These past few weeks I have been trying to get in the mind of past NFL teams and having them draft as if the draft were happening today knowing what we know now. I am doing this for every draft of my lifetime and that started in 1987. So far I have also done 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992.
The 1993 NFL Re-Draft
1 New England Patriots
Select: Drew Bledsoe QB Washington State
Bledsoe was actually selected with the 1st overall pick by the New England Patriots.
People often forget that the Patriots actually went to the Super Bowl with Drew Bledsoe and had a pretty successful run with him at QB long before Belichick or Brady entered the picture. Sure, they did better with Tom, but Bledsoe was great for the Pats and it is tough to find a QB this good. Eventhough some Hall of Famers are available, the need for a QB and how Bledsoe did with the team makes him the selection still.
2 Seattle Seahawks
Select: Mark Brunell QB Washington
People often forget that the Patriots actually went to the Super Bowl with Drew Bledsoe and had a pretty successful run with him at QB long before Belichick or Brady entered the picture. Sure, they did better with Tom, but Bledsoe was great for the Pats and it is tough to find a QB this good. Eventhough some Hall of Famers are available, the need for a QB and how Bledsoe did with the team makes him the selection still.
2 Seattle Seahawks
Select: Mark Brunell QB Washington
Brunell was actually selected in the 5th round, #118 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
Actual Selection: Rick Mirer QB Notre Dame
Mirer was actually not all bad and he started for the Seahawks for a while. However, there is no doubt that the team would have been better off with a more effective QB. Brunell took awhile to come into his own, but it could have simply been from lack of opportunity. Once he got his shot he excelled. Not to mention Brunell went to an in-state college and likely would have driven up ticket sales as the selection. He would have been quite fun in Seattle.
3 New York Jets
Select: Michael Strahan DE Texas Southern
The Jets traded down and picked up Marvin Jones at 4 which turned out spectacularly for them. However, given the chance to do it again, they surely take a guy who turned into a Hall of Famer with the other team in their stadium. They can't simply let Strahan fall past them in the re-draft. No trade and they select Strahan with the selection.
4 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Willie Roaf OT Louisiana Tech
The Cardinals chance to trade up is squashed when the Jets are able to get Michael Strahan in the re-draft. Phoenix doesn't miss the opportunity to select a Hall of Famer though as they select the great Willie Roaf to add some punch to an aging offensive line. Roaf would have done far more to help the Cardinals that Garrison Hearst although Hearst was a fine back.
5 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: Will Shields OG Nebraska
Copeland was a solid football player and made more than 100 starts in his NFL career. However, this draft had 3 well above average quarterbacks and 4 Hall of Famers, with possibly more to be added, Drafting a solid football player here didn't cut it and is part of the reason the Bengals were so terrible for so long. This team was weak all over the place, but their greatest weakness was the offensive line. With o-line being the big weakness you would think they would select a Hall of Fame caliber offensive lineman. A whole heck of a lot of difference could have been made for the Bengals by selecting Will Shields at 5 instead of Campbell.
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: John Lynch S Stanford
It's funny how two of the worst teams of the early 90s drafted mediocre Alabama defensive ends in the Top 10 of one of the most loaded drafts in NFL history. It doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense. The Buccaneers actually landed a key piece in this draft though in John Lynch. This is a guy that will eventually make the Hall of Fame. He was a great football player that would certainly go in the Top 10 in the re-draft. Since he was a key member of the Buccaneers Super Bowl team, they definitely would select him here.
7 Chicago Bears
Select: Chad Brown LB Colorado
Conway was a good pick that would still go in the 1st round of the re-draft. However, there is no doubt that Chicago could have done better for their team here. The middle linebacker on the Bears that season was Dante Jones who was in his last full season as a starter. They could have drafted the best available player in Chad Brown played him outside for a year and then moved him to his more natural inside linebacker spot. This selection could have helped the 90s Bears to be more like the true Monsters of the Midway. However, they went offense and went Conway.
8 Detroit Lions
Select: Jerome Bettis RB Notre Dame
The Lions in 1993 traded their 1st round pick who happened to be Hall of Famer Willie Roaf and their 4th round pick who happened to be Pro Bowler Lorenzo Neal. They traded these picks for linebacker Pat Swilling. He was an All-Pro player that first season, but only stayed with Detroit for one more season. They would love a do-over and avoid giving up those selections. Roaf is gone in the re-draft, but another Hall of Famer is still there in Jerome Bettis. In selecting Bettis they could have had a nasty 1,2 punch of Bettis and Barry. It would have kept the Barry fresh and maybe extended his career. Who knows? The local boy staying in Detroit would have been interesting though.
