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 on Tuesday, 2013 on Wednesday, 2014 on Thursday and 2015 today.
1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Pick:Jameis Winston
Do-over: Same
Winston's rookie year (4,042 passing yards, 22 touchdowns) showed the Bucs enough to think they made the right call last April. If he gets the interception total (15 last year) down this season, look out!
2. TENNESSEE TITANS
Pick:Marcus Mariota
Do-over: Same
The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner is still learning the ropes, but there's no reason for the Titans to change direction ... building the team around Mariota will only make him better.
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Pick:Dante Fowler
Do-over: Same
Fowler missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL about one week after the draft. Assuming he comes back at 100 percent for this year, there's no other pass rusher in this class with his potential as a double-digit sack artist. The Jags stick with their guy.
4. OAKLAND RAIDERS
Pick:Amari Cooper
Do-over: Same
Typically, it takes time for receivers to make their mark. But Cooper's been everything the team hoped for, racking up over 1,000 yards and six scores in his rookie season. No change needed.
5. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Pick:Brandon Scherff
Do-over:Todd Gurley
Scherff might end up being a pretty good NFL guard, but Gurley's talent shined through in an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year performance. In spite of missing the first two games, he had 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
6. NEW YORK JETS
Pick:Leonard Williams
Do-over: Same
7. CHICAGO BEARS
Pick:Kevin White
Do-over: Same
Neither myself nor the Bears are ready to give up on White after an injury kept him off the field for the past year. He was a bit green coming out of West Virginia, so he'll need some time. But the combination of White, Alshon Jeffery and Marc Mariani (plus whomever the Bears draft this year) could make Jay Cutler very happy.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS
Pick:Vic Beasley
Do-over: Same
The former Clemson athlete didn't have a ton of sacks as a first-year starter (four), and as you would expect, he wasn't the greatest run defender. The Falcons need a pass rush, and trading Beasley for another second-year starter wouldn't make much sense. Beasley should be able to translate his explosiveness off the ball to a better all-around game with more experience.
9. NEW YORK GIANTS
Pick:Ereck Flowers
Do-over: Same
It's not surprising Flowers struggled at times in his rookie season. Whether the Giants keep him on the left side or find another tackle in this year's draft so he can move to the right, there's no tackle in the class who has proven to be significantly better.
10. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Pick:Todd Gurley
Do-over:Marcus Peters
Based on talent alone, Peters should have landed in this area of the draft. His dismissal from Washington caused some teams to back off, but the Chiefs were glad they didn't. Peters' playmaking ability was on full display last fall, as he picked off eight passes (converting two for scores) on his way to Pro Bowl and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Gurley was too good of a pick for the Rams, causing him to be snatched earlier in this exercise.
11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Pick:Trae Waynes
Do-over:Ronald Darby
Darby wound up a second-round pick of the Bills last year, and outplayed Waynes as a rookie. The 15-game starter had two interceptions and defended 21 passes on the year, plus gave notice to running backs that he was not to be trifled with on the outside. In Year 2, Waynes might be given more snaps to keep 38-year-old Terence Newman fresh.
12. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick:Danny Shelton
Do-over:Tyler Lockett
Shelton has not yet proven that he can be the three-down player that the Browns hoped he would be. But what is clear is that Lockett has a strong career ahead of him as a receiver and returner. He could fill the hole left by free agent Travis Benjamin this spring.
13. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Pick:Andrus Peat
Do-over:Damarious Randall
The emergence of Terron Armstead at left tackle made Peat take a backseat last season. Randall, on the other hand, looked like a long-term starter for Green Bay with three interceptions and 14 passes defended as rookie. The Saints' cornerback group is in desperate need of talent, so Randall would fit the bill.
14. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Pick:DeVante Parker
Do-over:Stefon Diggs
Parker could still end up being the better receiver when all is said and done. Diggs' outstanding rookie year, however, was simply more productive (720 receiving yards and four TDs vs. Parker's 494 and three) and it should be acknowledged.
15. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Pick:Melvin Gordon
Do-over:Arik Armstead
The Chargers could use a five-technique on their defensive line now that Kendall Reyes left via free agency. Armstead has great potential as a playmaker there. Gordon's rookie season wasn't exemplary (641 yards, no touchdowns), but some improvements in the offensive line for 2016 could help his cause.
16. HOUSTON TEXANS
Pick:Kevin Johnson
Do-over: Same
Johnson not only looked the part in his first year with the Texans, but revealed he played through a fractured foot the second half of the year. His future is bright.
