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 is the draft that set the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up for their eventual Super Bowl run. The entire landscape of the franchise changed with this draft, especially with what happened in the 1st round. It is not a draft that I want to see reversed in any way, but I can't skip this one.
1 Cincinnati Bengals
Select: LB Derrick Brooks Florida State
Brooks was actually selected with the 28th overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: RB Ki-Jana Carter Penn State
Remember, when I said I did not want to see this draft re-done. The Buccaneers stole this draft by getting the two best players in the draft. One of those players was the great Derrick Brooks, who was the best player in this draft by a substantial margin. For as good as Brooks was on the field, he was even better off of it. The Bengals could have really used this guy on and off the field. Instead, they took Carter who never came close to living up to the hype.
2 Jacksonville Jaguars
Select: DT Warren Sapp Miami
Sapp was actually selected with the 12th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Actual Selection: OT Tony Boselli Southern California
Boselli was a strong selection and has a pretty decent shot at making the Hall of Fame one day. However, the choice for the Jaguars in this re-draft is clear, they pick the second most productive player from this class in Warren Sapp. The Jaguars had to watch Sapp help the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl when he could have been theirs all along. Steve McNair would have been the pick for most teams, but the Jaguars already had a strong QB in Brunell, so they take Sapp here.
3 Houston Oilers
Select: QB Steve McNair Alcorn State
McNair was the Oilers actual selection.
There is absolutely no reason to change this pick now. Outside of the two hall of famers picked before him in the re-draft, McNair had the best career. Not to mention, he is a QB and he eventually led the franchise to the Super Bowl. Of course, when McNair pulled that off, the franchise had moved to Tennessee and became the Titans. Still, this guy was a great selection and a fun player to watch.
4 Washington Redskins
Select: CB Ty Law Michigan
Law was actually selected with the 23rd overall pick by the New England Patriots.
Actual Selection: WR Michael Westbrook Colorado
Michael Westbrook was a great college player that did very little as a pro. The Redskins had an opportunity to select a future hall of famer and pair him with the legendary Darrell Green. Washington would have been really tough to throw on if they had drafted Law. He helped lead the Patriots defense to several Super Bowls and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Redskins could have had two Hall of Fame corners together for a long time, but they selected Westbrook.
5 Carolina Panthers
Select: QB Kerry Collins Penn State
Collins was the Panthers actual selection.
The Panthers needed a QB, Collins was sitting there and was a good player. He had a good career and was the right selection for Carolina, then and now.
6 St. Louis Rams
Select: DE Kevin Carter Florida
Carter was the Rams actual selection.
Carter was another really solid pick. He was a really good player for quite a while. Over his career, he totaled 104 career sacks. Good job here by St. Louis.
7 Philadelphia Eagles
Select: DE Hugh Douglas Central State University (Ohio)
Douglas was actually selected with the 16th overall pick by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: DE Mike Mamula Boston College
The Eagles are the third team of this re-draft that really blew their first round pick. Mamula was a better player than Westbrook or Carter, but he was not worthy of being a 1st rounder. Curtis Martin is the best player available in the re-draft, but the Eagles had Ricky Watters at the time. This re-draft sees the team select a superior pass rusher to Mamula in Hugh Douglas. The defensive end spent his best seasons in Philadelphia and they look to get him earlier by taking him in the re-draft. Douglas would have 50 more career sacks than Mamula and would have been a much better pick.
8 Seattle Seahawks
Select: WR Joey Galloway Ohio State
Galloway was the Seahawks actual selection.
Curtis Martin is still the best player available in the re-draft, but the Seahawks had Chris Warren, who was coming off a Pro-Bowl, so its hard to see them going RB. They instead pick the guy they did pick in Galloway. The receiver was a solid pro for a number of seasons and helped the Seahawk offense tremendously.
9 New York Jets
Select: RB Curtis Martin Pittsburgh
Martin was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 74th overall pick by the Patriots.
Actual Selection: TE Kyle Brady Penn State
Jets fans always want the sexy pick and there is nothing that fits that better than a Hall of Famer. Especially, a hall of famer that would rush for 10,000 yards with the Jets. Before he ever got to the Jets though, Curtis Martin played for the hated Patriots and helped them reach the Super Bowl in 1996. This pick in the re-draft assures that one of the best players in New York Jet history stays a Jet his entire career.
10 San Francisco 49ers
Select: RB Terrell Davis Georgia
Davis was actually selected in the 6th round with the 196th overall pick by the Broncos.
Actual Selection: WR JJ Stokes UCLA
The 49ers had a Super Bowl contender in 1995, but were lacking a real running game. By picking the Hall of Fame RBTerrell Davis in the re-draft, they give themselves an increased chance to win another big game. One has to wonder how the balance of power would have shifted in the NFL if Davis had been in San Francisco instead of Denver. It's crazy to think how Davis fell until the 6th round, but it always happens with RBs.
