It really takes about three years to accurately evaluate a draft class, but with a year's worth of time to review the performance and potential of the top players in the 2014 draft, I thought it would be fun to reshuffle the deck and see how picks might have unfolded with the benefit of hindsight.
Here is my 2014 NFL Draft do-over.
1. Houston Texans
Pick:Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, DE
Do-over:Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, QB
It's likely the Texans would've made the postseason had Bill O'Brien selected Bridgewater in the original draft. The ex-Louisville standout is polished pocket passer with all of the intangibles needed to develop into an elite player at the position.
2. St. Louis Rams
Pick:Greg Robinson, Auburn, OT
Do-over:Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU, WR
Jeff Fisher would love to build the Rams' offense around the most explosive receiver in the 2014 class.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick:Blake Bortles, Central Florida, QB
Do-over: Same
GM David Caldwell and Gus Bradley are "all-in" on their young franchise quarterback after he flashed exceptional potential as a rookie starter.
4. Buffalo Bills
Pick:Sammy Watkins, Clemson, WR
Do-over: Same
The Bills coughed up a hefty sum to land Watkins, but the electrifying playmaker is well worth the investment based on his big-play production.
5. Oakland Raiders
Pick:Khalil Mack, Buffalo, LB
Do-over: Same
GM Reggie McKenzie would certainly pull the trigger on Mack after watching his prized rookie dominate at the point of attack as a SAM linebacker.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Pick:Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, OT
Do-over:Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, DE
Injuries hindered Clowney's rookie campaign, but the Falcons would welcome the opportunity to add a young pass rusher with a full toolbox.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick:Mike Evans, Texas A&M, WR
Do-over: Same
The big-bodied pass catcher is already developing into one of the NFL's premier WR1's. He posted a 1,000-yard season as a first-year starter; he could improve upon those numbers when the Buccaneers secure a legitimate franchise quarterback.
8. Cleveland Browns
Pick:Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State, CB
Do-over:Derek Carr, Fresno State, QB
After the failed Johnny Football experiment, GM Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine would consider taking a flier on Carr as the franchise quarterback of the future.
9. Minnesota Vikings
Pick:Anthony Barr, UCLA, OLB
Do-over: Same
Mike Zimmer already has Barr looking like a Pro Bowl-caliber defender at a new position.
10. Detroit Lions
Pick:Eric Ebron, North Carolina, TE
Do-over:Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DT
The undersized Donald is the kind of dominant defender defensive coordinators love to build around along the frontline.
11. Tennessee Titans
Pick:Taylor Lewan, Michigan, OT
Do-over: Same
It's hard to find a big, athletic edge blocker capable of snuffing out elite pass rushers without assistance from tight ends or running backs.
12. New York Giants
Pick:Odell Beckham Jr., LSU, WR
Do-over:Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, OT
Injuries prematurely ended Matthews' rookie campaign, but the ex-Aggie would've upgraded the Giants' offensive line as a standout edge blocker.
13. St. Louis Rams
Pick:Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DT
Do-over:Greg Robinson, Auburn, OT
The Rams opted to take Robinson with the second overall pick in the original draft; the team would probably take him at a more cost-effective spot in a do-over.
14. Chicago Bears
Pick:Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech, CB
Do-over: Same
Fuller is a Charles Tillman clone with the size, ball skills and instincts to create turnovers on the perimeter.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick:Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, LB
Do-over:C.J. Mosley, Alabama, LB
Mike Tomlin loves productive players with grit, toughness and menacing demeanors. Mosley not only fits the bill, but he would team with Lawrence Timmons to give the Steelers a dominant 1-2 punch on the interior.
16. Dallas Cowboys
Pick:Zack Martin, Notre Dame, OL
Do-over: Same
Jerry Jones knocked it out of the park with his selection of the 2014 Pro Bowler.
