2021 NFL Redraft: Who Do the New York Jets Take at No. 2?

The NFL draft is only two days away, but before we turn our attention to the 2022 picks, let’s flip the calendar back one year.

Here is my redraft of 2021, which has the same No. 1 pick but plenty of change after that.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence

Original pick: QB Trevor Lawrence

It was a rough rookie season for Lawrence, but the pedigree is still there for a fine career. Jaguars fans may feel less certain about this pick a year later, but Lawrence is still the guy at No. 1 because of his talent and his positional value.

2. New York Jets: LB Micah Parsons

Original pick: QB Zach Wilson

Parsons was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie. The Jets need help everywhere, and adding such an elite talent would have been a huge boost. Wilson was extremely underwhelming as a rookie despite his tools.

3. San Francisco 49ers: QB Mac Jones

Original pick: QB Trey Lance

This is a tough call, because Lance’s athleticism in Kyle Shanahan’s offense could be truly special. But he couldn’t beat out Jimmy Garoppolo as a rookie, while Jones played well for the Patriots. San Francisco switches it up in the redraft by grabbing Jones.

4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Trey Lance

Original pick: TE Kyle Pitts

This would be a risky move considering Pitts looked good as a rookie and Lance didn’t show anything. But Atlanta badly needs a quarterback, and Lance has the type of ability that can turn around a franchise if he lives up to the potential. Based on the Falcons’ situation, this risk is worth it.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase 

Original pick: WR Ja’Marr Chase

The Bengals could consider Pitts, but Chase was otherworldly as a rookie. They are ecstatic he is still on the board in this redraft and can again pair him with Joe Burrow.

6. Miami Dolphins: TE Kyle Pitts

Original pick: WR Jaylen Waddle

The Dolphins signed Terron Armstead in free agency, which makes Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater less likely here. Instead, Miami adds Pitts alongside Tyreek Hill, which would replicate the situation Cheetah had alongside Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

7. Detroit Lions: T Penei Sewell 

Original pick: T Penei Sewell

Rashawn Slater had a better rookie season, but Sewell was solid and has such huge upside. Detroit stays the path and keeps its mammoth blocker, forgoing quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Justin Fields.

8. Carolina Panthers: T Rashawn Slater

Original pick: CB Jaycee Horn

Horn was on the field early as a rookie and maybe this pick works out, but the cover man suffered a serious injury, which drops him in the redraft. The Panthers instead go with Slater to help cover up some of their offensive line issues.

9. Denver Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain II

Original pick: CB Patrick Surtain II

I didn’t think Surtain would still be here in a redraft after an excellent rookie campaign, but the Broncos are happy to gobble him back up. It speaks to the depth and talent of the 2021 draft.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Jaylen Waddle

Original pick: WR DeVonta Smith

The Eagles have their choice of wide receivers at 10, either the one they drafted or the one that slips in this redraft. They choose Waddle, whose explosiveness should really help the Philadelphia offense.

11. Chicago Bears: QB Justin Fields

Original pick: QB Justin Fields

FIelds showed enough flashes for the Bears to grab him once again, though it’s not an easy call. DeVonta Smith could easily be the pick, which would allow Chicago to tank and go after a quarterback in 2023.

12. Dallas Cowboys: WR DeVonta Smith

Original pick: LB Micah Parsons

The Cowboys hit a home run with their selection of Parsons, who went all the way up to No. 2 in the redraft. The depth of this draft worked in their favor, as Smith would be a nice consolation prize, and a needed one after the departure of Amari Cooper.

13. Los Angeles Chargers: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah

Original pick: T Rashawn Slater

The Chargers were very happy with their pick, as Slater made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But he went top-10 in the redraft, so Los Angeles adds another playmaker to its defense by drafting the talented JOK.

14. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson

Original pick: G Alijah Vera-Tucker

The Jets grab Wilson again, but this time at a much more reasonable part of the draft. He has to improve drastically to become a franchise quarterback, but New York rolls the dice here.

15. New England Patriots: QB Davis Mills

Original pick: QB Mac Jones

Mills went in the third round but showed enough promise in Houston to get some first-round buzz in this redraft. The Patriots take a shot, as they saw the pick of Jones pay immediate dividends and would try to replicate that here.

