Newsome did experience some injury woes as a rookie—he missed time with a concussion and battled a calf injury—he was reliable when healthy. He appeared in 12 games with 11 starts and 89 percent of the defensive snaps.

Newsome had nine passes defended and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 85.6.

It's tempting to pair Minnesota with offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, their original choice at No. 23. However, defense was such a liability in 2021—the Vikings ranked 28th in passing yards allowed, 24th in points allowed and 30th in total defense—that they switch gears and snatch a centerpiece for their secondary instead.

Original Selection: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Where he was actually picked: No. 67 overall

This represents the second-biggest jump of the redraft. Davis Mills was a third-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2021, but here, he goes in the middle of the first. With Jones already off the board, the Patriots need a new quarterback.

The reality is that Mills might not be a downgrade for New England. He fell in the draft because of his injury history—he underwent knee surgery in both high school and college—and limited resume. Mills started only 11 games over his last two seasons at Stanford.

However, Mills carried himself extremely well with a bad Houston Texans team in 2021. He started 11 games, threw 16 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions and posted an 88.8 passer rating. Statistically, he was the second-best rookie after Jones last season.

With New England's supporting cast, Mills might have been even more impressive. The Patriots had a playoff-caliber roster that won six more games than Houston did. There's a very real chance Mills could have beaten out Cam Newton for the starting job. He might have managed New England to the playoffs, too.

Original Selection: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Where he was actually picked: No. 18 overall

The Arizona Cardinals originally took Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins with this pick. While the rookie wasn't a disaster in his first season, he didn't see the field a ton, either. He appeared in all 17 games, playing just 20 percent of the snaps.

Instead, Arizona scoops up pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips, who starred for the Dolphins as a rookie. The Miami product logged 8.5 sacks and 26 quarterback pressures in Year 1 to go with 42 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

Arizona only got seven games out of veteran pass-rusher J.J. Watt in 2021, and having Phillips would have helped mitigate his absence. Additionally, the Cardinals lost Chandler Jones this offseason, and drafting Phillips would have provided a succession plan.

As things stand in the real world, Arizona is left having to replace a pass-rusher who logged 71.5 sacks in 84 games with the franchise. That production will be difficult to replicate, but adding Phillips would have been a great start.

Original Selection: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

Where he was actually picked: No. 14 overall

The Las Vegas Raiders used the 17th pick on former Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood. Las Vegas moved him to guard as a rookie, and the results left plenty to be desired.

According to Pro Football Focus, Leatherwood was responsible for 14 penalties and eight sacks surrendered.

With Alijah Vera-Tucker available in the redraft, the Raiders pounce. A Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie selection, Vera-Tucker stood out on an underwhelming Jets team in 2021. He started six games and played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in them. He was responsible for five penalties and just two sacks allowed, according to PFF.

The Raiders' offensive line was a liability in 2021—Las Vegas surrendered 40 sacks and ranked 27th in yards per rush. Getting Vera-Tucker instead of Leatherwood would be a positive step toward fixing the issue.

Original Selection: Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami

Where he was actually picked: No. 31 overall

The Dolphins should be thrilled with what they got out of Phillips as a rookie. However, he's off the board here, so Miami turns to Penn State pass-rusher Odafe Oweh.

Oweh burst onto the scene quickly with the Baltimore Ravens, tallying three sacks in his first five games. He cooled off after that and missed the final two games with a foot injury. However, Oweh had a promising rookie campaign.

After failing to notch a sack in 2020 with Penn State, Oweh had five of them with the Ravens in 2021. He also logged 33 tackles, 23 solo stops, three forced fumbles and 27 quarterback pressures. He didn't have quite the numbers Phillips did as a rookie, but the drop-off in Miami's defense shouldn't be significant.

Oweh's production came in a Ravens defense that suffered multiple injuries in the secondary and ranked last in pass defense. Miami ranked a more respectable 16th in passing yards allowed.

Original Selection: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Where he was actually picked: No. 8 overall

With quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1, the Washington Commanders may wish they had taken a quarterback in the first round in 2021. Taylor Heinicke was serviceable, but he couldn't push Washington into the playoffs.

