1. San Francisco 49ers- QB Aaron Rodgers (California)
This is a no brainer. I don’t care how much 49ers fans might like Alex Smith now. They’d all do this move in a heartbeat.
2. Miami Dolphins- RLB DeMarcus Ware (Troy)
The Dolphins used a 2nd round pick on Matt Roth so pass rush was obviously a need for them. And even if it wasn’t, how could they pass on DeMarcus Ware?
3. Cleveland Browns- DE Trent Cole (Cincinnati)
Pass rushers typically go early off the board and Trent Cole, however underrated he may be, has been one of the best pass rushers in the league since being selected in 2005. In his 7 year NFL career, he has 68 sacks, including 63 in the last 6 seasons. He has 4 seasons of double digit sacks and hasn’t gone under 8 sacks since his rookie year. He’s been one of ProFootballFocus’ top 3 defensive ends in each of the last 4 seasons, the only player who can say that, and one of the top 2 players in each of the last 3 seasons. The Browns managed just 32 sacks in 2004, so they could have really used a pass rusher like Cole.
4. Chicago Bears- OT Michael Roos (Eastern Washington)
No team allowed more sacks in 2004 than the Bears, who allowed 66. It’s not like things are any better now. Roos is one of the most underrated players in the league, as well, as a legitimate franchise left tackle. These guys do not grow on trees and they are rarely available through trade or free agency. That’s why this position so often goes high in drafts.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DE Justin Tuck (Notre Dame)
Sticking with the quarterback/pass rusher/left tackle theme because these positions are the ones most often drafted early in drafts and because this class seems to be loaded on them. The Buccaneers did have 45 sacks in 2004, but Simeon Rice only had one more year of double digit sacks in him before combined for 3 in 2006 and 2007, while the 8 sacks Greg Spires had in 2004 at age 30 proved to be a career high. Besides, how do you pass on Justin Tuck in this situation?
6. Tennessee Titans- DE Cameron Wake (Penn State)
Yet another great pass rusher. The only reason Wake isn’t higher is because he was a late bloomer. I still don’t understand how a player this talented was able to go undrafted and slip through the cracks despite playing at such a prominent football program in Penn State. Wake has ranked 4th and 1st at his position on ProFootballFocus in the last 2 seasons after posting a ridiculous 20.4 pass rush efficiency rate as a situational player in 2009 (no edge rusher else had one higher than 16.0 and no one who played as many snaps as he did had one higher than 14.1). In 2008, he was the CFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Titans managed just 32 sacks in 2004.
7. Minnesota Vikings- WR Roddy White (UAB)
The Vikings clearly felt they needed a wide receiver to replace Randy Moss, who had been traded in the 2005 offseason before the draft. The problem was they drafted the wrong one. Troy Williamson had 87 catches in his career. Roddy White has exceeded 83 catches in each of the last 5 seasons.
8. Arizona Cardinals- OT David Stewart (Mississippi State)
Another great player at a position of high value, David Stewart has been a right tackle his whole career in Tennessee opposite Michael Roos (how did Tennessee did up with both of those guys in the same draft?), but he’s been one of the best at his position and has the talent to potentially be a franchise left tackle if he ever had to. Even as a “mere” elite right tackle, he’s worth this pick for the Cardinals. They weren’t particularly awful in pass protection in 2004, allowing 39 sacks, but the Cardinals have had trouble protecting the quarterback for years and it’s tough to pass on someone like Stewart here.
9. Washington Redskins- WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado)
The Redskins lost their top two receivers, Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner, in the 2005 NFL offseason. Their leading returning receiver was Chris Cooley, who caught 37 passes for 314 yards and 6 touchdowns as a rookie and their leading returning wide receiver was James Thrash, who caught 17 passes for 203 yards. They signed Santana Moss that same offseason and Chris Cooley broke out in 2005, but their 3rd leading receiver in 2005 was David Patten with 22 catches for 217 yards. Let’s give them a better complimentary receiver and one of the best players available.
10. Detroit Lions- DT Jay Ratliff (Auburn)
The Lions’ defense was so bad for so many years because they simply ignored it in the early rounds in the Matt Millen era. Just one of Millen’s eight 1st round picks was a defensive player (Ernie Sims). I guess drafting crappy receivers was more important. If they got a do-over, they’d probably have drafted more defensive players, like Jay Ratliff, who happens to be one of the best available at this point.
