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It's always fun to look back on past NFL Drafts, whether it's to see which teams got some great values from their picks or to see which teams royally messed up their teams with a poor first-round selection.
The 2019 NFL Draft is an especially fun one to look back on because after the top two picks, there are a lot of picks that would look a whole lot different if we could go back in time with some foresight.
Let's take a look at what the 2019 NFL Draft might look like if it was held again.
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Picks 1-10
1. Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Original Pick: Kyler Murray
Despite all the injury concerns, the Cardinals are still taking Kyler Murray here. The hardest thing to find in the NFL is a good starting quarterback and in a draft class where only one quarterback ended up being good, you've got to take him and roll with the punches.
People will watch this and still say Kyler Murray isn’t a good quarterback.pic.twitter.com/30FGEdBbd2
— Jireh #BirdGang (@jirashon) February 19, 2024
2. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Original Pick: Nick Bosa
Another pick that's the same is Nick Bosa going to the 49ers. The NFL leader in sacks in 2022 and tackles for loss in 2021, Bosa is a destructive force when he rushes the passer and is a huge part of the defensive identity for this San Francisco team.
3. New York Jets - Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
Original Pick: Quinnen Williams
We have our first change. Coming out of a MAC school, Maxx Crosby was initially overlooked, falling to the Raiders in the fourth round. He's led the NFL in tackles for a loss twice already and has 52.0 sacks across his first 83 NFL games.
4. Las Vegas Raiders - Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Original Pick: Clelin Ferrell
While Jeffery Simmons hasn't put up eye-popping numbers, 26.5 sacks from a defensive tackle is pretty great. He's been named a second-team All-Pro twice and would anchor the middle of the Raiders line in this alternative timeline.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Original Pick: Devin White
While Quinnen Williams got off to a bit of a slow start, he has 5.5 sacks or more in four consecutive seasons, including 12.0 in 2022. A defensive line with Williams and Vita Vea could be the strongest in the league.
6. New York Giants - A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Original Pick: Daniel Jones
Instead of picking quarterback Daniel Jones here, the Giants take the best wide receiver from this class instead. A.J. Brown has four 1,000-yard seasons through five years in the league, including back-to-back years with over 1,400 yards since he was traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2022 season.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Original Pick: Josh Allen
This is a tough one. Adding Deebo Samuel would give this Jaguars team a dynamic weapon they could utilize in the run game and passing game, though this team had a lot of holes to fill. With Samuel in tow, maybe the Jaguars don't go 1-15 in 2020, which means they never get a chance to draft Trevor Lawrence. This might be a situation where Jacksonville is glad it doesn't have hindsight.
“Our Defense played well… it’s just Pat Mahomes being Pat Mahomes man.”
- Deebo Samuel on Super Bowl LVIII
pic.twitter.com/thZ4VwBUof— Chiefs Core (@ChiefsCore) March 5, 2024
8. Detroit Lions - Dexter Lawrence, DT, Wake Forest
Original Pick: T.J. Hockenson
The two-time Pro Bowler had a slowish start to his NFL career, but he's picked things up over the last two seasons. He would help fill a need for a Detroit team that continues to need help on the defensive side of the football.
9. Buffalo Bills - D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Original Pick: Ed Oliver
Josh Allen led the Bills to a 10-6 record with John Brown serving as his No. 1 receiver in 2o19. Adding DK Metcalf here would accelerate the Bills' timeline, as he had 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in Seattle. Now, imagine if the team still went out and added Stefon Diggs for the 2020 season.
10. Denver Broncos - Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
Original Pick: Devin Bush - traded to Steelers
Brian Burns is a versatile player who can rush the passer from defensive end and linebacker. He's recorded 46.0 sacks in his five NFL seasons and would be a welcome addition to the Broncos. Sure, you could argue there were bigger needs for this Denver team as it really struggled on offense in 2019, but there isn't really a quarterback on the board worth taking in the top 10.
Picks 11-20
11. Cincinnati Bengals - Elgton Jenkins, OL, Mississippi State
Original Pick: Jonah Williams
Elgton Jenkins has been the best offensive lineman from this class. He can play tackle and guard and would be a good addition for a Bengals team that originally went offensive line back in 2019.
Elgton Jenkins was drafted with pick 44 of round 2 in the 2019 draft class. He scored a 9.33 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 32 out of 466 OC from 1987 to 2019. https://t.co/Oe6kUzJ1AJ pic.twitter.com/W1Cqm5e465
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 3, 2024
12. Green Bay Packers - Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
Original Pick: Rashan Gary
Finally -- a first-round wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers. Terry McLaurin had 919 yards as a rookie and has followed that up with four straight 1,000-yard seasons while playing with subpar quarterbacks in Washington. Imagine McLaurin in an Aaron Rodgers offense.
13. Miami Dolphins - Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
Original Pick: Christian Wilkins
Instead of having to wait around for Christian Wilkins to break out like he did in 2023, the Dolphins grab someone who can make a quicker impact in Michigan edge-rusher Rashan Gary. After a quiet rookie campaign, he's had double-digit QB hits for four consecutive seasons.
14. Atlanta Falcons - Devin White, LB, LSU
Original Pick: Chris Lindstrom
While Devin White hasn't lived up to his No. 5 overall draft status, he's still been a really good NFL linebacker who the Falcons would love to add in the middle of the first round.