17. Baltimore Ravens
Pick:C.J. Mosley, Alabama, LB
Do-over:Timmy Jernigan, Florida State, DT
The undervalued defensive tackle would earn first-round grades in a do-over based on his production and impact as a situational first-year player.
18. New York Jets
Pick:Calvin Pryor, Louisville, S
Do-over:Brandin Cooks, Oregon State, WR
The lack of explosive weapons on the perimeter has stunted Geno Smith's growth as a passer. Cooks would give the Smith a home-run hitter to target on vertical throws.
19. Miami Dolphins
Pick:Ja'Wuan James, Tennessee, OT
Do-over:Eric Ebron, North Carolina, TE
Adding a big, athletic pass catcher to the lineup would help Ryan Tannehill work the entire field in the passing game.
20. New Orleans Saints
Pick:Brandin Cooks, Oregon State, WR
Do-over:Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State, CB
The Saints' defensive woes hinge on the ineffective play of their corners outside of Keenan Lewis. Dennard fits Rob Ryan's aggressive scheme as a sticky "bump-and-run" corner with quick feet and strong hands.
21. Green Bay Packers
Pick:Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama, S
Do-over: Same
The Packers' first-round selection shored up a big void in the middle of field and helped Green Bay reach the NFC Championship Game.
22. Cleveland Browns
Pick:Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, QB
Do-over:Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State, WR
Given Josh Gordon's off-field woes, the Browns would've been wise to pick up a big-bodied pass catcher to anchor the passing game in his absence.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Pick:Dee Ford, Auburn, DE
Do-over:Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, WR
After watching his wide receivers fail to catch a touchdown pass in 2014, Andy Reid would certainly pick up a solid red-zone weapon in a do-over to enhance the Chiefs' passing game.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick:Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State, CB
Do-over:Jeremy Hill, LSU, RB
The Bengals were lucky to land Hill in the second round of the original draft. Hill's talent and production merit first-round consideration in this exercise.
25. San Diego Chargers
Pick:Jason Verrett, TCU, CB
Do-over: Same
Injuries limited Verrett's overall impact, but the rookie already looks like the Chargers' top cornerback despite his inexperience.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
Pick:Marcus Smith, Louisville, LB
Do-over:Bradley Roby, Ohio State, CB
Chip Kelly quickly found out how hard it is to win without quality coverage on the perimeter. Roby is a talented cover corner with the size and length to compete with the top receivers in the NFC East.
27. Arizona Cardinals
Pick:Deone Bucannon, Washington State, S
Do-over:Carlos Hyde, Ohio State, RB
The loss of Andre Ellington to an injury robbed the Cardinals of the balance needed to compete against the top defenses in the NFC West. Hyde would've given the Cardinals a physical runner to lean on in Ellington's absence.
28. Carolina Panthers
Pick:Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State, WR
Do-over:Davante Adams, Fresno State, WR
Adams surprisingly fell out of the first round in the original draft, but his effectiveness as a rookie pass catcher makes him a Round 1 selection in a do-over.
29. New England Patriots
Pick:Dominique Easley, Florida, DT
Do-over:Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA, G
Bill Belichick loves smart, tough and physical players at the point of attack. Su'a-Filo is capable of playing on the outside, but could develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber starter in time.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Pick:Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois, S
Do-over:Jarvis Landry, LSU, WR
A disappointing 40 time plummeted Landry's stock during the draft, but the 49ers' coaches would welcome the presence of a polished route runner with exceptional hands in the starting lineup.
31. Denver Broncos
Pick:Bradley Roby, Ohio State, CB
Do-over:Joel Bitonio, Nevada, OL
The Broncos' offensive line struggled mightily against rugged defenses in 2014. Bitonio is an athletic guard with the balance, body control and agility to fully execute zone-based schemes.
32. Minnesota Vikings
Pick:Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, QB
Do-over:Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois, QB
Johnny Football would get some consideration at this spot, but Garoppolo's impeccable intangibles and intriguing arm talent would make him the ideal selection in a do-over.
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
