The 2017 NFL Draft will be forever known as the one where the Chicago Bears didn’t draft Patrick Mahomes. Given the chance to go around again, would things work out differently? Let’s find out with a first-round 2017 NFL Redraft.
The 2017 NFL Draft Redraft
1) Cleveland Browns: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
Looking back, no one will argue with the Browns for making Myles Garrett the No. 1 overall pick. And there’s no guarantee that Patrick Mahomes would’ve had the same success in a more unstable situation in Cleveland. But Mahomes is on pace to be the Greatest of All Time. In a redraft, there’s simply no debate for the quarterback-needy Browns.
In the six full seasons that Mahomes has played since the 2017 NFL Draft, he’s been a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and league MVP, and a two-time Super Bowl champion. Not only that, but he’s redefined the QB position itself and sent 31 teams into a frenzy to find the next “him.” In this redraft, Cleveland gets “him” instead.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
In any draft without Mahomes, Myles Garrett is still the No. 1 overall pick. He’s a three-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year with 88.5 sacks and 94 tackles for loss since 2017.
Somehow, his production doesn’t even begin to do justice to his impact as a game-wrecker. Him and Nick Bosa together? Say goodnight, NFL.
3) Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
If we’re factoring in off-field occurrences since 2017, Deshaun Watson is undrafted and unsigned. But QB scarcity past Mahomes makes that difficult for this exercise.
Purely looking at on-field performance early in his career, Watson was rising at an astronomical trajectory, and the Bears haven’t often had a young QB with that kind of promise.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars: T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin
The Jaguars enjoyed a Pro Bowl season from Yannick Ngakoue in 2017 and had Dante Fowler on the other edge. But neither stuck around long enough to preclude Jacksonville from taking the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year in this 2017 NFL Redraft. T.J. Watt has eclipsed 15 sacks three times already and is a game-changing player with his relentless motor.
5) Tennessee Titans: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
The Titans had the right idea when they drafted Corey Davis fifth overall, but they might’ve come away with the wrong 200-plus pound WR.
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Cooper Kupp caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 scores in 2021 — one of the best seasons for a WR in NFL history. And his all-around versatility, generational football IQ, and hands would be invaluable for Will Levis.
6) New York Jets: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple
One player wasn’t going to save the Jets back in 2017, but getting a franchise left tackle is always a good start. And it’s something the Jets still need today.
Dion Dawkins, a 6’5″, 320-pound behemoth originally projected as a guard from Temple, has grown to become one of the best, most physically dominant left tackles in football with the Buffalo Bills.
7) Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
Right tackle was a need for the Chargers when the 2017 NFL Draft came around, and it remains a need today. Bridging the gap between Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert, Ryan Ramczyk could provide security at a desperately needed position. He had a three-year stretch from 2018 to 2020, where he was a legitimate All-Pro level player.
8) Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
It isn’t often that you can look back in these redrafts and validate a running back selection inside the top 10, but Christian McCaffrey is an exception. The 2023 Offensive Player of the Year has morphed into a truly hyper-versatile offensive weapon. And save for a couple of injury-impacted seasons, he’s been the rare RB who elevates his offense in both phases.
9) Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
John Ross’ 4.22 40-yard dash got him into the top 10. But in hindsight, the Bengals would’ve been much better off taking Chris Godwin. In all but one season since 2019, Godwin has eclipsed at least 83 receptions and 1,000 yards. At 6’1″and 209 pounds, he’d be an excellent dual-sided chain-mover and RAC threat with Joe Burrow under center.
10) Buffalo Bills: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
Even after trading down with the Chiefs, the Bills still made the right pick — originally at 27th overall — with Tre’Davious White.
Though White’s long-term future is uncertain now, the LSU product was a lockdown CB in Sean McDermott’s man-heavy scheme early in his career. He was an All-Pro in just his third season, with 15 picks and 54 pass breakups through 2020.