15. Washington Commanders - Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky
Original Pick: Dwayne Haskins
The Commanders could go quarterback here with Daniel Jones because it's a position they've long needed to shore up, but adding a pass-rusher who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie seems like the more impactful move here.
16. Carolina Panthers - Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
Original Pick: Brian Burns
The Panthers went EDGE originally with Brian Burns. He's off the board already in this redraft, but getting Montez Sweat and his 41.5 career sacks is a nice consolation prize.
17. New York Giants - Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
Original Pick: Dexter Lawrence
Daniel Jones has been such an enigma in the NFL. His rookie season was relatively good. His 2022 season was a breakout year. The other three seasons have been extremely disappointing. In this scenario, the Giants still draft Jones, but do so at Pick 17, pairing him with rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown. Maybe that additional offensive talent could help Jones develop into a more consistent NFL quarterback.
18. Minnesota Vikings - Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College
Original Pick: Garrett Bradbury
The Vikings get the top interior offensive lineman on the board here in Chris Lindstrom, a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Atlanta Falcons, who originally picked him 14th.
19. Tennessee Titans - Diontae Johnson, WR, Toledo
Original Pick: Jeffery Simmons
The Titans originally went wide receiver in the second round when they drafted A.J. Brown, but with Brown and the other top receivers already off the board, the team grabs the best wideout left. Diontae Johnson might not have the highlight reel plays of Brown and Metcalf, but he's a consistent threat to move the chains.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
Original Pick: Noah Fant - traded to Broncos
The Steelers originally traded up for Devin Bush, but in this scenario, they stay put and add an offensive weapon to their arsenal in tight end T.J. Hockenson, who continues to get better in the NFL.
Picks 21-32
21. Seattle Seahawks - C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
Original Pick: Darnell Savage - traded to Packers
C.J. Gardner-Johnson's bounced around a bit in his career, but he remains a really good safety, including picking off an NFL-best six passes in 2022. He has 12 interceptions through five seasons in the NFL.
22. Baltimore Ravens - Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Original Pick: Andre Dillard - traded to Eagles
The Ravens love to make their defense even better, so let's make their defense even better by giving them cornerback Jamel Dean, who has seven interceptions and 45 passes defended during his five seasons in Tampa Bay.
Buccaneers re-signing CB Jamel Dean. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/2WvVS0ueH0
— NFL (@NFL) March 13, 2023
23. Houston Texans - Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Original Pick: Tytus Howard
The Texans are happy with what Tytus Howard's given them on the offensive line, but when healthy, Jonah Williams really helps shore up the Bengals offensive line. Maybe Houston prefers someone who won't miss the 2019 season with an injury, but this is a long-term play here.
24. Las Vegas Raiders - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Original Pick: Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs has been really good for the Raiders, but with the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to mock a running back to any team in the first round. Ed Oliver would provide some strength up front for the Raiders defense. He's had double-digit QB hits in three consecutive seasons.
25. Philadelphia Eagles - Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Original Pick: Marquise Brown - traded to Ravens
In this scenario, Marquise Brown is still the 25th overall pick, but without trades, the Eagles end up keeping the speedy wideout. The Eagles went 9-7 in 2019 with their top-two receivers being tight ends. Adding a receiver like Brown who can stretch the field would have really diversified what this offense could do.
26. Indianapolis Colts - Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Original Pick: Montez Sweat - traded to Commanders
Juan Thornhill's been one of the NFL's most underrated safeties over the past five seasons, picking off eight passes and recording 288 tackles. He spent his first four years in Kansas City before signing in Cleveland last offseason.
27. Las Vegas Raiders - Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
Original Pick: Johnathan Abram
We've got a run on defensive backs here. The Raiders use their second first-round pick on safety Amani Hooker, who has been a key part of the Titans secondary over the last five seasons, picking off seven passes.
28. Los Angeles Chargers - Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
Original Pick: Jerry Tillery
The Chargers could use a long-term starter at tackle, as the three they started for most of 2019 combined to play just 14 more games for the team. Kaleb McGary gives them a good right tackle to help solidify this offensive line.
29. Seattle Seahawks - Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State
Original Pick: L.J. Collier
Joey Hunt and Justin Britt split time at center for the Seahawks in 2019, with neither on the team beyond that season. Adding the best center from this draft class would be a great move for this Seattle franchise.
30. Green Bay Packers - Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
Original Pick: Deandre Baker - traded to Giants
After refusing to address wide receiver in the first round during the Aaron Rodgers tenure, the Packers keep their QB happy by doubling up here. Hunter Renfrow was good with the Raiders, but he could have consistently made Pro Bowls with Rodgers throwing him the football.
31. Los Angeles Rams - Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M
Original Pick: Kaleb McGary - traded to Falcons
The Rams allowed the NFL's fewest sacks in 2019, so drafting Erik McCoy here feels like a luxury. In reality, the Rams traded this pick and they probably would have traded it again -- maybe to the Falcons, who they sent Kaleb McGary to in real life and would send McCoy to in this scenario. I know I said we were doing this without trades, but when the Rams haven't made a first-round pick since 2016, it might be okay to predict they deal the pick.
32. New England Patriots - Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
Original Pick: N'Keal Harry
Taking N'Keal Harry in the first round was a huge miss at the end of the Tom Brady era. Dawson Knox didn't set the world on fire as a rookie, but he could have added another reliable option for Brady in his final season with the Pats.
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