9 Atlanta Falcons
Select: Lincoln Kennedy OT Washington
11 Cleveland Browns
Select: Ray Buchanan CB Louisville
The Broncos actually made this selection after trading up with the Browns, but the Browns keep this pick in the re-draft. Dan Williams was a decent pick, but Cleveland has its sights set much higher with the selection. The Browns were on the verge of leaving town and would have needed a splash to stay in Cleveland. For Cleveland perhaps taking a guy at one of their weakest positions that played with flair could have made the difference. Ray Buchanan was a great corner for years and had a certain attitude in his play that would have helped him succeed in Cleveland. He would have been the perfect selection for the Browns.
12 Los Angeles Raiders
Select: Garrison Hearst RB Georgia
Bates had only 100 career tackles and one interception and was hardly 1st round pick material. Meanwhile, the best the Raiders could throw out there at runningback was rookie Greg Robinson who didn't even reach 1,000 career yards. The much easier solution here is to take the quite valuable Hearst and line him up behind a pretty good offensive line. In the actual draft, Hearst was long gone, but in the re-draft he sits here for the Raiders at 12.
13 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Dana Stubblefield DT Kansas
The Eagles traded this pick away to the Oilers in 1993 and the Oilers selected Brad Hopkins. That player is not available in the re-draft and whether he was or wasn't the Eagles wouldn't want to trade this pick away. The Eagles had a legend at defensive tackle, but a legend whose skills were practically gone at this point in William Perry. Given the chance, they would have drafted his replacement in the perennial Pro-Bowler, Dana Stubblefield.
14 Denver Broncos
Select: Chris Gray OG Auburn
Gray was actually selected in the 5th round, #132 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Steve Everitt C Michigan
The Broncos actually selected 11th after trading up with the Browns, but I'm not sure that either team would want that same deal in a re-draft. Therefore, I left the Broncos at 14. Everitt had 98 career NFL starts, but he was not 1st round material as a player. There were better players on the board still. The Broncos could have gotten Chris Gray with the pick who had 170 career starts and could have strengthened some weak spots on the Denver offensive line.
15 Green Bay Packers
Select: Jessie Armstead LB Miami
Simmons was a decent player who had a decent career. You are supposed to get All-Pros in the 1st round though and Simmons was not. Jessie Armstead could have filled one of the outside linebacker spots for Green Bay and had tremedous production for the Pack. He is the best non-QB available and would have fit in brilliantly with Green Bay.
16 Indianapolis Colts
Select: Trent Green QB Indiana
3 New York Jets
Select: Michael Strahan DE Texas Southern
Strahan was actually selected in the 2nd round, #40 overall by the New York Giants.
Actual Selection: Garrison Hearst RB GeorgiaThe Jets traded down and picked up Marvin Jones at 4 which turned out spectacularly for them. However, given the chance to do it again, they surely take a guy who turned into a Hall of Famer with the other team in their stadium. They can't simply let Strahan fall past them in the re-draft. No trade and they select Strahan with the selection.
4 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Willie Roaf OT Louisiana Tech
Roaf was actually selected with the 8th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints.
Actual Selection: Marvin Jones LB Florida StateThe Cardinals chance to trade up is squashed when the Jets are able to get Michael Strahan in the re-draft. Phoenix doesn't miss the opportunity to select a Hall of Famer though as they select the great Willie Roaf to add some punch to an aging offensive line. Roaf would have done far more to help the Cardinals that Garrison Hearst although Hearst was a fine back.
5 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: Will Shields OG Nebraska
Shields was actually selected in the 3rd round, #74 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Actual Selection: John Copeland DE AlabamaCopeland was a solid football player and made more than 100 starts in his NFL career. However, this draft had 3 well above average quarterbacks and 4 Hall of Famers, with possibly more to be added, Drafting a solid football player here didn't cut it and is part of the reason the Bengals were so terrible for so long. This team was weak all over the place, but their greatest weakness was the offensive line. With o-line being the big weakness you would think they would select a Hall of Fame caliber offensive lineman. A whole heck of a lot of difference could have been made for the Bengals by selecting Will Shields at 5 instead of Campbell.
