Hindsight is 20/20. This is especially true in the NFL, where personnel (and in-game) decisions are heavily scrutinized.
This draft do-over is less about second-guessing general managers, owners, and head coaches -- though I will point out picks that seemed like reaches at the time. My primary focus is a re-imagining of what could be if those decision-makers had a chance to re-draft this class based on players' success and current team needs.
I'll post a series of draft do-overs this week, with 2011 on Monday, 2012 today, 2013 on Wednesday, 2014 on Thursday and 2015 on Friday.
1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Pick:Andrew Luck, QB
Do-over: Same
Despite Luck's interceptions and the fact that he missed half of the 2015 season due to injury, he would still be the pick to make in this spot. An improved surrounding cast should make all of the difference for him.
2. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Pick:Robert Griffin III, QB
Do-over:Russell Wilson, QB
RGIII's first year in Washington led many to think that Mike Shanahan had made a great deal in trading up to land the QB. Injuries and the departure of Shanahan led to Griffin's leaving town for Cleveland this spring. Wilson would have been a fit for Shanahan -- though Washington's defense doesn't hold a candle to the group defending Wilson's goal in Seattle.
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick:Trent Richardson, RB
Do-over:Luke Kuechly, ILB
Not much needs to be said here. Richardson's career never took off. Kuechly has become a superstar defender.
4. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Pick:Matt Kalil, OT
Do-over: Same
Now that Kalil has firmly planted himself as a good starting left tackle, the Vikings would be best off keeping the former USC Trojan in-house.
5. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Pick:Justin Blackmon, WR
Do-over:Josh Norman, CB
Despite impressing everyone at the East-West Shrine Game, Norman still ended up a fifth-round selection. Given his level of play the past couple of years, there's no way he escapes the top 10 this time around. Blackmon's career has been derailed by off-field issues.
6. DALLAS COWBOYS
Pick:Morris Claiborne, CB
Do-over:Alfred Morris, RB
Jerry Jones recently signed Morris to a free-agent deal, so I'll put him here over Doug Martin. Though Morris' statistics declined in 2015, he should rebound running behind the powerful Dallas offensive line.
7. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Pick:Mark Barron, S
Do-over:Lavonte David, LB
Barron's not a bad safety, but the lack of size that seemingly pushed David into the second round wouldn't be an issue now.
8. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Pick:Ryan Tannehill, QB
Do-over: Same
There were concerns about Tannehill's accuracy coming out of Texas A&M. He showed improvement in Years 2 and 3, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he steps forward in his fifth year with the Dolphins.
9. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Pick:Luke Kuechly, LB
Do-over:Janoris Jenkins, CB
Carolina made probably the best pick in the 2012 draft by selecting Kuechly ninth overall. But without him on the board, the Panthers line up a much-needed stud corner in Jenkins. Off-field issues caused Jenkins' stock to fall four years ago, but his recent play shows why teams were high on his talent.
10. BUFFALO BILLS
Pick:Stephon Gilmore, CB
Do-over:Chandler Jones, DE
Jones' size and athleticism make him a solid fit in the Bills' defense, especially now that Mario Williams has moved on.
11. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Pick:Dontari Poe, NT
Do-over: Same
Poe was a bit of an unknown quantity coming out of Memphis, but the Chiefs' belief in his ability to control the line of scrimmage paid off. His sack production dropped from 6.5 in 2014 to one in 2015, and he didn't make the Pro Bowl last year for the first time since his rookie year. He's still a tough load in the middle, though, and I expect him to play very well in a contract year.
12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Pick:Fletcher Cox, DT
Do-over: Same
13. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Pick:Michael Floyd, WR
Do-over: Same
Floyd's stats haven't been great the past two years, but Carson Palmer's injury in 2014 and Floyd's dislocated fingers early in 2015 have affected his play. It won't be a surprise if Floyd racks up 1,200 to 1,500 yards in his fifth year, especially if Palmer stays on the field.
14. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Pick:Michael Brockers, DT
Do-over:Alshon Jeffery, WR
I could have easily had the Rams staying put with Brockers, as he's a fine interior player. But Jeffery's talent was undervalued originally, and his value as a physical downfield presence would be a boon to the team's offense.
15. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Pick:Bruce Irvin, OLB
Do-over:David DeCastro, OG
As good as Irvin looked at times, just imagine DeCastro, a first-team All-Pro last season, blocking for Marshawn Lynch the past four seasons.
