As far as pro football goes, it makes for a fun, interesting and revealing what if. What if teams were able to draft armed with the knowledge of how the season turned out for each rookie? The shifts would be seismic, no?
We have again had our NFL Nation reporters re-draft the first two rounds -- all 64 picks -- of the 2021 NFL draft under those circumstances. We asked them to explain their reasoning, especially in the instances when they went away from what the teams they cover had done.
What's tricky about this re-draft is the quarterbacks, none of whom really blossomed, save for perhaps Mac Jones. Five were taken in the first round in 2021, including the first three picks. Will that remain the case because of their perceived ceilings?
We're starting with a clean slate -- the order that follows is from when the draft began on April 29, 2021. That means no trades allowed, with teams picking in their original spots going into the start of Round 1.
We'll begin with the Jacksonville Jaguars and work our way down to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 64:
Jump to:
Full 1-64 re-draft
ROUND 1
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Original pick: Trevor Lawrence, QB
New pick: Trevor Lawrence, QB
Lawrence didn't have a great rookie season, but he was saddled with a league-high 39 drops, an inconsistent offensive line beset with injuries, season-ending injuries to two deep threats, running back James Robinson being benched for long stretches, and the dysfunctional and toxic atmosphere inside the building created by coach Urban Meyer. Lawrence didn't play well at times, but nobody would thrive in that environment. He's still a generational prospect. -- Michael DiRocco
2. New York Jets
Original pick: Zach Wilson, QB
New pick: Zach Wilson, QB
The organization still believes in Wilson's upside even though his season was underwhelming. Others might disagree, but they'd still take him over Mac Jones and the other QBs in the draft. They believe he will flourish with experience and a better supporting cast. The stats suggest otherwise, but the Jets are trusting their eyes and their guts. -- Rich Cimini
3. San Francisco 49ers (via HOU from MIA)
Original pick: Trey Lance, QB
New pick: Trey Lance, QB
The 49ers ended up following a blueprint similar to what the Chiefs did with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes in 2017 by allowing Lance to mostly sit and learn behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance started two games because of injuries to Garoppolo and though he had some rough spots, there were more than enough good things for the Niners to maintain plenty of belief that he will be their guy moving forward. -- Nick Wagoner
4. Atlanta Falcons
Original pick: Kyle Pitts, TE
New pick: Micah Parsons, LB
This has absolutely nothing to do with Pitts, who had a transcendent rookie season and is going to be a star. He was a big reason why Atlanta's offense had any sort of production. But the Falcons entered and exited the season with the same problem -- how to rush the passer. Parsons had 13 sacks, 30 quarterback hits and 3 forced fumbles, creating complete havoc. Among Parsons, Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase and offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Penei Sewell, the Falcons couldn't go wrong here in hindsight. -- Michael Rothstein
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Original pick: Ja'Marr Chase, WR
New pick: Ja'Marr Chase, WR
Chase's rookie year was so great that even if someone had an argument against reuniting Chase with former LSU teammate Joe Burrow, it's not something that should be shared publicly. Chase broke Bengals records and should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. -- Ben Baby
6. Miami Dolphins (via PHI)
Original pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR
New pick: Rashawn Slater, OT
This is far from an indictment against Waddle, who set the NFL rookie record for receptions this season, but Slater is already one of the best tackles in the league and would shore up an offensive line in Miami that desperately needs it. With three picks remaining in the first and second rounds, the Dolphins solve their most prevalent need at No. 6 and still have plenty of capital to address their other needs later. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
7. Detroit Lions
Original pick: Penei Sewell, OT
New pick: Penei Sewell, OT
Sewell was exactly who the Lions thought he would be, according to general manager Brad Holmes. The front office wanted to start the rebuild process in the trenches, and although there are more exciting names on the board, Sewell would still be their guy. He's only going to get better. -- Eric Woodyard
8. Carolina Panthers
Original pick: Jaycee Horn, CB
New pick: Kyle Pitts, TE