11 Minnesota Vikings
Select: OT Tony Boselli Southern California
Boselli was actually selected with the 2nd pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Actual Selection: DE Derrick Alexander Florida State
There were a lot worse picks than Derrick Alexander in this draft, but he probably would have been a 2nd rounder if we did this draft today. Boselli on the other hand was long gone in the actual draft, but the Vikings would have loved for him to fall here to 11. The selection of Boselli would have made an incredible Vikings offensive line even better. Robert Smith would have really appreciated having Boselli around.
12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: WR Antonio Freeman Virginia Tech
Freeman was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 90th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers.
Actual Selection: DT Warren Sapp Miami
The Bucs had the best draft arguably ever in 1995 as they selected the two best players in the draft and two Hall of Famers in Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. The re-draft can't possibly go as well. You can't replace that defensive value, but you can improve the offense that struggled for a really long time. Freeman would have been the best wideout Trent Dilfer would have had in Tampa and tremendously helped the offense.
13 New Orleans Saints
Select: QB Kordell Stewart Colorado
Stewart was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 60th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actual Selection: LB Mark Fields Washington St.
Kordell Stewart would be too hard to pass up here. Stewart would have given the Saints an exciting offense under coach Ditka if nothing else. Their quarterback in 1995 was Jim Everrett who was a solid NFL QB, but he only had 2 years left in his career. This selection gives Stewart some time to learn the offense and be ready to make an impact in New Orleans.
14 Buffalo Bills
Select: G Ruben Brown Pittsburgh
Brown was the Bills actual selection.
Ruben Brown was a heck of a pick by Buffalo in 1995. He had a wonderful career for the Bills and really bolstered their offensive line. They make the same selection here if it happened this way.
15 Indianapolis Colts
Select: G Adam Timmerman South Dakota State
Timmerman was actually selected in the 7th round with the 230th overall pick by the Packers.
Actual Selection: DT Ellis Johnson Florida
Another Florida Gator that was drafted way to high, what a shocker. These guys could have selected a guy that went 215 picks later and was much better. Timmerman would have improved one of the teams weakest spots at left guard.
16 New York Jets
Select: OT Korey Stringer Ohio State
Stringer was actually selected with the 24th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: DE Hugh Douglas Central State University (Ohio)
Hugh Douglas is long gone in the re-draft, so the Jets would have to adjust accordingly. The Jets who already upgraded their running game with Curtis Martin, now continue to do that with Korey Stringer. The former Viking was a really good pro that died way too early back in 2000. He died of a heat stroke and is the biggest reason we have the safety precautions that we do today. Knowing what we do now about heat related illness we likely would be able to prevent his death if we go back.
17 New York Giants
Select: OT Scott Gragg Montana
Gragg was actually the Giants 2nd round selection, the 54th overall pick.
Actual Selection: RB Tyrone Wheatley Michigan
Tyrone Wheatley rushed for nearly 5,000 career yards, but he should not have been a top 20 pick. The Giants picked a guy in the 2nd round who had a better career at a harder position to replace. That guy is the pick with this selection.
18 Oakland Raiders
Select: LB Mark Fields Washington St.
Fields was actually selected with the 13th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints.
Actual Selection: RB Napoleon Kaufman Washington
Kaufman was very similar to Wheatley with near identical stats. He should not been selected in the top 20, but rushed for nearly 5,000 career yards. The Raiders benefit from the re-draft because Mark Fields is still available here, while he was gone in the actual draft. Fields helps sure up one of the Raiders weakest position groups at the time.
19 Jacksonville Jaguars
Select: DT Gary Walker Auburn
Walker was actually selected in the 5th round with the 159th pick by the Houston Oilers.
Actual Selection: RB James Stewart Tennessee
It feels like a broken record, a top 20 RB that did not provide top 20 value. Stewart was at least better as a pro than Wheatley and Kaufman, running for 1k more career yards, but he was still picked too high. This expansion team picks the same position group with both first round picks in the re-draft. They do this because they were by far the best players available at the time. These selections would have given the Jaguars an absolutely dominant defensive line. It would have been really fun to watch.
20 Detroit Lions
Select: DT Luther Ellis Utah
Ellis was the Lions actual selection.
The team did the right thing in 1995 with their selection of Ellis. He is the best player available in the re-draft. Ellis did really well in Detroit and played some strong defensive line for the Lions for 9 seasons. Detroit picks Ellis again in the re-draft.
21 Chicago Bears
Select: CB Bobby Taylor Notre Dame
Taylor was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 50th overall pick by the Eagles.
Actual Selection: RB Rashaun Salaam Colorado
Salaam was a terrible pick for Chicago who could have picked 100+ players with more productive careers. He was great as a rookie, but did nothing after his rookie year. The Bears struggled in the secondary and it perhaps cost Chicago a playoff spot. Bobby Taylor was a solid NFL corner and would have been a big upgrade for the Bears, but he would last all the way to 50 overall.
22 Carolina Panthers
Select: C Barrett Robbins Texas Christian
Robbins was actually selected in the 2nd round 49th overall by the Oakland Raiders.
