2017 NFL Re-Draft: Browns take Patrick Mahomes with the first overall pick

By: Josh Shippen

The re-draft is officially a series, last time we explored how teams could have done a little better in 2018, today we turn it around and explore 2017. Have fun reading and make sure two check out the last two re-drafts.

1. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Mahomes, QB (Original: Myles Garrett, DE)

If anyone has anybody that isn’t Patrick Mahomes, inform them that they are a clown and then proceed to explain that Patrick Mahomes might just be the best quarterback in NFL history and NFL teams would be foolish to pass him up.

2. Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB (Original: Mitch Trubisky, QB)

No telling what made Chicago go out of their way to go get Mitch Trubisky, but I think we can all agree that Watson makes much more sense in the number two spot behind Mahomes.

3. San Francisco 49ers: Myles Garrett, DE (Original: Solomon Thomas, DE)

Thomas hasn’t performed as expected in San Francisco, but with Garrett still on the board after the Mahomes pick, the 49ers get a dominant defensive player to be the start of a very nasty line.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alvin Kamara, RB (Original: Leonard Fournette, RB)

Fournette just didn’t end up working in Duval, but you know who still is available? Oh not much really only the best running back in the NFL. The Jags might just end up moving on to play the Super Bowl in 2017 if they have Kamara instead of Fournette.

5. Tennessee Titans: Cooper Kupp, WR (Original: Corey Davis, WR)

Davis hasn’t ended up being that dominant force that he was drafted 5th overall to become, but fear not there is still a great option at WR. Cooper Kupp just keeps improving every single year, and would solidify the receiver one position in Tennessee and give Mariota a shiny new toy to play with.

6. New York Jets: Jamal Adams, S

This is such a good pick for the Jets. This is just a crazy thought but maybe they shouldn’t have traded away Adams in the offseason? Ah what do I know, according to people talking about Matt Ryan trading away your best player is a good plan. I guess.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Marlon Humphrey, CB (Original: Mike Williams, WR)

The Chargers had a great starter in Casey Hayward, and then absolutely no depth behind him. Humphrey would make a great corner tandem with Hayward.

8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB

This should go without saying, but CMC is a perfect add at this position, especially after the recent departures of Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Williams. No change to this pick, great job!

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Ramczyk, OT (Original: John Ross, WR)

The Bengals offensive line gets worse and worse every single year, and Ramczyk would have been the first piece to saving it in an alternate timeline. Ross did not end up doing all that much as of now so I don’t think it would be too damaging to the Bengals.

10. Kansas City Chiefs: Tre’Davious White, CB (Original: Patrick Mahomes, QB)

Believe me if by some interstellar universal mistake Mahomes dropped to 10 I would 100% have the Chiefs taking him, but there is no chance that would ever happen again. White was a DPOY candidate last year with the Bills, and is a shutdown corner that would add a complement to Marcus Peters and put the Chiefs deeper in contention.

11. New Orleans Saints: Budda Baker, S (Original: Marshon Lattimore, CB)

The Saints would add one of the best safeties in the league in Baker, who would play alongside Kenny Vaccaro to be a piece of a terrorizing secondary. Lattimore could still work here, but his play has slightly declined which makes me like Baker here a little better.

12. Houston Texans: Garrett Bolles, OT (Original: Deshaun Watson, QB)

I really couldn’t figure out who to put here, but considering the Texans constant problems with their offensive line Bolles seemed like a good pick. Bolles would add security to a line that desperately needs what quarterbacks they have to not get injured.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Mitch Trubisky, QB (Original: Haason Reddick, LB)

At this point of the NFL timeline, Carson Palmer was correctly thought to have limited years ahead of him. In comes ol’ Mitch Biscuit as the backup to Palmer, to learn behind him and one day take over as the starter. I think a year with Bruce Arians would have been much more helpful for his development, which is why I like this pick.

14. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenny Golladay, WR (Original: Derek Barnett, DE)

Golladay would add another great receiver to grow with Wentz, and likely set up a connection that would be seen as one of the great future QB-WR pairings.

15. Indianapolis Colts: George Kittle, TE (Original: Malik Hooker, S)

Surprising as it might be to see Kittle fall this far, I didn’t really see any other teams that this would work with, but he would have made great sense in Indy. Kittle would be rock solid in an offense where a healthy Andrew Luck is not a given.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Marshon Lattimore, CB (Original: Marlon Humphrey, CB)

Same position, different player. Humphrey was a great pickup, and I believe Lattimore could fill a similar role as being a shutdown corner in a great defense. 