The Commanders will now turn to trade acquisition Carson Wentz for 2022.

With no quarterbacks left worthy of the No. 19 pick, the Commanders instead snag South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.

While Horn's rookie season was cut short after only three games by a foot fracture, he came into the draft as one of the top defensive prospects and has a ton of upside. He flashed in his brief window, playing 142 defensive snaps over three games and allowing an opposing passer rating of only 39.6.

This is a pick based largely on potential, but it's a logical gamble. Washington ranked 29th in pass defense and 25th in points allowed last season.

Original Selection: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida (by Giants via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 23 overall

With the Vikings passing on Darrisaw, the Bears get a prime opportunity to improve their offensive line. Chicago tried with second-round pick Teven Jenkins, but Jenkins was limited to just six games and 160 offensive snaps after offseason back surgery. In that short span, he was responsible for seven penalties and two sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Bears went on to surrender 58 sacks and ranked 21st in yards per rushing attempt.

Darrisaw missed the first four games of his rookie season with a groin injury, but he recovered to have a solid campaign. He was responsible for three penalties and five sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

Naturally, the Bears are left without a new franchise quarterback in this scenario, but no signal-caller left on the board warrants a top-20 pick. Of course, Chicago also holds the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft in this scenario after not trading up to acquire Fields. With a better line in place, Chicago could gamble on a quarterback in 2022.

Original Selection: Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

Where he was actually picked: No. 34 overall

Last April, the Indianapolis Colts took Michigan pass-rusher Kwity Paye 21st overall. While Paye flashed at times—he had four sacks and 16 pressures—he didn't have a huge impact as a rookie. Drafting former Mississippi receiver Elijah Moore would.

Moore was limited to 11 games by a hamstring injury, but he was one of the few highlights for a bad Jets offense. New York ranked 26th in total offense and 28th in scoring. In his 11 appearances, Moore caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns. He provided a passer rating of 77.7 when targeted, which isn't great. It's worth noting, though, that Jets quarterbacks had a cumulative rating of just 76.0 overall.

While Wentz was far from perfect for Indianapolis, he posted a 94.6 rating and was better than anyone New York had under center. Moore's production likely would have reflected that if he had been in Indianapolis.

And the Colts could have used his production, too. Indy lacked receiver depth behind Michael Pittman Jr., who was the only player on the team to top 400 receiving yards in 2021.

Original Selection: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Where he was actually picked: No. 29 overall

The Tennessee Titans originally used this selection on Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley. It was a gamble, as he was coming off March back surgery, and it failed to pay off.

Farley was serviceable in three games—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 101.4 before being lost for the season to a torn ACL. Instead, Tennessee turns to former Georgia corner Eric Stokes, who appeared in 16 games for the Green Bay Packers in 2021.

Stokes had a terrific rookie campaign, finishing with 14 passes defended and an opposing passer rating of just 71.3. While he might not possess the raw upside of a player such as Jaycee Horn—who went higher in the redraft despite his own season-ending injury—his dependability would be huge for the Titans.

Tennessee ranked just 25th in passing yards allowed last season and surrendered 348 passing yards in a three-point playoff loss to Cincinnati despite logging nine sacks. Having Stokes in that one might just have pushed Tennessee to the AFC Championship Game.

Original Selection: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech (by MIN via trade)

Where he was actually picked: No. 24 overall

In this redraft, the Jets miss out on both Vera-Tucker and Moore, two bright spots in their 2021 campaign. Rather than looking to replace either player at No. 23, New York pairs Mac Jones with a workhorse running back in Najee Harris.

To be fair, New York got a decent rookie season out of Michael Carter, a fourth-round running back who produced 639 rushing yards, 325 receiving yards and four touchdowns. However, Harris was a rookie Pro Bowler who practically carried the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

The Alabama product averaged just 3.9 yards per carry behind a poor Pittsburgh offensive line. However, he still rushed for 1,200 yards while catching 74 passes for 467 yards and scoring 10 combined touchdowns.

While Harris isn't the most explosive runner, he's exactly the sort of high-volume back who could lead the Jets offense as it finds an identity. Plus, it would have been a lot more fun to watch Jones and Harris in the lineup for Gang Green than the product New York actually put on the field.

