New 32: Aaron Rodgers would be first pick in NFL re-draft

One of my favorite events of the last year has been DC Comics' re-launch of its titles with the so-called "New 52" series. That got me thinking, what would happen if the NFL wanted to launch its own "New 32," with every team receiving a full reboot?

You can actually do this on the "Madden" video game (by the way, did you hear Calvin Johnson is going to be on the cover?). But in the spirit of draft week, I decided to put together my own mock draft, to see just what the NFL's "New 32" would look like.

If you're wondering about the draft order, it's based on the teams' all-time winning percentage (thank you Pro Football Reference). One other thing -- ah, who am I kidding? If you haven't started flaming me in the comments by this point, you've at least rushed ahead to see who your favorite team has drafted.

And without further ado ...

1

QB Aaron Rodgers

There really is no choice here for the Buccaneers, seeing as how they haven't had a franchise quarterback since Doug Williams. So Rodgers, who is at the right age and clearly at the top of his game, heads to Tampa. Buccaneers fans ... you're welcome.

2

QB Cam Newton

A number of veteran quarterbacks could go in this spot, but the Texans have to look to the future. Do you go with one of the rising stars or do you cash in quickly? The Texans make the smart move and go with Newton.

3

QB Drew Brees

The Cardinals face the same dilemma as the Texans: Go with a future NFL star or take a proven veteran? Seeing as how the team has had recent success with a veteran quarterback (Kurt Warner), Brees is a logical choice for Ken Whisenhunt, who seems to prefer experienced signal-callers anyway.

4

QB Matthew Stafford

Call this a mild upset. The Falcons pass on Tom Brady in favor of a younger quarterback who played college ball locally. Look at the decision from this perspective: Is it better to have someone who can put up three or four more great years or someone who can excel for 12?

5

QB Eli Manning

Call this another mild upset; the Saints make a nostalgic move, grabbing the kid who grew up running around the Superdome turf. But this isn't just about sentimentality. Manning has become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, with two Super Bowl rings to show for it.

6

QB Philip Rivers

Brady's free-fall continues, as the Bengals choose Rivers. Marvin Lewis might have been tempted to pick a defensive player in this spot, but offensive coordinator Jay Gruden ultimately wins out, nabbing someone to build the offense around.

7

WR Calvin Johnson

The run on quarterbacks ends with the Lions. Matt Millen hasn't led the Lions for quite some time, but there's something right about Detroit drafting a receiver in the first round. Besides, the Lions know how important Megatron is.

8

QB Tom Brady

Finally, Brady is drafted. You know Rex Ryan would be willing to sacrifice some years in the future to have a run with Brady, even if he's in the twilight of his career. Even better, Ryan can stop pretending to back Mark Sanchez. I guess it's safe to say Brady won't play any special teams.

9

QB Andrew Luck

The Panthers missed on Luck when he decided to return to Stanford for his senior season in 2011, but they get him here. There might be more established players available, but the Panthers roll the dice with a quarterback expected to be a certain superstar.

10

QB Robert Griffin, III

In another shocker, the Bills take RG3. Look at it this way: The Bills have been starved for big-time players since the end of the K-Gun offense. Coach Chan Gailey would relish the chance to work with a mobile quarterback like RG3.

11

DT Ndamukong Suh

The Seahawks become the first team to take a defensive player, filling up the middle of the defense with the best young defensive tackle in the game, someone who can anchor the unit for years to come. (Anybody else notice the oldLions have three players going in the top 11?)

12

CB Darrelle Revis

It's a run on defenders! The value of shutdown corners is at an all-time high in the pass-happy NFL, and the Eagles know a thing or two about elite cornerbacks. Even so, the team goes with Revis over its own guys.

13

QB Peyton Manning

If there is one team that would make this move, it would have to be Bud Adams' Titans. Adams did everything he could to entice Manning to the state where he played college ball, but lost out to the Broncos. With the "New 32," Adams gets his man.

14

LB Patrick Willis

St. Louis has the chance to take an elite offensive player, but the opportunity to draft a linebacker who has been terrorizing the league for years is too good to pass up. Willis will be a great value, able to anchor Jeff Fisher's defense for years.