17. Washington Redskins: Dalvin Cook, RB (Original: Jonathan Allen, DE)

The Redskins were trying to lead the running game with Rob Kelley and Mack Brown. Saying that that is a letdown is putting it nicely. Cook being available at 17 is a great add for the Redskins which now would have an established running game with Cook.

18. Tennessee Titans: OJ Howard, TE (Original: Adoree Jackson, CB)

The Titans had an aging talent in Delanie Walker, and needed someone fresh at tight end. OJ Howard would become a good piece for the Titans to have, especially to help out Marcus Mariota. 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TJ Watt, LB (Original: OJ Howard, TE)

TJ Watt has been a DPOY candidate, and would be a good add for a defense which at the time was one of the worst in the league. Watt would help save the Bucs from all of the dumb turnovers Winston makes and maybe get them a couple more wins.

20. Denver Broncos: Joe Mixon, RB (Original: Garrett Bolles, OT)

The Broncos offense needs as much help as it can get, so in walks Mixon to be the next star running back for the Broncos. Mixon will help take some of the pressure off of Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch.

21. Detroit Lions: Chris Godwin, WR (Original: Jarrad Davis, LB)

Godwin has been a great receiver for Tampa, and would give Stafford a great go-to guy to play alongside Golden Tate. This would at least help try and fill the void left by recently retired star Calvin Johnson.

22. Miami Dolphins: Evan Engram, TE (Original: Charles Harris, DE)

The Harris pick did not work out for Miami, so the next best option would be Evan Engram, who aside from injury issues is a great piece for the Miami offense, and is especially great for struggling quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

23. New York Giants: Kareem Hunt, RB (Original: Evan Engram, TE)

What was lost in the drama of Hunt’s legal troubles is that Hunt was one of the most dominant rookie running backs we had ever seen. Hunt would energize the Giants’ RB room and serve as a huge upgrade from Rashad Jennings.

24. Oakland Raiders: Zach Cunningham, LB (Original: Gareon Conley, CB)

The Raiders took a swing and a miss on Conley who was wildly disappointing, and in 2017 their linebacker core was fairly decimated. Cunningham adds an athletic presence to this defense that is much needed.

25. Cleveland Browns: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR (Original: Jabrill Peppers, S)

Peppers was OK for the Browns, but Smith-Schuster would be a great add for the Browns who in 2017 needed all of the help they can get. Smith-Schuster would at least give the Browns decent play for a few years, although he may experience a fall from grace sooner than thought.

26. Atlanta Falcons: Adoree Jackson, CB (Original: Takkarist McKinley, DE)

McKinley has been a mess for Atlanta, and all Falcons fans are still holding their breaths to this day for McKinley to start playing well. Jackson would be a great special teams player for Atlanta, as well as a guy that could line up alongside Desmond Trufant.

27. Buffalo Bills: Jarrad Davis, LB (Original: Tre’Davious White, CB)

The Bills would draft Davis as a developmental player for their defense, which had already been dominant for years. Davis would not make an immediate impact, but would be a good long term option.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Gerald Everrett, TE (Original: Taco Charlton, DE)

The Dallas offense features an aging tight end in Jason Witten, and Everrett will come in as a very effective replacement. Everett has been very underrated in the Rams offense with Tyler Higbee, but he has had some very good moments.

29. Cleveland Browns: Jonathan Allen, DE (Original: David Njoku, TE)

Even though the Browns miss out on pass rusher Myles Garrett, they still get a solid addition with Jonathan Allen who is set to have a career hidden in Washington.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Maye, S (Original: TJ Watt, LB)

Marcus Maye has grown as a player since the departure of Jamal Adams in the New York Jets’ defense, and would be a good player for the Steelers’ growing defense. Maye might not be a big player on that defense, but he will be a long term above average starter.

31. San Francisco 49ers: John Ross, WR (Original: Reuben Foster, LB)

Foster has been a flop for the 49ers, but someone who has shown promise is John Ross, who set a record for one of the fastest combine times in NFL history. Ross would be a speedy receiver who when fully developed would be able to play the complete position.

32. New Orleans Saints: Taysom HIll, QB (Original: Ryan Ramczyk, OT)

Taysom Hill has been so perfect for the Saints offense it’s absurd to imagine him anywhere else. Hill would be used in the same role, and would begin to be groomed as a future quarterback to relieve Drew Brees in about three or four years.