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: John Lynch S Stanford
Lynch was actually selected in the 3rd round, #82 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: Eric Curry DE AlabamaIt's funny how two of the worst teams of the early 90s drafted mediocre Alabama defensive ends in the Top 10 of one of the most loaded drafts in NFL history. It doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense. The Buccaneers actually landed a key piece in this draft though in John Lynch. This is a guy that will eventually make the Hall of Fame. He was a great football player that would certainly go in the Top 10 in the re-draft. Since he was a key member of the Buccaneers Super Bowl team, they definitely would select him here.
7 Chicago Bears
Select: Chad Brown LB Colorado
Brown was actually selected in the 2nd round, #44 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: Curtis Conway WR Southern CalConway was a good pick that would still go in the 1st round of the re-draft. However, there is no doubt that Chicago could have done better for their team here. The middle linebacker on the Bears that season was Dante Jones who was in his last full season as a starter. They could have drafted the best available player in Chad Brown played him outside for a year and then moved him to his more natural inside linebacker spot. This selection could have helped the 90s Bears to be more like the true Monsters of the Midway. However, they went offense and went Conway.
8 Detroit Lions
Select: Jerome Bettis RB Notre Dame
Bettis was actually selected with the 10th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
Actual Selection: Willie Roaf OT Louisiana TechThe Lions in 1993 traded their 1st round pick who happened to be Hall of Famer Willie Roaf and their 4th round pick who happened to be Pro Bowler Lorenzo Neal. They traded these picks for linebacker Pat Swilling. He was an All-Pro player that first season, but only stayed with Detroit for one more season. They would love a do-over and avoid giving up those selections. Roaf is gone in the re-draft, but another Hall of Famer is still there in Jerome Bettis. In selecting Bettis they could have had a nasty 1,2 punch of Bettis and Barry. It would have kept the Barry fresh and maybe extended his career. Who knows? The local boy staying in Detroit would have been interesting though.
9 Atlanta Falcons
Select: Lincoln Kennedy OT Washington
Kennedy was actually selected with the 9th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
The 1993 Falcons were dreadful, but Kennedy was a stud for years and the perfect selection at the time. They stick with him again if it was re-drafted and he was on the board. They did a nice job with this pick.
10 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Brad Hopkins OT Illinois
Bettis worked out well and is of course a Hall of Famer, but he was selected in the re-draft two picks earlier. Therefore, the Rams have to go elsewhere with this 10th selection. Jackie Slater was a fantastic tackle for years, but 39 at the time of this draft. With a draft that was pretty deep at tackle, the Rams take the best one available and kick him inside until it is time for Slater to retire. Hopkins would play guard until Slater retired and then kick out to tackle.
The 1993 Falcons were dreadful, but Kennedy was a stud for years and the perfect selection at the time. They stick with him again if it was re-drafted and he was on the board. They did a nice job with this pick.
10 Los Angeles Rams
Select: Brad Hopkins OT Illinois
Hopkins was actually selected with the 13th overall pick by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: Jerome Bettis RB Notre DameBettis worked out well and is of course a Hall of Famer, but he was selected in the re-draft two picks earlier. Therefore, the Rams have to go elsewhere with this 10th selection. Jackie Slater was a fantastic tackle for years, but 39 at the time of this draft. With a draft that was pretty deep at tackle, the Rams take the best one available and kick him inside until it is time for Slater to retire. Hopkins would play guard until Slater retired and then kick out to tackle.
11 Cleveland Browns
Select: Ray Buchanan CB Louisville
Buchanan was actually selected in the 3rd round, #65 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Actual Selection: Dan Williams DE ToledoThe Broncos actually made this selection after trading up with the Browns, but the Browns keep this pick in the re-draft. Dan Williams was a decent pick, but Cleveland has its sights set much higher with the selection. The Browns were on the verge of leaving town and would have needed a splash to stay in Cleveland. For Cleveland perhaps taking a guy at one of their weakest positions that played with flair could have made the difference. Ray Buchanan was a great corner for years and had a certain attitude in his play that would have helped him succeed in Cleveland. He would have been the perfect selection for the Browns.
12 Los Angeles Raiders
Select: Garrison Hearst RB Georgia
Hearst was actually selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Actual Selection: Patrick Bates S Texas A&MBates had only 100 career tackles and one interception and was hardly 1st round pick material. Meanwhile, the best the Raiders could throw out there at runningback was rookie Greg Robinson who didn't even reach 1,000 career yards. The much easier solution here is to take the quite valuable Hearst and line him up behind a pretty good offensive line. In the actual draft, Hearst was long gone, but in the re-draft he sits here for the Raiders at 12.