16. NEW YORK JETS
Pick:Quinton Coples, DE
Do-over:Bobby Wagner, ILB
Wagner's presence in the middle of the Jets' defense, especially with Sheldon Richardson, Jarvis Jenkins and others up front protecting him, would bring back Gang Green in a big way.
17. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Pick:Dre Kirkpatrick, CB
Do-over:Michael Brockers, DT
Kirkpatrick finally got a chance to be a full-time starter in 2015, but I think the Bengals might be beter off looking to Brockers to bolster the middle of their tenacious front four.
18. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Pick:Melvin Ingram, LB
Do-over: Same
If I was reviewing this draft before the 2015 season, I'd probably have the Chargers moving on from Ingram. But after he had his best season in the pros last fall (10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles), Ingram stays on board as a building block.
19. CHICAGO BEARS
Pick:Shea McClellin, LB
Do-over:Cordy Glenn, OT
Glenn is fulfilling his potential as one of the top left tackles in the game, and the Bears need that sort of protector for Jay Cutler. McClellin's bound to excel with the Patriots, but his production in Chicago (one sack in 21 starts from 2014-2015) was lacking.
20. TENNESSEE TITANS
Pick:Kendall Wright, WR
Do-over:Whitney Mercilus, OLB
21. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pick:Chandler Jones, DE
Do-over:Dont'a Hightower, LB
Despite playing well for the Patriots, Jones was traded to Arizona for a second-round pick in 2016 and guard Jonathan Cooper. New England traded up for Jones and Hightower in the 2012 draft, so with Jones off the board here they'll "settle" for their other productive starter. On a side note, why do teams continue to trade early round picks to Bill Belichick?
22. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick:Brandon Weeden, QB
Do-over:Mitchell Schwartz, OT
As a stalwart right tackle, Schwartz proved to be worth the value of this pick -- gained in the trade with Atlanta so the Falcons could select Julio Jones the previous year -- while Weeden did not.
23. DETROIT LIONS
Pick:Riley Reiff, OT
Do-over:Stephon Gilmore, CB
Reiff has been more solid than spectacular as the Lions' left tackle the last three years. Gilmore, on the other hand, has been a very good cover man in Buffalo, something Detroit coaches are looking for in this year's draft.
24. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pick:David DeCastro, OG
Do-over:Kelechi Osemele, OG
25. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pick:Dont'a Hightower, LB
Do-over:Trumaine Johnson, CB
With Hightower already secured in their earlier pick, the Patriots bring in a corner with good size and plus hands for the turnover (15 career interceptions).
26. HOUSTON TEXANS
Pick:Whitney Mercilus, OLB
Do-over:Lamar Miller, RB
Since picking their up-and-coming pass rusher is no longer an option, the Texans land the explosive back they coveted enough to hand him $14 million in guaranteed dollars in early March.
27. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Pick:Kevin Zeitler, OG
Do-over:T.Y. Hilton, WR
The Bengals addressed their defense by snapping up Brockers with their earlier pick, so replacing one of the receivers lost in free agency would seem appropriate here. The quick and crafty Hilton complements A.J. Green quite well.
28. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Pick:Nick Perry, OLB
Do-over:Mychal Kendricks, ILB
Though Kendricks struggled with injuries a bit last year, it still would be fun to watch him shoot gaps in Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme as Clay Matthews did last season.
29. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Pick:Harrison Smith, S
Do-over: Same
Smith has turned out to be the two-way defender general manager Rick Spielman envisioned when he gave up a fourth-round selection to move up six spots to the 29th position in 2012.
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Pick:A.J. Jenkins, WR
Do-over:Kevin Zeitler, OG
The Jenkins pick was considered a reach at the time, and his 17 career receptions and zero touchdowns seem to validate that opinion. Zeitler is the type of tough, durable guard the Niners need to find in the 2016 draft.
31. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Pick:Doug Martin, RB
Do-over: Same
Martin's comeback season in 2015 led the Buccaneers to keep him in Tampa with a new contract this offseason. Martin finished second in the league with 1,402 rushing yards last season, and hopes to continue that success under new head coach Dirk Koetter.
32. NEW YORK GIANTS
Pick: David Wilson, RB
Do-over:Olivier Vernon, DE
Given the massive investment the Giants made in Vernon this offseason, it's tough to project them taking anyone else. A neck injury ended Wilson's career.
Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter _@chadreuter_.
