It is time for another NFL Re-Draft. What would have happened if teams picked who they should have. Eventually we will get to all of the professional sports drafts of my lifetime.
You get the drill by now, but before we start here is....
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This draft set the Ravens up for multiple super bowl victories. This draft was also loaded with Hall of Fame level talent. What would happen if it went down as it should have?
1 New York Jets
Select: WR Marvin Harrison Syracuse
Harrison was actually selected with the 19th overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts.
Actual Selection: WR Keyshawn Johnson Southern Cal
The Jets didn't make an awful selection in going WR during this draft. They already had Jumbo Elliot at tackle and had a great linebacking corps. It makes sense that they went to a position of need in a loaded draft. This re-draft has them selecting that position, but has them selecting a better player. Marvin Harrison had double the touchdowns that Keyshawn had in his career and is now a Hall of Famer due to his excellence. Harrison also didn't have the off the field concerns that Keyshawn had. Harrison goes #1 in the re-draft.
2 Jacksonville Jaguars
Select: LB Ray Lewis Miami
Lewis was actually selected with the 26th overall selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
Actual Selection: LB Kevin Hardy Illinois
Lewis had the best career out of the players in this draft and is one of the greatest linebackers of all-time. He is a slam dunk selection in the re-draft being available at this point. The Jacksonville Jaguars with Lewis in the middle of the defense could have possibly had a Super Bowl Victory. This guy is a Florida native and went to a Florida university. He should have been an easy choice for Jacksonville.
3 Arizona Cardinals
Select: OT Jonathan Ogden UCLA
Ogden was actually selected with the 4th overall selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
Actual Selection: DE Simeon Rice Illinois
Simeon Rice was an excellent selection and had a hall of fame level career. However, he only spent 6 seasons in Arizona and he was not the best player available. The Cardinals could have selected Ogden, who is one of the best offensive lineman of all-time. Ogden also spent his entire career with one franchise, which would have also been a major benefit to Arizona.
4 Baltimore Ravens
Select: OT Willie Anderson Auburn
Anderson was actually selected with the 10th overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Actual Selection: OT Jonathan Ogden UCLA
The Ravens had an amazing draft this year that set up multiple Super Bowls. Jonathan Ogden was a big part of that. With Ogden gone in the re-draft, the Ravens pick the next best person. It just so happens that there was another excellent tackle in this draft. He played one year longer than Ogden and did a great job on Cincy's offensive line. He would have made a great 4th overall selection.
5 New York Giants
Select: S Brian Dawkins Clemson
Dawkins was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 61st overall selection by the Eagles.
Actual Selection: DE Cedric Jones Oklahoma
Dawkins is not only the best player available in this re-draft, but he is a Hall of Famer. He was an incredible safety that helped the Eagles defense a tremendous amount in the 00s.The Giants score twice in the re-draft, 1 by keeping Dawkins away from the rival Eagles and 2 by selecting the best guy for the team.
6 St. Louis Rams
Select: DE Simeon Rice Illinois
Rice was actually selected with the 3rd overall selection by the Arizona Cardinals.
Actual Selection: RB Lawrence Phillips Nebraska
The 1996 St. Louis Rams were a 6 win mess with multiple rookies starting. They could have definitely done better than their selection of Lawrence Phillips. Selecting Rice would have been a game changer for the Rams and would have given them a insane pass rush. Kevin Carter and Simeon Rice would have terrorized the NFC West on the same defensive line. This selection would have made the Rams very difficult to play.
7 New England Patriots
Select: S Lawyer Milloy Washington
Milloy was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 36th overall selection by the Patriots.
Actual Selection: WR Terry Glenn Ohio State
The Patriots made an excellent pick in the actual draft to get Milloy in the 2nd round. They can not wait that long in the re-draft. New England must select him here. There is no hesitation in doing so either because Milloy was a truly elite safety. Milloy helped the Patriots win the 2001 Super Bowl and advance to the Super Bowl in this rookie season.
8 Carolina Panthers
Select: LB Zach Thomas Texas Tech
Thomas was actually selected in the 5th round with the 154th selection by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: RB Tim Biakabutka Michigan
The Panthers were actually really good early on, advancing to the conference championship in 1996. They lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Packers in that game. Knowing how close they would come, they really look for the edge in the re-draft. The Panthers select the tackling machine Zach Thomas here, who would have fit in very nicely next to Sam Mills in the 3-4 defense. Thomas racked up over 150 tackles in his rookie year and finished his career well north of 1,000 tackles. He would have made a major difference on the Panther defense.
9 Oakland Raiders
Select: OT Jon Runyan Michigan
Runyan was actually selected in the 4th round with the 109th overall selection by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: TE Rickey Dudley Ohio State
Rickey Dudley was a decent pick and a decent tight end in the league. He was not the impact player that Runyan was though and the Raiders needed an upgrade at the tackle position. So in the re-draft, the Raiders select the better player at the more premium position.