11) New Orleans Saints: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
The Saints sit at 11th overall once again in this 2017 NFL Redraft, and there’s no change. Marshon Lattimore was the Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 2017 with five interceptions and 18 pass breakups. And in his time with the Saints, he’s earned Pro Bowl recognition four times. He’s never once allowed a passer rating over 100 in a season.
12) Cleveland Browns: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
Even without getting Garrett, the Browns can still target the defensive line for improvement in this 2017 NFL Redraft. Jonathan Allen weathered a few tough early years in Washington to become a Pro Bowl and fringe All-Pro-caliber player at DT. Allen’s power can be devastating at 6’3″ and 300 pounds, and he’s a central disruptive force inside.
13) Arizona Cardinals: George Kittle, TE, Iowa
Haason Reddick reached his potential once he joined the Eagles, but for Arizona, there are still better players on the board. Take, for instance, George Kittle. Set aside the fact that the Cardinals needed a TE in 2017.
Kittle is more than a mere TE. The two-time All-Pro is an elite receiving threat and an equally impactful blocker with his tenacity and drive.
14) Philadelphia Eagles: Haason Reddick, EDGE, Temple
In the real timeline, Reddick didn’t join the Eagles until 2022. And his past two seasons have been his first two Pro Bowl campaigns. Across that stretch, he has a combined 27 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and 49 QB hits. Reddick is a certified pass-rush demon, and in this 2017 NFL Redraft, the Eagles get him right out of the gate.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Budda Baker, S, Washington
Budda Baker isn’t the same type of safety that Indianapolis looked to add when they drafted Malik Hooker, but Baker’s all-around utility as a physical defensive presence would be invaluable to the current-day Colts.
Baker is extremely versatile, workmanlike, and tenacious in support and would make all of the Colts’ young pieces in the secondary better.
16) Baltimore Ravens: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
As they’ve become known for their spectacular drafting, the Ravens scored big with Marlon Humphrey in 2017. Since being drafted, Humphrey has amassed 13 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, and 76 pass breakups, and he was an All-Pro cornerback in 2019. No changes are necessary for John Harbaugh and Co.
17) Washington Commanders: Matt Milano, LB, Boston College
Washington has had linebacker issues since the beginning of time, it seems. In a 2017 NFL Redraft, Matt Milano would be the choice 99 times out of 100 if he’s still here.
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Milano has become one of the NFL’s best linebackers in Buffalo, with elite two-phase instincts, playmaking range, feel in congestion, and coverage ability. He’s a second-level saver.
18) Tennessee Titans: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Adoree Jackson was a fine player for Tennessee, but Jabrill Peppers might’ve been a better fit for the team and just what they needed alongside Kevin Byard in 2017. It took time, but Peppers has developed into a stalwart strong safety with the Patriots. The 5’11”, 217-pound enforcer allowed just 173 yards with a QB rating of 72.7 in 2023.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, FAU
By virtue of team needs, the Buccaneers luck into one of the best value deals of this 2017 NFL Redraft. Trey Hendrickson has been one of the NFL’s most consistent pressure-generators over the past four years, and he has three Pro Bowls with the Bengals to show for it. This past season, the 6’4″, 270-pound rusher nearly led the league with 17.5 sacks.
20) Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
The Broncos needed a lot of help in the 2017 NFL Draft that they couldn’t get with just one first-round pick. But they did manage to get stability at left tackle from Garett Bolles, and that’s always a win in the second half of Round 1. Since being drafted, Bolles has started 99 games, and he was a second-team All-Pro in 2020.
21) Detroit Lions: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
The Jarrad Davis selection for the Lions was essentially a mulligan. Alvin Kamara doesn’t fill that same need, but he could’ve taken Detroit’s offense to a new level. Imagine if Matthew Stafford and Jim Caldwell had prime Kamara — who caught 81 passes and eclipsed 1,500 total yards as a rookie — in 2017 and beyond. They might’ve avoided the Matt Patricia era.