13 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Dana Stubblefield DT Kansas
Stubblefield was actually selected with the 26th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
Actual Selection: Brad Hopkins OT IllinoisThe Eagles traded this pick away to the Oilers in 1993 and the Oilers selected Brad Hopkins. That player is not available in the re-draft and whether he was or wasn't the Eagles wouldn't want to trade this pick away. The Eagles had a legend at defensive tackle, but a legend whose skills were practically gone at this point in William Perry. Given the chance, they would have drafted his replacement in the perennial Pro-Bowler, Dana Stubblefield.
14 Denver Broncos
Select: Chris Gray OG Auburn
Gray was actually selected in the 5th round, #132 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Actual Selection: Steve Everitt C Michigan
The Broncos actually selected 11th after trading up with the Browns, but I'm not sure that either team would want that same deal in a re-draft. Therefore, I left the Broncos at 14. Everitt had 98 career NFL starts, but he was not 1st round material as a player. There were better players on the board still. The Broncos could have gotten Chris Gray with the pick who had 170 career starts and could have strengthened some weak spots on the Denver offensive line.
15 Green Bay Packers
Select: Jessie Armstead LB Miami
Armstead was actually selected in the 8th round, #207 overall by the New York Giants.
Actual Selection: Wayne Simmons LB ClemsonSimmons was a decent player who had a decent career. You are supposed to get All-Pros in the 1st round though and Simmons was not. Jessie Armstead could have filled one of the outside linebacker spots for Green Bay and had tremedous production for the Pack. He is the best non-QB available and would have fit in brilliantly with Green Bay.
16 Indianapolis Colts
Select: Trent Green QB Indiana
Green was actually selected in the 8th round, #222 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Actual Selection: Sean Dawkins WR California
There is no doubt that the QB deprived Colts should take a signal caller that had a solid NFL career. He spent quite a while as a backup, but when Green got his shot he did quite well. He could have changed the Colts pre-Manning outlook and it would have been fun to see Jim Mora with a better QB up in Indy.
Actual Selection: Sean Dawkins WR California
There is no doubt that the QB deprived Colts should take a signal caller that had a solid NFL career. He spent quite a while as a backup, but when Green got his shot he did quite well. He could have changed the Colts pre-Manning outlook and it would have been fun to see Jim Mora with a better QB up in Indy.
17 Washington Redskins
Select: Curtis Conway WR Southern Cal
Conway was actually selected with the 7th overall pick by the Chicago Bears.
Actual Selection: Tom Carter CB Notre DameCarter was actually a really solid pick who started for years in Washington. That being said, they could have done better with the pick and they could have gotten more value out of the selection. The team was a disaster compared to recent teams and had 4 rookie starters on it. There were holes everywhere. When there are holes everywhere you take the best available player. The best player just happened to be at a major position of need. Curtis Conway was much better than who the Redskins threw out there in 1993 and would have given the team a solid weapon should they decide to bring in a new signal caller.
18 Phoenix Cardinals
Select: Michael Barrow LB Miami
Barrow was actually selected in the 2nd round, #47 overall by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: Earnest Dye OT South CarolinaDye only had 23 career starts that is less than 2 seasons. You have to get more than that out of a 1st round selection. Barrow was the best player available and would have helped the Cardinals out tremendously at a huge position of need. The Cardinals had 0 outstanding linebackers in '93, but after the re-draft, they would have 1.
19 Houston Oilers
Select: Orlando Brown OT South Carolina State
Brown was actually an undrafted free agent signing of the Cleveland Browns.
Actual Selection: Lester Holmes OT Jackson StateAs stated earlier, the Eagles made this selection after trading down with Houston. However, the trade does not go through in the re-draft. Holmes had a solid NFL career with 94 career starts, but he was not the game changer that Houston needed at the time. They were able to get a better tackle in Brad Hopkins though the trade up, but they can still do solid without one. The best available offensive lineman available in the re-draft is a guy that went undrafted in the actual draft. Orlando Brown is clearly the pick here.
20 New Orleans Saints
Select: Ron Stone OG Boston College
Stone was actually selected in the 4th round, #96 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Irv Smith TE Notre DameThe Saints traded up to get this selection and would like a different player besides Irv Smith. They can get a much more talented individual. This was their 2nd trade of the actual draft with the chance to get Willie roaf being the 1st. However, in the re-draft the trade to get Roaf was a failure so the Saints only have one 1st round selection. They take the best offensive lineman available in Ron Stone, but they could have done even better.
