Re-drafting the 2015 NFL Draft: Round 1

The NFL Draft is arguably the most important piece of the "NFL team building process". It's the one event every year that brings both promise and headaches to every single NFL franchise. With the right selection in the draft, you can reap the benefits of adding a stud player who can change the luck of your franchise overnight or you can set your franchise back YEARS by picking the wrong player. It's a complicated process that I'm absolutely obsessed with. In my opinion, it's the most important part of building up a potential dynasty in the NFL. You have some people who insist that you can build a contender through free agency...but we have seen time and time again how that formula doesn't work.

Building an NFL dynasty is pretty simple in hindsight....

Draft great players + develop them well = SUPER BOWLS.

See, told you it's a simple formula to follow. Unfortunately, there's only a select few NFL teams that can nail it.

So, how do we know which teams made the right and wrong picks in the draft? We go back and take a look at how everything SHOULD HAVE unfolded in the draft last year.

Re-Drafting the 2015 NFL Draft (First Round)

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston (QB), Florida State

Originally selected: #1 in round 1 by Tampa Bay

Bucs made the right pick at #1 last year. Even though Winston went through some growing pains in his first season with Tampa Bay, he looks like the real deal. He threw for over 4,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and a QB rating of 84.2. With Dirk Koetter taking over the head coaching position for Tampa Bay...prepare for those numbers to improve next season.



2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota (QB), Oregon

Originally selected: #2 in round 1 by Tennessee

The Titans are not a good football team. Luckily for them though, they have seemingly found their franchise QB, so that's a good start. Marcus Mariota had an up-and-down rookie season for the Titans, but there were times when he looked like he could potentially turn into one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL and that has to get the Titans excited. The only thing I worry about long-term is if the Titans are building correctly around Mariota. The hiring of Mike Mularkey as head coach does nothing to get me excited about Marcus's future and part of me worries that the kid is going to go through head coaches like I go through socks. C'mon Tennessee. You have your guy at QB. Now let's make this thing work.



3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ronald Darby (CB), Florida State

Originally selected: #50 in round 2 by Buffalo

As much as I love Marcus Peters and his interception skills, Ronald Darby quietly had arguably the best rookie season by a cornerback in the NFL this season. His coverage skills are top notch and he looks like he could be a force in the league for along time. The Jaguars are HURTING for a good corner. The Jags look like one of those teams that could turn the table real soon. They have a good young offense, now they need to build up the defense. Selecting Darby over Dante Fowler last year would have helped that in a big way.




4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper (WR), Alabama

Originally selected: #4 in round 1 by Oakland

This was the right pick by the Raiders. Cooper had an excellent rookie campaign and as long as he and Derek Carr continue to build up chemistry on the field, they should have Oakland at least competing for a playoff spot as soon as next season. What's up with the Raiders nailing their first-round draft picks the last few years? Something is going on in Oakland, and I don't like it.



5. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff (OT), Iowa

Originally selected: #5 in round 1 by Washington

Even though Scherff's rookie season was filled with up-and-down moments, I still feel like he was the best offensive lineman in this year's rookie class and that will likely stay that way by the time his career comes to an end. If Redskins fans aren't happy with my re-drafting Scherff at this spot, the only other option would have been Mitch Morse. Some people would argue that Morse was the best offensive lineman in this year's rookie class and the center position is a HUGE need for the Redskins so that one would work as well.



6. New York Jets: Leonard Williams (DT), USC

Originally selected: #6 in round 1 by New York

Leonard Williams was phenomenal this year for New York and the only reason he didn't go higher in this re-draft is because of team needs. The Jets might not even NEED Williams, but since I saw what happens when you put Williams on the Jets, there's no way I'm changing the pick. Williams is going to be a stud in the NFL for along time and should be one of the anchors for arguably the NFL's scariest defense.



7. Chicago Bears: Mario Edwards Jr. (DE), Florida State

Originally selected: #35 in round 2 by Oakland

The Bears need a pass rush like I need a million dollars. Their first-round pick last year (WR Kevin White) ended up missing the whole season with an injury and something tells me if the Bears were able to go back in time and re-do this pick, knowing what they know now...they would likely pass on White and droll over the fact that they can grab a player like Edwards who could have eventually ushered in a new "SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE" era for Da Bears.



8. Atlanta Falcons: Adrian Amos (S), Penn State

Originally selected: #142 in round 5

The Atlanta Falcons biggest need on-the-field this season was the safety position. Even though the Falcons actual first-round draft pick Vic Beasley played well enough to likely warrant a selection in the first, Adrian Amos was a shockingly good player this year for the Bears and I bet the Falcons would love to get their hands on him. There's just no way he should've been taken in the fifth-round and this time....we are doing right by him.



9. New York Giants: Todd Gurley (RB), Georgia

Originally selected: #10 in round 1

Can you imagine what would have happened if the Giants got their mittens on Todd Gurley? Todd Gurley and Odell Beckham Jr. in the SAME OFFENSE?!?! Sorry, but it's just a pipe dream now Giants fans.