15

QB Ben Roethlisberger

After resisting the temptation to take an obscure linebacker from a D-II program, general manager A.J. Smith grabs the best quarterback left on the board. If this were to happen, the Chargers would have, at one time, held the rights to the top three quarterbacks taken in the 2004 NFL Draft.

16

QB Matt Ryan

The Jaguars know the value of a good quarterback. That is, they at least know the value of a bad one after enduring a year of Blaine Gabbert. Jacksonville won't make that mistake again, going with a guy Mike Mularkey knows very well.

17

QB Tony Romo

Familiarity breeds contempt, but in this instance, it lands you a new quarterback. Romo would benefit from a fresh start elsewhere. Let's be honest; there's no way owner Dan Snyder would pass on an opportunity to tweak his rival, Jerry Jones.

18

DT Haloti Ngata

Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who spent years learning on the job in New England, follows the Patriots' familiar script, building his team around a solid inside presence on the defensive line.

19

QB Sam Bradford

It's safe to say the Broncos would not consider Tim Tebow. But executive vice president of football operations John Elway does know the value of a good quarterback, so he makes a play for Bradford, still one of the bright young stars in the league.

20

LB DeMarcus Ware

Ware is a bit older than many of the players flying off the board, but the Steelers can't resist putting a guy like him in their system. Ware would look pretty nice in black and gold; he's the perfect player to continue the team's legacy at the position.

21

OT Joe Thomas

New Colts general manager Ryan Grigson knows the value of having a great tackle to anchor the line. But which one? There are a lot of great options on the board, but Thomas, who will dominate for another decade, seems like the safest bet.

22

LB Terrell Suggs

We're assuming the Patriots don't trade out of this pick, though you know they would try. At any rate, coach Bill Belichick loves having veteran players on defense. While there are younger options, Suggs is his pick.

23

DE Jason Pierre-Paul

The Vikings know what it's like to have a difference-maker at defensive end, but instead of reuniting with Jared Allen, Minnesota goes with the younger model in JPP. The Vikings benefit from teams that run a 3-4 defense, like the Chiefs, Steelers and Patriots, passing on Pierre-Paul, who fits perfectly in Minnesota.

24

WR Larry Fitzgerald

The Browns have been without playmakers on offense for years, so Fitzgerald is a nice piece to start building around in Cleveland. The Browns would side with a proven veteran over whatever younger options are out there because they've been burned by youth before.

25

LB Clay Matthews

Raiders general manger Reggie McKenzie is familiar with Matthews after their time together in Green Bay, so he goes with the linebacker, who looks like he could have played with those famed Raiders teams of the 1970s.

26

OT Jake Long

A lineman doesn't make for a sexy pick, but it fits. While the Giants often don't make a big splash (they leave that to their neighbors at MetLife Stadium), they do make great football moves. Long would make great sense for them.

27

LB Von Miller

The Ravens have long made defense their hallmark. Miller is a younger player who can step into their 3-4 defense and carry the tradition on.

28

CB Patrick Peterson

Ahead of a serious run on cornerbacks, the 49ers lock up one of the game's brightest stars, who also excels at kick returns. San Francisco spurns Johnathan Joseph and Nnamdi Asomugha for Peterson, who is the future.

29

WR Hakeem Nicks

The Packers have had some elite receivers over the years, and Nicks would be a great piece to build their new offense around. Besides, it's not like they would take a running back.

30

QB Michael Vick

Owner Stephen Ross wants to make a splash and has longed for a big-time quarterback, so Vick makes perfect sense. The launch of the "New 32" allows the team to finally bring a quarterback to Miami.

31

RB Arian Foster

Owner Jerry Jones loves pass-rushers and playmakers, but at the tail end of a run on defensive stars, there wouldn't be much for him to choose from, leaving him to pick between Foster and TE Rob Gronkowski. Memories of Emmitt Smith carrying the Cowboys to three Super Bowls prompt Jones to grab the first running back taken in the draft.

32

LB NaVorro Bowman

The Bears have a long history of producing great linebackers, from George Conner to Dick Butkus to Mike Singletary to Brian Urlacher. Taking a bright young player like Bowman makes too much sense.

Some prominent names would come off the board in the second round: Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Troy Polamalu, Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Andre Johnson, Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, James Harrison and more.

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