21 Minnesota Vikings
Select:Robert Smith RB Ohio State
Smith was actually selected with the 21st overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
22 San Diego Chargers
Select: Marvin Jones LB Florida State
Jones was actually selected with the 4th overall pick by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: Darrien Gordon DB StanfordGordon was a great special teams player, but not one worthy of a first round pick in a very deep draft. This draft could have changed the outlook of San Diego's Super Bowl Appearance the following season. The best way to do that would have been to draft the best player available. However, the best player available was a safety and the Chargers were solid at safety. Their weakness on defense was middle linebacker were they were aging and had a guy that was leaving after the season. Enter Marvin Jones to take care of business and sure up the defense.
23 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: Chidi Ahanotu DE California
Ahanotu was actually selected in the 6th round, #145 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: Deon Figures CB ColoradoFigures was a rare miss for the Steelers who seem to always have their selections picked higher in these re-drafts. He only totaled 9 career INTs which is far below where a 1st round corner's production should be. Knowing that Kenny Davidson was leaving after one season, they could have drafted a guy to plug into the defensive end hole that was about to be left by Davidson. Enter Chidi Ahanotu. The Bucs defensive end would have 46.5 career sacks and become a big part of Tampa's turnaround.
24 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: Brock Marion S Nevada
Marion was actually selected in the 7th round, #196 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: Leonard Renfro DT ColoradoRenfro only lasted two seasons in the NFL. The Eagles would love a do-over where they could select an elite gamechanger. There were still some solid options available. Earlier in the re-draft the Eagles got Dana Stubblefield so they wouldn't go to defensive tackle again. They would have loved to pick the best player available in Brock Marion though. Marion just happened to be at a position of need as the Eagles were thin at safety. This would have been an excellent selection for Philly.
25 Miami Dolphins
Select: Blaine Bishop S Ball State
Bishop was actually selected in the 8th round, #214 overall by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: OJ McDuffie WR Penn StateMcDuffie worked out fine for the Dolphins and had 5,000+ career receiving yards. That being said, he probably shouldn't have gone this high in a draft as deep as this. The Dolphins were weak at both safety spots and Bishop would have stabilized strong safety for years. He was key in the Titans transition to Tennessee as well. Blaine Bishop would have been a fine selection here and should have been a 1st round pick.
26 San Francisco 49ers
Select: Gilbert Brown DT Kansas
Brown was actually selected in the 3rd round, #79 overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: Dana Stubblefield DT KansasStubblefield is gone in the re-draft, but the 49ers can still get the next best thing. The team selects his college teammate and the next best defensive tackle in this draft in Gilbert Brown. Brown was key on two Packers' teams that advanced the the Super Bowl. The man was large and in charge.
27 San Francisco 49ers
Select: Michael McCrary DE Wake Forest
McCrary was actually selected in the 7th round, #170 overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Actual Selection: Todd Kelly DT TennesseeKelly wasn't worthy of a 1st round selection though. They could have drafted the best defensive end who was a very quality football player though. This would have allowed them to start two rookies up front and actually be a better football team. While unthinkable at the time drafting McCrary to pair with Brown would have made the 49ers a better unit.
28 Buffalo Bills
Select: Ryan McNeil CB Miami
McNeil was actually selected in the 2nd round, #33 overall by the Detroit Lions.
Actual Selection: Thomas Smith CB North CarolinaThe Bills clearly could have done better than Smith in a draft this deep. Ryan McNeil was the best corner available and it was true that Buffalo needed a corner though. This makes McNeil the easy selection at 28 in the re-draft.
29 Dallas Cowboys
Select: Darrin Smith LB Miami
Smith was actually selected in the 2nd round, #54 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.
Actual Selection: George Teague S Alabama
Teague was a very valuable player in his NFL career, but Dallas could have done better. It wasn't Dallas who made this selection though as the Packers traded for it. That being said, Dallas selects the best fit for their team. Chris Slade was a more productive pro, but was more of a pass rusher. For Dallas's defense their 2nd round pick was the best fit for the team.
-Noland
They have been thinking about it as there is a craze for Madden in Nations like India, Pakistan and basically the entire subcontinent. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most of the Madden playing nations will likely be a huge industry. Now, there might be some complications in improvement of this game. The License might not be present as the licensing price are going to be high and apart from above talked about nations it won't be much common anyplace. So, there will probably be generic teams and most importantly I think hardly any one within the Indian subcontinent will obtain the game. If EA puts on heavy DRM we are going to go back to get EZMUT Madden Coins. So, there could be a chance but don't get your hopes higher. EZMUT is often a greedy firm and next factor you know is they'll force you to purchase players in EZMUT Premiere league utilizing genuine money on loot boxes.
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