17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Pick:Arik Armstead
Do-over:Brandon Scherff
Replacing starter Alex Boone is a priority for San Francisco, and Scherff's strength makes him an ideal candidate.
18. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Pick:Marcus Peters
Do-over:Landon Collins
Collins should have been a first-round pick. With Peters going high in this re-imagining of last year's first round, Collins finds a home. The Giants gave up three picks to the Titans for the first selection of the second round to land the Alabama star, and it paid off in 2015. The draft class' top tackler made plays in coverage (one interception, nine passes defended).
19. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick:Cameron Erving
Do-over:Mitch Morse
20. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Pick:Nelson Agholor
Do-over: Same
It is very difficult to judge Agholor after receiving just 44 targets as a 12-game starter in 2015. If he can't connect with Sam Bradford (or whoever else is throwing passes for Philly) more regularly this year, then it will be time to reconsider this pick.
21. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Pick:Cedric Ogbuehi
Do-over:Eddie Goldman
Everyone knew Ogbuehi would be a redshirt in his first year with the Bengals, as he suffered a knee injury in his final bowl game. But should the Bengals have found an immediate contributor with their first-round pick? Maybe someone, like Goldman, who could eat blockers up front? Two years from now, Ogbuehi might be a very good starting tackle in Cincinnati, but for now, I'll make his change.
22. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pick:Bud Dupree
Do-over: Same
Dupree showed signs of life early on, racking up four sacks in eight games before hitting the rookie wall. But he's still the best fit for the Steelers' defense among the players available here; the team is counting on him to contribute heavily throughout the entire 2016 season.
23. DENVER BRONCOS
Pick:Shane Ray
Do-over: Same
Ray didn't need to contribute much as a rookie with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware playing in front of him. An MCL injury limited him a bit in the middle of the year, but he came on late when asked to play more often. With Ware's workload lessening in his 12th year in the league, Ray's role should increase accordingly.
24. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Pick:D.J. Humphries
Do-over:David Johnson
Humphries looks to be the favorite for the right tackle spot in 2016 because Bobby Massie left for the Bears. He was openly criticized by head coach Bruce Arians, though, and was a healthy scratch for every game as a rookie. Johnson, on the other hand, starred for the Cardinals, covering over 1,000 yards from scrimmage as a powerful runner (581 yards, eight scores) and a receiver out of the backfield (36 catches, 457 yards, four TD).
25. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Pick:Shaq Thompson
Do-over: Same
Thompson's versatility makes him a good find at this spot. He didn't play a lot of snaps for the Panthers last year, but when Thomas Davis retires, don't be surprised if this fellow safety/linebacker hybrid player becomes an ultra-productive defender. (Playing next to Luke Kuechly certainly doesn't hurt.)
26. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Pick:Breshad Perriman
Do-over:Benardrick McKinney
McKinney could play next to C.J. Mosley inside or at the SAM position for Baltimore, two big need areas for the team. Perriman's knee injury made him a non-factor last season, and it's not clear when he'll be completely ready to go.
27. DALLAS COWBOYS
Pick:Byron Jones
Do-over: Same
Jones played corner and safety as a rookie, but looks best as a deep-half defender able to cover receivers deep and lay the wood in the run game.
28. DETROIT LIONS
Pick:Laken Tomlinson
Do-over:Eric Kendricks
29. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Pick:Phillip Dorsett
Do-over:T.J. Yeldon
Yeldon is the sort of all-purpose back who could help Andrew Luck. Dorsett never really got involved in the Colts' passing game last year. In fact, Yeldon had more catches (36) and yards receiving (279) than Dorsett (18-225) in 2015.
30. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Pick:Damarious Randall
Do-over:Denzel Perryman
Perryman was one of the favorites to land in Green Bay in this draft. San Diego thought so much of his play as a rookie that it let Donald Butler walk. Now with Clay Matthews able to go back outside, the Packers' linebacking corps is set.
31. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Pick:Stephone Anthony
Do-over: Same
The signing of veteran James Laurinaitis doesn't say much about Anthony's ability to run a defense from the middle. However, moving him outside could allow his instincts and athleticism to take over.
32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pick:Malcom Brown
Do-over:Dorial Green-Beckham
The signings of Alan Branch and Terrance Knighton can't be good for the playing time of Brown. So I'll mix it up here by giving the Patriots a tall, physical downfield threat in DGB. Tom Brady airing the ball deep to Green-Beckham only makes the underneath routes of Julian Edelman and company more effective.
Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter _@chadreuter_.