16. Arizona Cardinals: G/C Creed Humphrey

Original pick: LB Zaven Collins

Humphrey lasted until late in the second round last year but would be gobbled up much earlier in a redraft. With Rodney Hudson at center, the Cardinals could play Humphrey at guard for a couple seasons before moving him back to his natural position.

17. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Jaycee Horn

Original pick: OL Alex Leatherwood

The Raiders take advantage of a falling Horn by nabbing him here. It’s good value as long as his fractured foot doesn’t have any complications.

18. Miami Dolphins: Edge Jaelan Phillips

Original pick: Edge Jaelan Phillips

The Dolphins would be ecstatic to get Philips again at No. 18. He had a solid rookie season and looks like a potential game-changing pass-rusher.

19. Washington Commanders: CB Greg Newsome

Original pick: LB Jamin Davis

Washington struggled again the pass last season and would be happy to add Newsome, who had a solid rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. He brings much better positional value than Davis, an inside linebacker.

20. New York Giants: G Alijah Vera-Tucker

Original pick: WR Kadarius Toney

Toney is already on the trading block, so suffice to say New York would love a re-do on this pick. Tucker had a nice rookie season with the Jets and would go to another New York team in need of line fortification.

21. Indianapolis Colts: DE Gregory Rousseau

Original pick: DE Kwity Paye

The Colts swap out edge-rushers in this scenario. Both showed flashes as rookies but Rousseau had more production with the Bills and could be on his way to a solid career.

22. Tennessee Titans: CB Eric Stokes

Original pick: CB Caleb Farley

The Titans rolled the dice on Farley, but he tore his ACL and missed most of the season. Injuries are a big concern, which is why Tennessee goes the safer route this time and grabs Stokes, who played well for the Packers as a rookie.

23. Minnesota Vikings: T Christian Darrisaw

Original pick: T Christian Darrisaw

This works out for Minnesota. Darrisaw showed enough promise as a rookie to go in this spot once again, although he didn’t dominate enough for teams above Minnesota to clamor for his services.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Elijah Moore

Original pick: RB Najee Harris

 Harris had a ton of touches for Pittsburgh as a rookie, but he didn’t look particularly explosive. Javonte Williams looked like the best running back in the class, and in this redraft, Harris doesn’t go in the first round. Instead, the Steelers target a dynamic pass-catching weapon in Moore to add some juice to the offense.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Kwity Paye

Original pick: RB Travis Etienne

Paye is available at No. 25 in the re-draft and Jacksonville pays attention to positional value this time, choosing the pass-rusher over the running back.

26. Cleveland Browns: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Original pick: CB Greg Newsome

The Browns did a nice job here in the real draft, but both Newsome and their second-round pick,  Owusu-Koromoah, are off the board in the redraft. Cleveland goes with offense this time, adding an intriguing young wideout in St. Brown who excelled in his first year with the Lions.

27. Baltimore Ravens: DL Christian Barmore

Original pick: WR Rashod Bateman

The Ravens are missing some bulk on the interior of their defensive line, which is often a staple of their defense. Barmore would help rectify that after a promising rookie season in New England.

28. New Orleans Saints: S Jevon Holland

Original pick: DE Payton Turner

Holland had a really nice rookie season in Miami, which pushes him into the first round of this re-draft. The Saints are shedding a lot of talented veterans because of salary cap constraints, and Holland would be a nice young talent to help replenish the defense.

29. Green Bay Packers: TE Pat Freiermuth

Original pick: CB Eric Stokes

The Packers need some pass-catching targets for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Freiermuth proved his mettle as a rookie, catching 60 passes for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. Green Bay nabs him here.

30. Buffalo Bills: DE Odafe Oweh

Original pick: DE Gregory Rousseau

Rousseau went earlier in the redraft, but the Bills still want to load up on the pass-rush, so Oweh is the pick. He had some inconsistency as a rookie but is a talented player.

31. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman

Original pick: DE Odafe Oweh

Bateman went to Baltimore at No. 27 overall in the real draft. He slips a few sports but the Ravens are happy to grab him again here as a weapon for Lamar Jackson.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OLB Azeez Ojulari

Original pick: OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Ojulari made the most of a good opportunity in New York, finishing his rookie campaign with eight sacks and a forced fumble. A second-round pick a season ago, he sneaks into Round 1 this time around.