Original Selection: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Where he was actually picked: No. 35 overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs thanks in large part to Harris. Now-retired quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a shadow of his former self, ranking just 29th in yards per attempt among qualifying signal-callers.

With Harris off the board one pick earlier, Pittsburgh needs to find another dual-threat running back.

Enter: North Carolina's Javonte Williams. Originally picked in the second round by Denver, Williams made an immediate impact on the Broncos offense. Despite splitting time with starter Melvin Gordon III, Williams still finished with 903 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 316 receiving yards and seven combined touchdowns.

Williams had 104 fewer carries and 31 fewer receptions than Harris. Given Harris' workload, Williams would have finished with 1,351 rushing yards and 540 receiving yards.

Now, Williams probably wouldn't have actually had those numbers with Pittsburgh's woeful offensive line, but it's not outlandish to believe he would have been as impactful for the Steelers as Harris actually was. Pittsburgh may still have made the playoffs and would still be set with a starting-caliber back entering 2022.

Original Selection: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

Where he was actually picked: No. 112 overall

The Jaguars had a decent plan with the 25th pick, looking to pair quarterback Trevor Lawrence with college teammate Travis Etienne. However, the running back suffered a Lisfranc injury during the preseason and missed his entire rookie campaign. 

Instead, Jacksonville scoops up former USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Originally a fourth-round pick by the Lions, St. Brown represents the single biggest rise in our redraft.

The move would be worth it for Jacksonville. St. Brown proved to be a No. 1-caliber receiver with Detroit, especially late in the season. He finished with 90 catches, 912 yards and five touchdowns. He also ended the year with six straight games with at least eight receptions.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, St. Brown didn't drop a pass and had 22 more receptions than any other player who went without a drop in 2021.

To be fair, the Lions lacked receiver depth and forced the ball to St. Brown late in the season. However, that might have happened in Jacksonville, too, as Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. were the only Jaguars to reach 500 receiving yards.

Original Selection: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

Where he was actually picked: No. 52 overall

The Cleveland Browns originally took Newsome with this pick, and they're glad they did. With Newsome off the board at No. 14, however, they look to secure their other rookie defensive star, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Cleveland landed him in the second round, but it won't risk missing him in the redraft. While an ankle injury limited Owusu-Koramoah to 14 games, he still finished with 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defended and three tackles for loss. Owusu-Koramoah, who made the Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team, was also fantastic in coverage.

"PFF charted Owusu-Koramoah with just 168 passing yards allowed into his coverage on 300 coverage snaps this season," Ben Linsey of PFF wrote. "That rate of 0.56 yards allowed per snap ranked third among off-ball linebackers with at least 250 coverage snaps during the regular season."

The Browns keep him in the fold by drafting him a round early this time.

Original Selection: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Where he was actually picked: No. 76 overall

As noted, the Baltimore Ravens defense battled injuries in 2021. Starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters (torn ACL) and Marlon Humphrey (torn pectoral) both missed significant time. As a result, Baltimore fielded the league's worst pass defense.

Instead of taking Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman—who had 515 receiving yards during an inconsistent rookie campaign—the Ravens grab some much-needed secondary depth.

A third-round pick of New Orleans, Stanford's Paulson Adebo was both effective and durable as a rookie. He started all 17 games for the Saints and played 76 percent of the defensive snaps. He finished with 66 tackles, eight passes defended, three interceptions and a respectable opposing passer rating of 91.7.

Adebo's durability is the big selling point. Had Baltimore fielded a quality starter for the entire season, it might have stood a chance of sneaking into the playoffs. Lamar Jackson suffered a season-ending ankle injury Dec. 12, and the Ravens lost six straight to finish the year, including five-plus games without their star QB. Four of those losses were by a field goal or less.

Original Selection: Payton Turner, Edge, Houston

Where he was actually picked: No. 30 overall

A year ago, the New Orleans Saints took Houston pass-rusher Payton Turner 28th. The team got just five games, 143 defensive snaps and one sack out of him before he landed on injured reserve with a shoulder setback.

Turner was in and out of the lineup even before the injury, inactive in four of the first seven games.