11. Dallas Cowboys- RB Frank Gore (Miami)
Poor Cowboys. They lost out on DeMarcus Ware in this redraft. Running back was a need position for the Cowboys because in 2004 they had a washed up Eddie George splitting carries with Julius Jones. George averaged just 3.3 YPC in 2004 and retired that offseason. The Cowboys spent a 4th round pick in this draft on Marion Barber to replace George and he did that well, but they wouldn’t be able to get him at that point in a redraft. Gore in the 1st round is a more talented player and fits the range well. Running backs are risky early in drafts, but Gore has made it to 1653 career carries without too many problems and is 46th all-time in rushing yards and is still going somewhat strong in 2012, heading into his age 29 season.
12. San Diego Chargers- MLB Derrick Johnson (Texas)
The Chargers had an aged 32 Randall Godfrey start for them at middle linebacker in 2005 and Derrick Johnson is too talented for them to pass on anyway. Johnson was ProFootballFocus’ 4th ranked linebacker last season, for divisional rival Kansas City nonetheless and need is not as important as value in redrafts.
13. New Orleans Saints- RB Darren Sproles (Kansas State)
I didn’t know where to put Darren Sproles in this remock because he’s such a unique player. You could argue he should have put been about 10 spots lower than this or not in it all at, but running back was a need for the Saints in 2005 as they needed a compliment for Deuce McAllister, who would play in just 5 games the following season thanks to injury (leading to the Saints using the 2nd overall pick on Reggie Bush in the 2006 NFL Draft). Drew Brees wouldn’t get to the Saints for a year and neither would Sean Payton, but I love the fit of him in their system with Brees and Payton so much I’m putting him about 10-15 spots higher than he probably deserves.
14. Carolina Panthers- G Logan Mankins (Fresno State)
Interior offensive lineman rarely go this high, but that’s because, if they don’t become Pro Bowlers, they’re pretty much disappointments as top-20 picks. If a guard drafted in the top-20 becomes just a solid starter, it’s a disappointment because you can find solid starting guards much later. At other positions like cornerback, wide receiver, left tackle etc, it’s not as big of a deal if they’re just solid. That being said, Logan Mankins is a 4-time Pro Bowler and really has been one of the league’s best interior offensive lineman since being drafted so there’s no doubt he deserves to go this high looking back in hindsight. John Fox and the Panthers loved to run the rock and Mankins would have helped them accomplish that goal. The Panthers spent a 3rd round pick on this position so it was a need.
15. Kansas City Chiefs- CB Corey Webster (LSU)
The Chiefs had the league’s worst passing defense in 2004, allowing 8.5 YPA. That number is actually so bad that only the 2008 Lions have posted a worst number since, 8.8 YPA, and they didn’t win a game. Corey Webster has quietly been one of the leagues better cornerbacks with the Giants over the past few years.
16. Houston Texans- DT Jonathan Babineaux (Iowa)
The Texans had the right idea drafting a defensive tackle at this spot in 2005, after they ranked 23rd against the run in 2004, but they picked the wrong one. Travis Johnson was a complete bust, while Jonathan Babineaux remains one of the league’s better defensive tackles to this day.
17. Cincinnati Bengals- C Chris Myers (Miami)
Like Mankins, Myers goes earlier than most interior offensive lineman do because we know what he is now. He was ProFootballFocus’ #1 rated center last year and #1 rated run blocker regardless of position. He goes lower than Mankins because the 2005 6th round pick was more of a late bloomer than Mankins, who was great from the word go.
18. Minnesota Vikings- DE Shawne Merriman (Maryland)
Shawne Merriman and Darren Sproles were the 2 toughest players for me to place. Merriman had an amazing start to his career, with 40 sacks from 2005-2007, but injuries limited him to 5 sacks from 2008-2011 and after being cut by the Bills this preseason, his NFL career might be done at age 28. How much is 3 elite years worth? I’m putting him here conservatively. The Vikings used this pick on Erasmus James, a defensive end who managed 5 sacks his entire career. Using complete hindsight, the Vikings could have just cut Merriman after the 2007 season and not have owed him any more guaranteed money.
19. St. Louis Rams- OT Todd Herremans (Saginaw Valley State)
Ah, the perennial football powerhouse Saginaw Valley State. Anyway, the Rams had the right idea using this pick on an offensive tackle with Orlando Pace getting up there in age, but the problem was that Alex Barron really, really sucked. The Rams have had pretty poor offensive line play over the past 7 years and actually allowed 50 sacks in 2004 even with Pace. Herremans is a versatile player who can play guard and tackle and he definitely would have been an asset to the Rams.