Actual Selection: CB Tyrone Poole Fort Valley State
Tyrone Poole was a really solid pick and solid corner. However, the value of Barrett Robbins here is too good to pass up. He had an excellent career and was first team all-pro in 2002 helping the lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl. He ended up disappearing right before the game and his career was essentially over at that point. The Panthers happily select Robbins and assure that he receives the appropriate mental health support while making the selection.
23 New England Patriots
Select: LB Ted Johnson Colorado
Johnson was actually the Patriots 2nd round selection, with the 57th overall pick.
Actual Selection: CB Ty Law Michigan
You can't get hall of famers at 23 in the re-draft. The Buccaneers are the big losers in the re-draft, but the Patriots are not too far behind. New England also would draft two Hall of Famers in this draft. The team picks Ted Johnson a little earlier in the re-draft. He would help New England to several Super Bowls and be picked by them again in this scenario.
24 Minnesota Vikings
Select: CB Tyrone Poole Fort Valley State
Poole was actually selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Carolina Panthers.
Actual Selection: OT Korey Stringer Ohio State
Stringer was a great pick and an outstanding blocker, but he's gone in the re-draft. They selected Boselli already in the re-draft too, so they can pick away from the offensive line here. Minnesota selects Poole here to play corner for the Vikings. They had a rookie starting corner in 1995, but Poole had a slightly better career than Corey Fuller.
25 Miami Dolphins
Select: WR Wayne Chrebet Hofstra
Chrebet was actually undrafted in the 1995 draft.
Actual Selection: OT Billy Milner Houston
The Dolphins selected an offensive lineman in the 1st round in 1995 and it was not a terrible decision, but they could have picked a better player. There was a guy that could have been drafted here that didn't get drafted at all. The Dolphins needed to get younger at WR and Chrebet would have been a great fit in Miami. The dude put up numbers for Chad Pennington, just imagine what he would have done with Marino.
26 Atlanta Falcons
Select: CB Corey Fuller Florida State
Fuller was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 55th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings
Actual Selection: DB Devin Bush Florida State
Devin Bush was a solid pro and did well for the Falcons, but they picked the wrong FSU DB in 1995. They correct that in the re-draft by picking Fuller over Bush. Atlanta knew they needed secondary help at the time and they even chose the right school. That being said, Fuller was clearly the better pro.
27 Pittsburgh Steelers
Select: OG Zach Wiegert Nebraska
Wiegert was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 38th overall pick by the St. Louis Rams.
Actual Selection: TE Mark Bruener Washington
Bruener was one of two rookie starters for the Super Bowl runner-up. The other position though was guard and there was a better guard available at the time that could have made their offensive line even better. Wiegert was a great offensive lineman that would have fit in well with the Steelers.
28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Select: DT Jason Fisk Stanford
Fisk was actually selected in the 7th round with the 243rd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
Actual Selection: LB Derrick Brooks Florida State
Have I mentioned that this is the one draft I want no business in a re-draft of. Derrick Brooks is my favorite football player ever and him not being a part of the Bucs would have been horrible. That's how the re-draft works though, teams make smarter choices. Unfortunately, that works against the Buccaneers this time. Fisk was not even close to the player Warren Sapp was at defensive tackle, but he was a really good pro and could have helped Tampa.
29 Carolina Panthers
Select: RB James Stewart Tennessee
Stewart was actually selected with the 19th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Actual Selection: OT Blake Brockermeyer Texas
Brockermeyer was a solid pick and did well over the course of his career. Stewart provided more value and was a far better runner than the guy Carolina put on the field. He scored 48 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 6k yards over his career.
30 Cleveland Browns
Select: RB Tyrone Wheatley Michigan
Wheatley was actually selected with the 17th overall pick by the New York Giants.
Actual Selection: LB Craig Powell Ohio State
Powell was a complete waste of a 1st round selection. It was the team's last year in Cleveland and they could have done something to better send off the team before they left for Baltimore. Tyrone Wheatley was a better RB than LeRoy Hoard, and the Browns could have had a better RB to close out the franchise. Baltimore also would have been better in the beginning with that move.
31 Kansas City Chiefs
Select: WR Frank Sanders Auburn
Sanders was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 47th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.
Actual Selection: OT Trezelle Jenkins Michigan
The 1995 Chiefs won 13 games and could have won the Super Bowl. The problem was that they could not beat the Colts in the divisional round due to lack of production on offense. Another pass catcher could have changed that outcome and the narrative about Marty Schottenheimer. Frank Sanders would have made a huge difference for the Chiefs.
32 Green Bay Packers
Select: G Matt O'Dwyer Northwestern
O'Dwyer was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 33rd overall pick by the New York Jets.
Actual Selection: DB Craig Newsome Arizona State
Newsome did well with the Packers, but the team could have picked a better pro in O'Dwyer. The great offensive lineman went one pick later to the Jets. He would have been an outstanding pick, and is a great pick in the re-draft.
-Noland
