Redrafting the First Round of the 2013 NFL Draft
I’m giving the entire NFL a mulligan.
With about a month left before the 2014 edition of the NFL Draft, Athlon Sports looks back at last year’s first round and tries to correct some mistakes. With a year of knowledge, game tapes, awards and injuries, what would the 30 teams (sorry Seattle and Washington) do differently if they got a second shot?
Would there still be five trades during the first round? Who would go No. 1? Who would be the biggest reach? Here is how we see the 2013 NFL Draft playing out if the teams had a do-over.
1. Kansas City: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Original Pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Andy Reid might have overthought his first pick as the Chiefs' head coach, as Luke Joeckel probably should have been the pick at No. 1 a year ago. However, after one full season, a case can be made that Richardson — a five-star recruit coming out of high school — was the best player in the draft. The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year would likely be the top pick for any team if the draft was redone today.
2. Jacksonville: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Original Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel was the safe and probably best pick for the Jaguars despite missing a huge chunk of the season with an injury. He should bounce back to have an excellent career. That said, Fluker proved his All-American pedigree was up to snuff. His upside at left tackle isn’t as high as Joeckel’s, but there is zero downside at right tackle. Fluker played more than 1,000 snaps in 15 games for a playoff team.
3. Miami: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Original Pick: Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon
Jordan was a project and all upside entering his rookie year and he played like it. He posted 19 tackles and 2.0 sacks in his first year and likely wouldn’t go in the first round based on that production. With massive OL issues swirling around South Beach all year, the Dolphins would be smart to trade up, this time to acquire Joeckel — who would be as safe a pick as there is in the 2013 NFL re-Draft.
4. Philadelphia: Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
Original Pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
The Eagles needed OL help and Johnson was solid as a rookie. While he was solid in the running game, the former quarterback showed why he was considered a project in the passing game. Warford was a three-time All-SEC pick and was a stud for the Lions last season. The third-round pick would jump both Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack on most big boards at the guard position and appears to be a stalwart for the next decade in the league.
5. Detroit: Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU
Original Pick: Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU
The first pick that would be repeated after one season is the lanky talented pass rusher from Provo. He still has a ways to go in terms of development but he led all rookies with 8.0 sacks and proved he will be effective against the run as well. If the Lions return to the postseason it won’t be a result of the powerful passing game in Detroit. It will be because of the elite defensive line that is coming together in the Motor City.
6. Cleveland: Kiko Alonso, LB, Oregon
Original Pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo was considered a huge risk at No. 6 and that proved to be the case after 29.0 tackles and 5.0 sacks as a rookie. He has some upside but no one delivered at outside linebacker/defensive end like Alonso. He posted an absurd 159 tackles, 2.0 sacks and four interceptions.
7. Arizona: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Original Pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Cooper wasn’t/isn’t a bad selection here for Arizona. The Cardinals desperately need some OL help and unfortunately, Cooper missed the entire season with a broken leg. With that knowledge in hand, Johnson then becomes the pick with his upside, athleticism and versatility for a team that desperately needs help up front.
8. St. Louis: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
Original Pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Jeff Fisher knew he needed to get Sam Bradford and his offense some playmakers and that is why he traded up to get this pick. He just took the wrong guy at No. 8. Allen was clearly the top wideout in the class (after one year, granted). The former five-star recruit is a sure-fire, top-flight talent and proved why he has been a superstar at every level of play. Allen led all rookies in catches (71), yards (1,046) and touchdowns (8).
9. NY Jets: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Original Pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Milliner was a solid pick for the Jets in a class that appears to have been loaded with productive cornerbacks. The rookie from Alabama posted 56 tackles, three interceptions and 15 passes deflected in just 13 games (12 starts). He should still be the top rookie coverman off the board.
10. Tennessee: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Original Pick: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
The All-American from Utah made his living in college stuffing the run and that is exactly what he did for the Panthers a year ago. He started all 16 games, pressured the quarterback 23 times, posted 3.0 sacks and registered 48 total tackles for a team that won its division. The Titans got a good player in Warmack but Lotulelei could be a force up the gut for the next decade and they simply cannot pass on his talent, not this time.
11. San Diego: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
Original Pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
The Chargers got a ton of value with Fluker here but since he would go much higher, they will settle for another All-American Alabama blocker. Warmack started all 16 games for the Titans and would have been a solid upgrade for the Bolts as well. The rebuilt O-line was a huge part of San Diego’s trip to the postseason.