20. Dallas Cowboys- 3-4 DE Chris Canty (Virginia)
The Cowboys originally used this pick on Marcus Spears. That didn’t work out so well, but luckily they used a 4th round pick on Chris Canty, another 3-4 defensive end. If they had used their 1st round pick on Canty and their 4th on Spears, that would have made more sense. Canty is a much more talented player than Spears and was a valuable player for the Cowboys before he left to sign with the Giants. Marcus Spears is actually still with the Cowboys, but I bet most of their fans wish that wasn’t the case. He isn’t very good.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars- WR Nate Washington (Tiffin)
Do Tiffin and Saginaw Valley State ever play each other? Anyway, this might seem a little early for Nate Washington, but the Jaguars have been starved for wide receiver help for forever. They used this pick on Matt Jones and that really did work out. Nate Washington proved last year he can be a 1000 yard receiver if given the chance, which he definitely would be in Jacksonville, and before that, he was a solid complimentary/slot receiver. This draft class is getting pretty thin so that’s worth this pick.
22. Baltimore Ravens- WR Lance Moore (Toledo)
The Ravens also used this pick on a wide receiver, taking Mark Clatyon. He didn’t really work out and Lance Moore has been a very good slot receiver for the Saints who has stepped into the starting lineup when needed over the past few years. Yeah, this draft class is getting thin.
23. Oakland Raiders- CB Stanford Routt (Houston)
The Raiders used this pick on Fabian Washington. That didn’t work out, though the Raiders did draft Stanford Routt in the 2nd round and that wasn’t so bad. I think they’d like to use their 1st round pick to secure Routt in a redraft.
24. Green Bay Packers- QB Alex Smith (Utah)
Alex Smith had a pretty miserable career up until last year, but maybe things would have worked out for him better if he had 3 years behind Brett Favre on the bench like Aaron Rodgers did. The Packers needed a successor for Favre, so they might as well take this chance.
25. Washington Redskins- QB Matt Cassel (USC)
Matt Cassel isn’t great, but is he really worse than the quarterbacks the Redskins have had since drafting Jason Campbell in this spot in 2005? Since then, they’ve had Mark Brunell (2005 and part of 2006), Campbell (part of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Todd Collins (mixed in when Campbell was hurt at times from 2007-2009), Donovan McNabb (2010), and Rex Grossman and John Beck last year. They had to do something at the position and, unlike Jason Campbell, Matt Cassel is still a starter today.
26. Seattle Seahawks- DT Sione Pouha (Utah)
Pouha would have gone higher had he not been a late bloomer. He’s a pretty one dimensional player, but he’s an amazing run stuffer and was actually ProFootballFocus’ 1st rated defensive tackle in 2011. The Seahawks had the league’s 24th ranked run defense in 2004.
27. Atlanta Falcons- DT Mike Patterson (USC)
The Falcons used this pick on Roddy White, but unfortunately he’s not available any more. Neither is Jonathan Babineaux, their 2nd round pick, but Mike Patterson is a decent replacement to make up for that loss.
28. San Diego Chargers- WR Braylon Edwards (Michigan)
This is just another one of those I like the fit picks. Philip Rivers and the Chargers have always had success with taller receivers and they missed out on Vincent Jackson in this redraft, who was originally a 2nd round pick of theirs, so you know wide receiver was a need. Maybe Edwards’ career would have gone better if he was drafted by the Chargers and if not, he still managed to catch 80 passes for 1289 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007 with Derek Anderson as his quarterback. That’s a major accomplishment even if it was only one season.
29. Indianapolis Colts- RB Cedric Benson (Texas)
The Colts had an aging Edgerrin James in 2005 and would use a 1st round pick on Joseph Addai in the 2006 NFL Draft. That didn’t work out so well, but maybe this would have worked out better. Benson was a bust in his early career in Chicago, but turned into a better player later in his career in Cincinnati. Maybe playing with a talented passing game around him, something he hasn’t gotten to do until this season, his age 30 season in Green Bay, would have allowed him to meet his potential. Like I said, this draft class is getting thin.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers- TE Heath Miller (Virginia)
This is the only pick that doesn’t change. Heath Miller has been a big and underrated part of the Steelers’ offense as a receiver and blocker since they used this pick on him in 2005. At first glance, he doesn’t seem like someone who was worth this pick in hindsight, but when you look at who was in this draft class, it makes a lot more sense at #30 overall.
31. Philadelphia Eagles- RB Brandon Jacobs (Southern Illinois)
Maybe Brian Westbrook wouldn’t have broken down so quickly if the Eagles had a power back like Brandon Jacobs to compliment him with. Maybe he still would have, but at least they would have had insurance.
32. New England Patriots- G Evan Mathis (Alabama)
Mathis has literally only had one good year in the NFL. He was no one last offseason and signed a small money deal with the Eagles, but he was ProFootballFocus’ #1 rated guard this season. That’s worth putting him here as a replacement for Logan Mankins with the Patriots.
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