10 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: DT La'Roi Glover San Diego State
Glover was actually selected in the 5th round with the 166th overall selection by the Oakland Raiders.
Actual Selection: OT Willie Anderson Auburn
Anderson was a great selection at a position of need for the Bengals. However, in the re-draft all three great tackles of this draft are gone. With that being the case and knowing that the team always comes up short, the Bengals take a different approach in the draft. Here they select the dominant interior defensive lineman in Glover who would go on to have a fantastic career. The team looks to build from the inside out.
11 New Orleans Saints
Select: WR Terrell Owens Tennessee-Chattanooga
Owens was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 89th overall selection by the 49ers.
Actual Selection: CB Alex Molden Oregon
Was there a more garbage organization than the Saints of the 90s? The team was habitually bad and this selection of Molden was a poor one. They rectify that in the re-draft picking the best player available. They ignore the possible team chemistry issues down the road because he was a great player that gave 100% every time he stepped foot on the field. TO was a brilliant player that had an amazing career. Take away the off the field stuff and he is arguably the 2nd best receiver of all-time.
12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: WR Eric Moulds Mississippi State
Moulds was actually selected with the 24th overall selection by the Buffalo Bills.
Actual Selection: DE Regan Upshaw California
Upshaw was a solid player for the Bucs and a decent draft pick. Here in the re-draft though, there were better guys available to the team. The team takes the opportunity to get a difference maker on offense that they did not have at the time. They select the dependable, loyal, and excellent WR from Mississippi State, Eric Moulds.
13 Chicago Bears
Select: RB Eddie George Ohio State
George was actually selected with the 14th overall selection by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: CB Walt Harris Mississippi State
The Bears picked a good starting corner in 1996 by picking Walt Harris. The re-draft gives them a chance to draft a better player at a better position of need. The Bears had no running game in the 90s despite several draft picks being used on the position. They know Eddie George will be successful and they solve that problem with this pick.
14 Houston Oilers
Select: WR Keyshawn Johnson Southern Cal
Johnson was actually selected with the 1st overall selection by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: RB Eddie George Ohio State
Eddie George was a great pick by the Oilers in 1996 and had a great career with the franchise, but he is gone in the re-draft. With that, the Oilers decide to select the best player available. Keyshawn Johnson is one of the most talented people in this draft and a bargain talent wise at 14. There are some team chemistry concerns with Keyshawn, but perhaps by the Oilers getting McNair the best receiver he's ever had, they get that elusive win. Maybe Keyshawn gets that extra yard to win the Super Bowl.
15 Denver Broncos
Select: LB John Mobley Kutztown Pennsylvania
Mobley was the Broncos actual selection.
Mobley was the only rookie starter on a good Broncos team. He was a great pick that contributed to back to back Super Bowls. Do the Broncos change that pick since Donnie Edwards had a slightly better career? They do not because Mobley was super effective and a 1st team all-pro during those Super Bowls.
16 Minnesota Vikings
Select: K Adam Vinatieri South Dakota State
Vinatieri actually went undrafted in 1996.
Actual Selection: DE Duane Clemons California
Picking a kicker in the 1st round would normally be a terrible decision. In this case, it makes sense for Minnesota. The 1998 Vikings were a missed FG in the NFC Championship from being one of the best teams ever. This opportunity to draft the most clutch kicker of all-time is a no-brainer for a Vikings team that always chokes in big games.
17 Detroit Lions
Select: LB Donnie Edwards UCLA
Edwards was actually selected in the 4th round with the 98th overall selection by the Chiefs.
Actual Selection: LB Reggie Brown Texas A&M
The Lions made a decent pick and picked a good player that tragically suffered a career ending injury. They get the opportunity in the re-draft to pick a stud linebacker that had a long career. Donnie Edwards was a great pro for many years and was a better pro than every Lion not named Sanders.
18 St. Louis Rams
Select: LB Tedy Bruschi Arizona
Bruschi was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 86th overall selection by Patriots.
Actual Selection: WR Eddie Kennison LSU
The Rams love the opportunity to get this loyal and gifted linebacker who was an incredible winner as well. Bruschi would eventually be part of the team that took down the greatest show on turf in the Super Bowl. St. Louis relishes the opportunity to take Bruschi in the re-draft.
19 Indianapolis Colts
Select: WR Muhsin Muhammed Michigan State
Muhammed was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 43rd overall selection by the Panthers.
Actual Selection: WR Marvin Harrison Syracuse
The Colts made a fantastic selection during this draft in selecting one of the best receivers of all-time. Harrison is gone in the re-draft, so the Colts do the next best thing in selecting the very capable, Muhsin Muhammed. He is a fine selection in the re-draft and it would have been fun to watch him play with Peyton Manning.