10. St. Louis Rams: Tyler Lockett (WR), Kansas State

Originally selected: #69 in round 3

With Gurley off the board already, the Rams need to get another offensive playmaker. Enter: Tyler Lockett. After just one season, Lockett looks like the player the Rams thought they were getting when they drafted Tavon Austin a few years back (Austin is a good little player, but he's way too inconsistent in that offense). Lockett is a threat on special teams and in the passing game. Plus, if you want to get really crazy, you could line him up at running back and watch magic happen. "Offensive playmaker" is what the Rams need and that's exactly what Lockett is.



11. Minnesota Vikings: La'El Collins (OG/OT), LSU

Originally selected: Undrafted

Because of ongoing legal issues before the draft, potential first-round pick La'El Collins went undrafted in the NFL draft last year. Well, once the legal issues got cleared up and Collins was let go scot-free...the Dallas Cowboys jumped all over Collins and now we know why. THE KID IS GOOOOOOOD! I still don't get why NFL teams passed on him even in the 7th round (you would think a team would take a flier on a kid with potential first-round talent with a 7th round pick), but the Cowboys are making them regret it. Put Collins on the Vikings to help protect Bridgewater and maybe...just MAYBE....Teddy would look like a top notch QB instead of a middle of the road one.



12. Cleveland Browns: Preston Smith (DE), Mississippi State

Originally selected: #38 in round 2

The Browns really need a quarterback, but they aren't going to find one in the middle of round 1. The next best solution? A pass rusher. The Browns originally picked DT Danny Shelton with this pick, but it's evident by his playing on-the-field this season that pick might not work out. Even though Preston Smith had an up-and-down rookie season for the Redskins, he's the best defensive end available and if the Browns can't get a quarterback who can turn this thing around....then you need to be able to prevent the other team's quarterback from doing any kind of damage.



13. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Peters (CB), Washington

Originally selected: #18 in round 1

It's no secret what the New Orleans Saints lack. They were one of the worst teams in the NFL on defense and part of that was because the opposing teams QB's usually had a field day against them. Even though Marcus Peters struggled at times in pass coverage, he has incredible ball instincts and has the talent and ability to be a shut down corner in this league for years. He was tied for first place in interceptions after just one season in the league and I fully expect that trend to continue as his career goes on.



14. Miami Dolphins: Byron Jones (CB), UConnn

Originally selected: #27 in round 1

The Dolphins need help in the secondary bad. Byron Jones had a pretty fantastic quiet year for the Dallas Cowboys. Even though the Cowboys were kind of a mess this season, Jones was one of the highlights and the team has to be excited about what he can do going forward. You don't think the Dolphins would love to have a guy they could line-up pretty much anywhere in the secondary and watch magic happen? PLEASE! Something tells me Tom Brady wouldn't like this pick at all.



15. San Diego Chargers: Kwon Alexander (LB), LSU

Originally selected: #124 in round 4

The Chargers really need help at wide receiver, but with no good WR's left at this spot...the next best thing is to add a decent inside linebacker who can be a game-changer. Kwon Alexander was extremely inconsistent this season for Tampa Bay, but when he was on....HE WAS ON! The Chargers are arguably the weakest team in the AFC West now and they need something to get their fan base (wherever that may end up being...) excited. A good defense is a nice start.



16. Houston Texans: Thomas Rawls (RB), Central Michigan

Originally selected: Undrafted

Everyone loves Arian Foster, but it's pretty clear that his time as an "every down" running back in the NFL is up. Unfortunately for Houston fans, they got another front row seat to what happens to your offense when you have an inept quarterback and no true #1 running back. Can we get these guys a decent offense to go with that defense already? While Thomas Rawls is likely far from being a savior for Houston, he would automatically become the best running back on the team.

THE REST:

17. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead (DE), Oregon

Originally selected: #17 in round 1

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Ereck Flowers (OT), Miami (FL)

Originally selected: #9 in round 1

19. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White (WR), West Virginia

Originally selected: #7 in round 1

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Andrus Peat (OT), Stanford

Originally selected: #13 in round 1

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman (DT), Florida State

Originally selected: #39 in round 2

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kevin Johnson (CB), Wake Forest

Originally selected: #16 in round 1

23. Denver Broncos: Rob Havenstein (OT), Wisconsin

Originally selected: #57 in round 2

24. Arizona Cardinals: Vic Beasley (OLB), Clemson

Originally selected: #8 in round 1

25. Carolina Panthers: Danielle Hunter (DE), LSU

Originally selected: #88 in round 3

26. Baltimore Ravens: Bud Dupree (OLB/DE), Kentucky

Originally selected: #22 in round 1

27. Dallas Cowboys: David Johnson (RB), Northern Iowa

Originally selected: #86 in round 3

28. Detroit Lions: Damarious Randall (CB), Arizona State

Originally selected: #30 in round 1

29. Indianapolis Colts: Quinten Rollins (CB), Miami (OH)

Originally selected: #62 in round 2

30. Green Bay Packers: Malcolm Brown (DT), Texas

Originally selected: #32 in round 1

31. New Orleans Saints: Mitch Morse (OG/C), Missouri

Originally selected: #49 in round 2

32. New England Patriots: T.J. Yeldon (RB), Alabama

Originally selected: #36 in round 2