Instead, New Orleans grabs Miami's Gregory Rousseau in the redraft. He was picked by the Bills two spots after Turner and had a far more impactful rookie campaign.

While Rousseau played just 49 percent of the defensive snaps, he started all 17 games for Buffalo. He finished with 50 tackles, four passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble, four sacks and 24 quarterback pressures.

Turner could still develop into a great pass-rusher. Seeing as how New Orleans narrowly missed the playoffs in Sean Payton's final season, however, it goes with the pass-rusher who stayed healthy.

Original Selection: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

Where he was actually picked: No. 47 overall

The Green Bay Packers got a good one in Stokes, but he's off the board here, and the team still needs cornerback depth. As the Packers now know, star cornerback Jaire Alexander missed 13 games during the regular season with a shoulder injury.

With Stokes long gone, Green Bay turns to former Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. He suffered two concussions in 2021 and only appeared in 12 games. However, he was a quality starter, playing 84 percent of the defensive snaps in those contests.

While Samuel did allow an opposing passer rating of 96.8, he also had 11 passes defended and two interceptions. He rarely came off the field when healthy, and he would still be a valuable contributor in the Packers secondary.

Would Green Bay rather have Stokes? Sure, but that's not an option, so the team goes with the best corner available.

Original Selection: Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami

Where he was actually picked: No. 50 overall

The Buffalo Bills just miss out on Rousseau in our redraft, so they look to add a different edge-rusher in Georgia's Azeez Ojulari.

A second-round pick by the Giants, Ojulari stepped into a fairly significant role as a rookie. He appeared in all 17 games, started 13 of them and played 67 percent of the defensive snaps. Ojulari finished the year with eight sacks, 49 tackles and 27 quarterback pressures.

While Ojulari only had three more pressures in 249 more snaps than Rousseau, he also doubled his sack total. It's also worth noting that Ojulari played on an underwhelming Giants defense that ranked 21st overall and 23rd in points allowed. Rousseau was a rotational piece for a Buffalo defense that ranked first in both points and yards allowed.

The Bills should be happy to have Rousseau, but Ojulari would be a fine consolation pick with Buffalo's original selection already off the board.

Original Selection: Odafe Oweh, Edge, Penn State

Where he was actually picked: No. 32 overall

The Ravens bolstered their pass rush with the 31st pick a year ago—a selection gained from the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the Orlando Brown Jr. trade. They do the same here, but with Oweh off the board at No. 18, they instead grab Washington's Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

He played a rotational role for the Buccaneers in 2021, but he was still impactful. He played just 49 percent of the defensive snaps but appeared in all 17 games. He finished with four sacks, 29 tackles, five tackles for loss and 27 quarterback pressures.

That production is comparable to what Baltimore got out of Oweh, who played 65 percent of the defensive snaps over 15 games and posted five sacks, 33 tackles, five tackles for loss and 27 QB pressures—again, though, in an injury-riddled defense.

Some consideration was given to Bateman here, since the Ravens passed on the wideout earlier in the redraft. However, he didn't show enough as a rookie to justify taking him over a potential future star on the edge.

Original Selection: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Edge, Washington

Where he was actually picked: No. 55 overall

This revised selection has a lot to do with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' current state. Rob Gronkowski was limited to 12 games by a rib injury in 2021, but he still produced 802 yards and six touchdowns. However, Gronkowski is no lock to return to Tampa.

"Right now, I'm not ready to get back out on that field," he told TMZ.

The Buccaneers also lost tight end O.J. Howard to the Bills in free agency. Taking Penn State's Pat Freiermuth a year early would have Tampa in a good spot—and it would have helped the Bucs navigate Gronkowski's injury last season.

Freiermuth was outstanding for the Steelers in 2021. He wasn't a major piece of the offensive game plan early, but he still finished with 60 receptions, 497 yards and seven touchdowns while helping to post a 121.1 passer rating when targeted. Freiermuth is exactly the sort of crafty, dependable target Tom Brady would love to have in what might (or might not) be his final year.

With Tryon-Shoyinka off the board one pick earlier, Tampa grabs Freiermuth while it can.

*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.