2016 NFL Draft Redraft | Picks 17-31
17) Atlanta Falcons: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
Another team staying put with their original pick in the redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft is the Atlanta Falcons. Florida safety Keanu Neal met the need for a playmaking safety. Despite missing time with injury, Neal immediately impacted the Falcons, landing on the PFWA All-Rookie team.
When healthy, Neal has the ability to impact a game in multiple ways.
18) Indianapolis Colts: Yannick Ngakoue, OLB, Maryland
Although the Indianapolis Colts lose a franchise center in Ryan Kelly from this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft, they gain the pass-rush presence that was one of their biggest needs. A third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Yannick Ngakoue has been extremely productive as both a defensive end and outside linebacker.
19) Buffalo Bills: Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
The Buffalo Bills couldn’t meet their right tackle need in the first round five years ago. Unfortunately, they still don’t in this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft.
However, rather than select Shaq Lawson out of Clemson, they take Leonard Floyd out of Georgia instead. Although it could be considered that both players have underperformed during their NFL careers, Floyd is playing to a higher level later in his career.
20) New York Jets: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
With the top pass rushers not available, the New York Jets’ original selection in 2016 was linebacker Darron Lee. In this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson is still available, and they swoop for him. Lee is currently a free agent, having played just three seasons for the Jets.
21) Washington Football Team: Tyreek Hill, WR, West Alabama
The Kansas City Chiefs got a steal in the fifth round with speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill in 2016. Hill has gone on to become one of the best in the business. In this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team replaces TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson with Hill to provide Kirk Cousins a genuine playmaking threat at the position.
22) Houston Texans: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
The Houston Texans were the most difficult team to redraft the 2016 NFL Draft for. They could have added a pass rusher to play alongside J.J. Watt, but there wasn’t a prime option.
The selection of Will Fuller out of Notre Dame met their need at the time, and on this day, he still provides that speedy wide receiver threat they wanted and needed. His injury history makes this a difficult choice, but there genuinely isn’t a better one that they could make.
23) Minnesota Vikings: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Originally a second-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, Michael Thomas has become one of the most reliable wide receivers in the NFL. Although he doesn’t offer the downfield threat that the Minnesota Vikings were hoping to get with Laquon Treadwell, he would be an immeasurable upgrade in this 2016 NFL Draft redraft.
24) Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
The Cincinnati Bengals take the opportunity to upgrade their defensive line with UCLA defensive tackle Kenny Clark in this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft. Green Bay Packers fans will attest to Clark’s defensive dominance. He provides a major upgrade at the heart of a defense that has struggled between 2018 and 2020.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers: James Bradberry, CB, Samford
Originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers, James Bradberry has proven himself to be one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. He has been particularly impressive for the New York Giants this past season.
In this 2016 NFL Draft redraft, he replaces the Pittsburgh Steelers’ original selection of Artie Burns. The former Miami cornerback started just one game in Pittsburgh in his final year and missed all of 2020 on the Chicago Bears’ injured reserve list.
26) Seattle Seahawks: Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State
In the 2016 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks traded out of the 26th spot with the Denver Broncos. Well, the Broncos aren’t making the mistake of jumping up to draft Paxton Lynch in this redraft. The Seahawks used the original 31st selection to draft Texas A&M tackle Germain Ifedi. Although they still address the offensive line, this time, they select Cody Whitehair out of Kansas State instead.
Whitehair offers versatility, something that would greatly benefit the Seahawks, given their multiple needs across the line. A PFWA All-Rookie as a center, he has also played guard during a Pro Bowl career for the Chicago Bears.
27) Green Bay Packers: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Green Bay Packers would stick with their original selection — Kenny Clark — if he was available in this 2016 NFL Draft redraft. Unfortunately for them, he isn’t. Fortunately, they pick up a solution to a problem that would plague them even now.
UCLA’s Myles Jack would fill the linebacker spot that was eventually vacated by Clay Matthews. Injury concerns impacted his draft stock, but there’s no doubt about Jack’s impact on the Jacksonville Jaguars on their run to the 2017 AFC Championship Game.
28) Kansas City Chiefs: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Five years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs traded back from the 28th selection, leaving them without a first-round pick. The San Francisco 49ers used the pick — their second of the opening day — to select guard Joshua Garnett. Meanwhile, the Chiefs used the first of the picks acquired in the trade to select Chris Jones.
With Jones long gone in this 2016 NFL Draft redraft, the Chiefs still address the defensive line selecting Sheldon Rankins out of Louisville. Essentially, the Saints and Chiefs switch picks, much to the disappointment of Kansas City fans, no doubt.
29) Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State
Sometimes, gambles in the NFL Draft pay off. Sadly for the Arizona Cardinals, their decision to draft Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche was not one of those successful gambles. He came into the NFL with multiple red flags and is currently a free agent.
In this redraft of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cardinals instead select Kevin Byard out of Middle Tennessee State. Byard would give the Cardinals a playmaker in the secondary and the natural successor to Tyrann Mathieu. Originally a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, Byard’s impressive performance led to him becoming the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
30) Carolina Panthers: Matthew Judon, DE, Grand Valley State
Offensive tackle was the main priority for the Carolina Panthers in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, as Super Bowl 50 runner ups, they were never in a position to snag a decent offensive lineman. They used the 30th overall pick to select Vernon Butler as the highest ever draftee out of Louisiana Tech.
This 2016 NFL Draft redraft addresses a pass-rush need with Grand Valley State defensive end Matthew Judon. Although Judon would have a stellar career at outside linebacker, he could have easily been a productive pass rusher from the Panthers’ defensive end position.
31) Denver Broncos: Deion Jones, LB, LSU
Without Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, the Denver Broncos over-drafted Paxton Lynch to address their quarterback need. They could have quite easily drafted an offensive lineman with this pick.
However, for the final pick in this 2016 NFL Draft redraft, the Broncos select LSU linebacker Deion Jones. He would give the Broncos a versatile linebacker who could have played outside or as one of the two inside linebacker roles.
*The New England Patriots’ selection in the 2016 NFL Draft was forfeited due to Deflategate sanctions.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.