20 Miami Dolphins
Select: RB Mike Alstott Purdue
Alstorr was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 35th overall selecton by the Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: DT Daryl Gardener Baylor
1996 was one of the last years of Dan Marino's career and the quarterback was running out of chances to get a title. With his chances running low and knowing how effective he was at helping the running and passing game, the Dolphins select RB Mike Alstott and play him at fullback just like they did in Tampa. Alstott provides another threat on offense and brings a great work ethic that is needed by the Dolphins at the time.
21 Seattle Seahawks
Select: OG Pete Kendall Boston College
Kendall was the Seahawks actual selection.
At this point in the re-draft there is no reason to change the Seahawks pick. They selected a really solid offensive lineman that started for them for years. The decision to pick Kendall was a strong one, and still is in the re-draft.
22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: OT Fred Miller Baylor
Miller was actually selected in the 5th round with the 141st overall selection by the Rams.
Actual Selection: DE Marcus Jones North Carolina
There were worse picks in this draft than Jones and the Bucs actually had better picks after this one. The Bucs love getting a solid tackle here in the re-draft. A starting tackle at 22 is tremendous value. This is especially true when you figure out that starting tackle Doug Riesenburg was not only below average, but on his last year in the NFL. The Bucs are happy that they get some protection for the offense and time to get the ball downfield to Moulds.
23 Detroit Lions
Select: C Jeff Hartings Penn State
Hartings was the Lions actual selection.
The Lions ended up playing Hartings at RG and he did a fine job at that position. No reason to switch it up now, especially knowing now that Barry Sanders was about to call it quits. They wouldn't want to risk speeding up that decision.
24 Buffalo Bills
Select: LB Randall Godfrey Georgia
Godfrey was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 49th overall selection by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: WR Eric Moulds Mississippi State
This was a fantastic selection of a Buffalo legend in the actual draft. Here in the re-draft, Moulds went 12 picks earlier to Tampa though. The Bills use the re-draft to select the great linebacker Randall Godfrey to strengthen their defense. Godfrey would have upgraded the Bills linebacking corps to one of the best in the league.
25 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: WR Joe Horn Itawamba Junior College
Horn was actually selected in the 5th round with the 135th overall selection by the Chiefs.
Actual Selection: G Jermane Mayberry Texas A&M
Mayberry was a decent selection and the Eagles sure could have done worse than this pick. They decide to upgrade their receiving corps with one of the most entertaining wide receivers of the late 90s/early 00s. Drafting Horn gives the Eagles a great receiving corps and an entertaining team.
26 Baltimore Ravens
Select: CB Donnie Abraham East Tennessee State
Abraham was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 71st overall selection by the Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: LB Ray Lewis Miami
Ray Lewis was the most productive player in this draft and was the face of the Baltimore football franchise. Not getting Lewis in the re-draft is clearly a downgrade, but the Ravens do the best the can with the circumstances provided. The Ravens use the opportunity they have in the re-draft to pick a really solid corner in Abraham. If they are losing Lewis, they should at least be able to upgrade their anemic pass defense.
27 Green Bay Packers
Select: OT Roman Oben Louisville
Oben was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 66th overall selection by the Giants.
Actual Selection: OT John Michels Southern Cal
Michels started 9 games on this Packers team that won the Super Bowl. That said, there were several better players available at the time than Michels. They still go tackle in the re-draft because they needed a tackle for their Super Bowl run, but they select the superior player in Roman Oben.
28 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: CB Walt Harris Mississippi State
Harris was actually selected with the 13th overall selection by the Chicago Bears.
Actual Selection: S Jerome Woods Memphis
Harris was clearly a better DB then and is clearly better now after watching both play. However, in the real draft, Harris was locked up. At this point in the re-draft, Harris provides amazing value.
29 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: QB Jon Kitna Central Washington
Kitna was actually undrafted in 1996.
Actual Selection: OT Jamain Stephens North Carolina A&T
The Steelers had Mike Tomczak at QB at the time. They were a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl champ several times in the 90s. Kitna was no world beater at QB, but he was servicable and would have been an upgrade. He had almost 30,000 career yards and would have been fun to watch in Pittsburgh.
30 Washington Redskins
Select: LB Kevin Hardy Illinois
Hardy was actually selected with the 2nd overall selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Actual Selection: OT Andre Johnson Penn State
The Redskins went 9-7 and just missed the playoffs in 1996. They had no rookie starters, by selecting one guy that could start, the Redskins had a chance to change that outcome. Hardy would have given the Redskins one of the best linebacking corps in the league. Unfortunately for him and for the Skins, Hardy was long gone in the actual draft. He's way too good of a value here in the re-draft for Washington to pass.
- Noland
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