22) Miami Dolphins: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
A reaggravated torn ACL for Ryan Tannehill killed the Dolphins’ hopes of success before the 2017 season even began. But Miami’s defense would have at least fared better with a rangy, versatile center-fielder complementing Reshad Jones on the back end. Marcus Williams has 20 interceptions and 54 pass breakups since being drafted.
23) New York Giants: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
The Giants’ original selection of Evan Engram aged well enough, but looking back, New York’s wide receiver situation was in dire straits toward the tail end of Eli Manning’s career. When he’s been healthy, Williams has been a quality X-receiver with explosive big-play ability — the kind of ability that Manning’s patience and poise in the pocket would reward.
24) Oakland Raiders: Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
The Raiders originally sought to improve their cornerback room in the 2017 NFL Draft, but looking back, West Virginia’s resident ball-hawk Rasul Douglas might’ve been a better investment. Douglas, who had eight interceptions in his final collegiate season, thrived with the Buffalo Bills in 2023, racking up four picks and eight PBUs in just nine games.
25) Houston Texans: Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn
Without the trade-up for Watson, the Texans are freed up to target other areas of weakness on the roster. Carl Lawson’s health has been an issue in the NFL, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been a competent pressure generator with a physical edge at 6’2″and 265 pounds. In a redraft scenario, perhaps he gets a clean bill of health and thrives.
26) Seattle Seahawks: Kenny Moore, CB, Valdosta State
The Seahawks added a respectable cornerback in Shaquill Griffin on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft, but in Round 1, they might get a longer, more productive prime and a more versatile player in Kenny Moore. With his dual-sided coverage and support playmaking propensity, Moore — originally a UDFA — would be a menace in Pete Carroll’s scheme.
27) Kansas City Chiefs: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
Since Mahomes is out of the Chiefs’ reach in this 2017 NFL Redraft, they have to focus on extending their contention window with Alex Smith. If they had a rangy ball-hawk like Eddie Jackson at safety back in 2017, they’d perhaps be able to improve on their league-average defensive metrics.
28) Dallas Cowboys: David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL)
Taco Charlton didn’t pay dividends for Dallas. But the silver lining is it won’t be hard to rectify that in this 2017 NFL Redraft. David Njoku, an elite blocker and an equally imposing receiving threat, would be a superb successor to Jason Witten. And if he landed with the Cowboys, he and Dak Prescott might’ve become one of the great QB-TE duos of our time.
29) Green Bay Packers: Deatrich Wise, DL, Arkansas
In 2017, the Packers had Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark, but they didn’t have much else outside of them. Deatrich Wise could’ve been an exciting and versatile piece for Green Bay on the line.
The 6’5″, 280-pound Wise has all-encompassing alignment versatility and awesome power with his near-36″ arms, and he’s become a vital cog on the Patriots’ front.
30) Pittsburgh Steelers: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
This was back when the Steelers still had Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown. Without the chance to get Watt, they can instead add one more versatile weapon to complete the offense. Evan Engram needed time to shore up his hands, but he’s since become a target-funnel at TE. In 2023 with the Jaguars, he caught 114 passes.
31) Atlanta Falcons: Grover Stewart, DT, Albany State
The Falcons tried to upgrade their line with Takkarist McKinley back in 2017. In this re-mock, they attempt the same, but from a different spot. Grover Stewart has quietly developed into one of the best nose tackles in football with the Colts. Playing next to one another, he and Grady Jarrett would wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines.
32) New Orleans Saints: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
The Saints nailed the 2017 NFL Draft when they added right tackle Ryan Ramczyk at the tail end of Round 1.
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They don’t get the chance in this 2017 NFL Redraft, but they can take a swing on Cam Robinson, who started over 40 games at Alabama. Robinson has been a decent starter in his time with Jacksonville, but he’d need to switch sides in New Orleans.
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