12. Oakland: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Original Pick: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
The Raiders stayed true to their Silver and Black roots by taking an over-hyped speed guy who had no business going where he did in the draft. Hayden made two starts as a rookie, posting 26 tackles and one interception. There are half-a-dozen cornerbacks not named Hayden who Oakland should have taken with the 12th pick.
13. NY Jets: Kawann Short , DT, Purdue
Original Pick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Since the Jets got the steal of the draft at No. 13, the odds of Richardson falling outside of the top 2-3 picks in a redraft are slim and none. And with Lotulelei already taken, Short quickly becomes the next best nose guard on the board. The 44th overall pick in the draft played in 16 games for the Panthers' much-improved defense.
14. Carolina: Eric Reid, S, LSU
Original Pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Reid was probably the best defensive back prospect in the ’13 Draft class. He was a monster hitter and physical presence patrolling the back end for the near-NFC champion 49ers a year ago. He started all 16 games, registering 91 tackles and four interceptions for one of the best defenses in the league. The Panthers would have a star safety for the next 15 years… if Reid falls to them at 14th.
15. New Orleans: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Original Pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
If Reid was still on the board, most would agree he should’ve been taken ahead of the Texas safety. That said, Vaccaro posted a solid first year in NOLA. He started 14 games and collected 79 tackles with one sack and one interception. His upside isn’t as high as Reid’s, but he appears to be a dependable NFL starter for years to come.
16. Buffalo: EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
Original Pick: EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
The only team that really had eyes on a quarterback likely wouldn’t change that game plan if it had a re-do. Mike Glennon and Geno Smith got plenty of snaps but Manuel was obviously the most game-ready and talented signal-caller in this class. He completed 58.8 percent of his passes while averaging more than 200 yards of total offense per game in 10 starts. On a bad team, Manuel appears to be the answer under center (if he can stay healthy).
17. Pittsburgh: Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia
Original Pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
If it could do it all over again, Pittsburgh would still take a Georgia outside linebacker but it would be Ogletree instead of Jones. Ogletree started all 16 games for the Rams, making 117 total tackles, forcing six fumbles, collecting 1.5 sacks and posting one 98-yard INT returned for a touchdown. Jones has a chance to be a good player but Ogletree made a much bigger impact as a rookie.
18. Dallas: Kyle Long, OG, Oregon
Original Pick (SF): Eric Reid, S, LSU
Since Reid is already off the board, Jim Harbaugh won’t be forced to trade up to draft a safety. Instead, the Cowboys would keep this pick and even Jerry Jones would be hard-pressed to pass on the Pro Bowler Long. Dallas needed to address it O-line and did so with the 30th pick (Travis Frederick), but Long was one of the few that played as well (if not better) than the Wisconsin interior blocker.
19. NY Giants: David Bakhtiari, OT, Colorado
Original Pick: Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
Pugh wasn’t a terrible pick at 19th overall but Bakhtiari might have been the best value at O-line in the entire ’13 Draft. All the fourth-round pick out of Colorado did was protect Aaron Rodgers' blindside, starting all 16 games at left tackle for the Packers. He appears to be the real deal at left tackle and would be a stalwart for Eli Manning and the G-Men.
20. Chicago: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Original Pick: Kyle Long, OG, Oregon
Long is already off the board so the next best option is likely Cooper. There is a reason he went with the eighth overall pick last year and his fluke injury shouldn’t impact his long-term potential much. The Bears hit a home run with Long and wouldn’t be taking a big step back with Cooper.
21. Cincinnati: Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
Original Pick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Many were surprised with the Eifert pick considering the Bengals took a tight end in the first round just a few years ago. So knowing what he would get from Bernard, Marvin Lewis wouldn’t pass up the chance to secure his prized, do-everything playmaker earlier. The former Tar Heels all-purpose star ran for 695 yards, caught 56 passes for 514 yards and scored eight times as a rookie.
22. Atlanta: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
Original Pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
The Falcons would still be in the market to trade up to get a cornerback even with Trufant already off the board. With Mathieu sitting there, the Atlanta brass still makes the flip with the Rams to get a playmaker for the secondary. Offensive line and rush end also would be a possibility with this pick.
23. Minnesota: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Original Pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
The Vikings still land their guy in Patterson but would have to use the first of their eventual three first-round picks to get him instead of with the 29th overall selection. The freakish athlete is as naturally gifted a playmaker as there was in the class but is still a work in progress in terms of becoming a true No. 1 target. That said, he wouldn’t make it pass the Colts with the next pick if the Vikes don’t select him here.