Joe Burrow has led the Cincinnati Bengals to the AFC Championship Game just two seasons after being drafted No. 1 overall, which got me thinking: Would he go first if the Bengals had to do it all over again, or would they take Justin Herbert?
Beyond that, what would the 2020 draft look like with the benefit of hindsight? Here is my 2020 redraft now that we have two seasons of data to analyze.
1. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow
Original pick: QB Joe Burrow
Despite the Bengals’ playoff run, it’s a legitimate question whether Burrow or Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert will end up having the better career. Herbert is a more toolsy player but Burrow led the league in yards per attempt in Year 2. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Bengals stick with Burrow.
2. Washington Football Team: QB Justin Herbert
Original pick: DE Chase Young
It’s hard to fault Washington for passing on Herbert in the draft because he was inconsistent at Oregon. However, Los Angeles struck gold with its quarterback. This would be the no-brainer pick if Washington had a do-over, and the franchise’s trajectory would have been completely different.
Rank these AFC quarterbacks:
– Lamar Jackson
– Joe Burrow
– Justin Herbert
– Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/YtvUTgONu3— FanDuel (@FanDuel) January 25, 2022
3. Detroit Lions: DE Chase Young
Original pick: CB Jeff Okudah
The Lions would have benefitted from a quarterback going No. 2 because Young would have dropped to them. His second season wasn’t dominant but Young is expected to be one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL for a long time.
4. New York Giants: WR Justin Jefferson
Original pick: T Andrew Thomas
Thomas showed major improvement in Year 2 and should still end up being a nice pick, but Jefferson is already one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. New York needs some game-breaking talent and Jefferson more than fits that bill.
5. Miami Dolphins: OT Tristan Wirfs
Original pick: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa has had flashes of success, but he still leaves plenty to be desired. The Dolphins have major issues on the offensive line, and taking an All-Pro here would have set them up for years to come.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: CB A.J. Terrell
Original pick: QB Justin Herbert
The Chargers are overjoyed that there is no such thing as a redraft, because it would have meant the loss of Herbert. Terrell is a decent consolation prize, as he showed All-Pro ability in his second season with the Falcons.
7. Carolina Panthers: OT Andrew Thomas
Original pick: DT Derrick Brown
Carolina has a solid right tackle in Taylor Moton, but a hole at left tackle. Thomas would have filled that nicely if he had been available at No. 7 in 2020. Brown has not yet lived up to his draft billing.
8. Arizona Cardinals: WR CeeDee Lamb
Original pick: LB Isaiah Simmons
The Cardinals’ offense was among the NFL’s best with DeAndre Hopkins at full health, but fell off a cliff without him. The presence of Lamb would have given the Cardinals one of the most dynamic receiver tandems in the league. Lamb played with quarterback Kyler Murray at Oklahoma, so there would have been immediate chemistry, a la Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. There is no questioning Simmons’ athleticism, but he does not yet have top-10 production.
The friendship is strong between CeeDee Lamb and Kyler Murray
(Via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/O1ycyqg03s
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 15, 2021
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Jonathan Taylor
Original pick: CB C.J. Henderson
Taylor was in the MVP conversation this season after a breakout performance with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns for Indianapolis. It’s always scary taking a running back in the top-10 because it’s unknown how it will pan out, but with the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear Taylor is a superstar worthy of being chosen high. Henderson has already been traded by Jacksonville.
10. Cleveland Browns: OT Jedrick Wills
Original pick: OT Jedrick Wills
One of the few that doesn’t change. Wills has shown enough promise to be Cleveland’s blindside protector for years to come.
11. New York Jets: OT Mekhi Becton
Original pick: OT Mekhi Becton
This pick also stays the same. Becton missed almost his entire second season with a dislocated kneecap and sometimes struggles with conditioning, but the talent is obvious. The Jets would be happy to take him again in this spot.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: WR Tee Higgins
Original pick: WR Henry Ruggs
Higgins has been a big part of Cincinnati’s turnaround, catching 74 passes for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns this year. Ruggs has been charged with driving under the influence resulting in death after fatally rear-ending 23-year-old Tina Tintor on November 2.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Jeffrey Okudah
Original pick: OT Tristan Wirfs
Another team that would absolutely not want a redraft. If it went down like this, perhaps they take a chance on Okudah, who has started slowly with the Lions but has the type of talent that makes coaches drool.
14. San Francisco 49ers: WR Brandon Aiyuk
Original pick: DT Javon Kinlaw
The 49ers took Aiyuk later in the draft, but in a re-do they snag him here. There have been some ups and downs early in his career but he’s a perfect fit for the offense and gives the team a dynamic playmaker alongside Deebo Samuel and George Kittle.
Brandon Aiyuk ROUTED Diggs 😳
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/c864jag5C1
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 17, 2022
15. Denver Broncos: QB Jalen Hurts
Original pick: WR Jerry Jeudy
Hurts has not yet solidified himself as a franchise quarterback with the Eagles, but the team made the playoffs in his second season and there have been definite flashes. The Broncos would take this risk because they are currently in quarterback purgatory. Jeudy has been solid, but the upside of a quarterback takes precedence.
