2020 NFL Re-Draft: The Lions, Commanders, Dolphins, Jets, and Eagles picks wildly change the landscape of the league
Five years ago, the NFL held the weirdest NFL Draft of all time. The draft was set to take place in Nevada on April 23, but then a month earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic started, and the country shut down, and along with that went the team's abilities to scout players with pro days and top […]
Five years ago, the NFL held the weirdest NFL Draft of all time. The draft was set to take place in Nevada on April 23, but then a month earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic started, and the country shut down, and along with that went the team's abilities to scout players with pro days and top 30 visits being affected.
Five years later, and with nothing going on in the NFL right now, we thought it would be fun to re-draft the first round of that draft. Here's what we wound up with:
1st pick, Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Original pick: QB Joe Burrow
The Bengals nailed this pick. This one should come as no surprise to anyone that this pick just stays the way it is. Burrow has been tremendous in Cincinnati.
2nd pick, Washington Commanders: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Original pick: DE Chase Young
It's kind of weird that the Commanders didn't pick a quarterback here. They must have really felt that Taylor Heinicke was going to turn out well. He did not. Herbert changes this Commanders team immediately, and they're likely big-time contenders right now.
3rd pick, Detroit Lions: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Original pick: CB Jeff Okudah
Well, this would be a game changer, wouldn't it? At the time, the Lions probably felt pretty good about Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. But they would both be gone the following year, and the Lions would find their stud in Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round. Imagine Jefferson and St. Brown together. Sheesh.
4th pick, New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Georgia
Original pick: OT Andrew Thomas
Thomas is not a bad tackle, but Wirfs is arguably in the top two in the NFL right now, and some would put him in that one spot. The Giants upgrade from a one-time All-Pro to a three-time All-Pro.
5th pick, Miami Dolphins: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Original pick: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa is not a bad quarterback, but Hurts is a safer choice and doesn't come with the concussion problems that could likely end Tagovailoa's career prematurely.
- 6th pick, Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- 7th pick, Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- 8th pick, Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU
- 9th pick, Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- 10th pick, Cleveland Browns: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
11th pick, New York Jets: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Original pick: Mekhi Becton
The Jets are still searching for that elusive quarterback to replace Joe Namath. Aaron Rodgers definitely didn't work. Maybe the guy the Packers initially drafted to replace him might.
12th pick, Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Original pick: WR Henry Ruggs
The Raiders' pick of Ruggs wound up being one that did not pay off for Vegas. He was arrested for a fatal car crash the following year. Lamb changes a lot. Fro one, the Raiders may not trade for Davante Adams two seasons later, and maybe they put a little more focus on finding a quarterback to throw to Lamb.
- 13th pick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Antoine Winfield Jr, S, Minnesota
- 14th pick, San Francisco 49ers: Nnamdi Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
15th pick, Denver Broncos: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Original pick: WR Jerry Jeudy
The Broncos would use their second-round pick in 2021 on a running back in Javonte Williams. He's worked out fine for Denver, but Taylor is a game-changer for that Broncos offense.
- 16th pick, Atlanta Falcons: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
17th pick, Dallas Cowboys: Jonathan Grennard, Edge, Florida
We kind of tore the Cowboys' really good draft class apart. Next year, they'll draft Micah Parsons, and what a duo they would have with him and Greenard. Kind of scary.
- 18th pick, Miami Dolphins: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- 19th pick, Las Vegas Raiders: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- 20th pick: Jacksonville Jaguars: Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin
21st pick, Philadelphia Eagles: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Original pick: WR Jalen Reagor
The Eagles get a big upgrade over Reagor here with Higgins. It foes drastically change some of their future plans, though. Do they trade for A.J. Brown? Do they draft Devonta Smith?
- 22nd pick, Minnesota Vikings: Austin Jackson, OT, USC
- 23rd pick, Los Angeles Chargers: D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- 24th pick, New Orleans Saints: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
- 25th pick, San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
26th pick, Green Bay Packers: L'Jarius Sneed, CB, Louisiana Tech
Original pick: QB Jordan Love
Packers fans aren't going to be happy about this one since they lost their quarterback in this re-draft, but hey, here's a nice cornerback that saves you from striking out with Erick Stokes in the first round next year.
- 27th pick, Seattle Seahawks: Jonah Jackson, G, Ohio State
- 28th pick, Baltimore Ravens: A.J. Epenessa, Edge, Iowa
- 29th pick, Tennessee Titans: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- 30th pick, Miami Dolphins: Robert Hunt, G, Louisiana
- 31st pick, Minnesota Vikings: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
- 32nd pick, Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Uche, Edge, Michigan