16. Atlanta Falcons: WR Jerry Jeudy
Original pick: CB A.J. Terrell
The Falcons struck gold in the middle of the first round with Terrell, but lose him in this exercise and end up a pick away from grabbing Hurts. The consolation price is Jeudy, who would team with tight end Kyle Pitts as the main threats if Calvin Ridley departs.
17. Dallas Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs
Original pick: WR CeeDee Lamb
Dallas did a great job of getting Lamb in the first round and Diggs in the second in 2020. Unfortunately, Lamb is long gone in this scenario, so they will need to grab Diggs in order to retain the young interception king.
18. Miami Dolphins: S Antoine Winfield
Original pick: OT Austin Jackson
The pick was good in theory, as the Dolphins need linemen, but Jackson has struggled early in his career. Winfield has impressed from Day 1.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: DT Derrick Brown
Original pick: CB Damon Arnette
The Raiders’ biggest strength is its defensive line, so why not add to it? Brown would get favorable matchups while being flanked by Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, and would have some major upside at this point in the draft.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: S Isaiah Simmons
Original pick: DE K’Lavon Chaisson
Simmons’ inability to stop the run forced him into a platoon in the Cardinals’ playoff game, and he may be better-suited to play safety to take advantage of his ranginess. The Jaguars are a long way from competitiveness, and trying to unlock an athletic specimen like Simmons would be a worthy risk in the back half of the first round.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Michael Pittman
Original pick: WR Jaelen Reagor
The Eagles would still go wideout with this pick, but Pittman is definitely off to a better start than Reagor in their young careers. Philadelphia has a promising young core and Pittman would have fit in well.
Michael Pittman nearly doubled his stats in every category from his rookie season to his sophomore season
I’m a big fan of Pittman’s talent. I could see Pittman taking a sizeable leap in Year 3 into the borderline WR1 area
— JL (@JLefk0) January 9, 2022
22. Minnesota Vikings: WR Chase Claypool
Original pick: WR Justin Jefferson
Vikings fans are thanking their lucky stars that Jefferson dropped to them in the draft. He would be long gone in a redraft, but the position would still need to be addressed, so Claypool would be the pick.
23. Los Angeles Chargers: S Xavier McKinney
Original pick: LB Kenneth Murray
The Chargers have a star safety in Derwin James, so why not add a promising talent next to him? McKinney was one of the few bright spots on the Giants this year and would slot in well in the secondary.
24. New Orleans Saints: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Original pick: C Cesar Ruiz
With revisionist history, Tagovailoa could have spent a year being mentored by Drew Brees before taking over as the starter. He’s not an ideal quarterback for many NFL teams but would have been a nice fit in New Orleans, and his rookie deal salary would have helped with the salary cap.
25. San Francisco 49ers: S Jeremy Chinn
Original pick: WR Brandon Aiyuk
The 49ers already grabbed Aiyuk and now basically swap out defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw for Chinn. Kinlaw has dealt with injuries and inconsistently early in his career while Chinn has made an instant impact.
26. Green Bay Packers: WR Darnell Mooney
Original pick: QB Jordan Love
Davante Adams is a superstar but he was the only consistent threat for the Packers in the passing game. Mooney would have given Aaron Rodgers another exciting young target down the field. Time will tell if the Love pick was the right one, but the early returns are discouraging.
Darnell Mooney set new career-highs
🐻 134 targets
🐻 81 catches
🐻 1,055 yardsA rising NFL star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/InEXuFzlF2
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) January 21, 2022
27. Seattle Seahawks: CB Jaylon Johnson
Original pick: LB Jordyn Brooks
Johnson has been a solid player for the Bears since being drafted. He has given up some big plays but there has also been a lot on his plate. Johnson is an ascending player at a premium position, which means he likely would have been a first-round selection if the draft was re-done.
28. Baltimore Ravens: DT Javon Kinlaw
Original pick: LB Patrick Queen
The Ravens have a knack for finding pass-rushers without paying a premium for them. Kinlaw would be a risk based on what we’ve seen through the first two years of his career, but landing in Baltimore would have been an ideal spot.
29. Tennessee Titans: CB Cameron Dantzler
Original pick: T Isaiah Wilson
The Titans would sign up for a redraft in a heartbeat because they traded Wilson less than a year after selecting him. In the do-over they grab a promising young cornerback in Dantzler.
30. Miami Dolphins: G Michael Onwenu
Original pick: CB Noah Igbinoghene
The sixth-round pick of the Patriots is looking like one of the draft’s late-round steals. Onwenu has graded out very impressively by Pro Football Focus and has the look of a quality starting guard for years to come.
31. Minnesota Vikings: C Cesar Ruiz
Original pick: CB Jeff Gladney
Ruiz has been a starter for both years of his career and Minnesota could use the help on the interior of its line.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Patrick Queen
Original pick: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The Chiefs had no reason to grab a running back in the first round, as evidenced by the standout play of journeyman Jerick McKinnon in these playoffs. Queen has not been great for the Ravens but has potential and would have been a better pick for a Kansas City team that could use some help at linebacker.