As tempting as quarterback Justin Fields is, and as much of a need as there is for a cornerback in Horn, Pitts is a generational talent at a position of great need. He'll make life easier on whoever the Panthers play at quarterback and take pressure off the offensive line. Just too good to pass up here with both the top offensive tackles and top three quarterbacks gone. -- David Newton
9. Denver Broncos
Original pick: Pat Surtain II, CB
New pick: Pat Surtain II, CB
Broncos general manager George Paton has been given the what-if scenario many times this season about taking Surtain, and there is no reason to believe he would have changed his mind in this scenario either. Mac Jones helped get the Patriots into the playoffs, but Jones or Justin Fields or any other rookie quarterback would have been chewed up and spit out in the Broncos' offensive mess this past season, when they consistently called plays that didn't fit the personnel on the field. -- Jeff Legwold
10. Dallas Cowboys
Original pick: DeVonta Smith, WR (PHI traded up)
New pick: Jaycee Horn, CB
Had Horn been available when the Cowboys picked in April, I believe he would have been their pick. The fact that they ended up with Micah Parsons is in some ways pure luck, but he's not here in this scenario. Horn suffered a broken foot and played just three games as a rookie, but his ability to get the ball was one thing the Cowboys loved. -- Todd Archer
11. New York Giants
Original pick: Justin Fields, QB (CHI traded up)
New pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR
The move here would still be to trade down and collect another first-round pick for 2022, which the Giants did and came away with the top-10 selection of the Bears. But since we can't trade in the re-draft, the Giants would have been ecstatic to draft Waddle or DeVonta Smith at No. 11. Having seen things unfold in their rookie seasons, Waddle is the pick here, although Jones was in the conversation. -- Jordan Raanan
12. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA from SF)
Original pick: Micah Parsons, LB (DAL pick from PHI trade)
New pick: DeVonta Smith, WR
Smith finished with 64 catches for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns despite playing in a run-centric offense. He appeared in all 17 games, easing concerns that he wouldn't hold up at this level because of his slight frame. "I don't think that there are a lot of true No. 1 receivers in the NFL," coach Nick Sirianni said, "and I think we have one that is going to continue to get better." -- Tim McManus
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Original pick: Rashawn Slater, OT
New pick: Greg Newsome II, CB
With Slater off the board, the Chargers address a need in the secondary with Newsome, who showed his potential for the Browns in 12 games last season. He allowed just one touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. By Pro Football Focus' grading, Newsome had the highest coverage grade of all rookie corners when lined up outside. -- Shelley Smith
14. Minnesota Vikings
Original pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, G (NYJ traded up)
New pick: Justin Fields, QB
The Vikings tried to work out a trade with Carolina that would've moved them from No. 14 to No. 8 last April because they had their eye on Fields. With Fields available to them in the re-draft, this was a no-brainer. Kellen Mond, the rookie QB Minnesota ended up with in the third round, was on the field for one three-and-out series in 2021 and was inactive for 15 games. He looks nowhere near ready to take over for Kirk Cousins in the event the Vikings opt to trade their starting quarterback with new leadership coming in. Fields would give Minnesota a true succession plan and belief in their future at quarterback without having to start all over at the position if they move on from Cousins this offseason. -- Courtney Cronin
15. New England Patriots
Original pick: Mac Jones, QB
New pick: Mac Jones, QB
The Patriots were thrilled to land their quarterback of the future in April, so why change now? It's the perfect marriage between prospect and scheme fit. As coach Bill Belichick said after the team's playoff loss, "Mac helped us a lot. I look forward to working with him next year." -- Mike Reiss
16. Arizona Cardinals
Original pick: Zaven Collins, LB
New pick: Najee Harris, RB
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim likes to preach "best player available." Well, after the season Harris had, it's hard to argue that he's not the best player left on the board. Even with the Cardinals having signed James Conner in the offseason, Harris can be a foundational back to build on, especially on a rookie deal. Arizona could have worked him into the rotation alongside Chase Edmonds and Conner, and then given him the ball in 2022 -- if he didn't earn it already at some point in 2021. -- Josh Weinfuss
17. Las Vegas Raiders
Original pick: Alex Leatherwood, OT
New pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, G
The Raiders' biggest need last spring was at right tackle, and they reached for Leatherwood, who struggled early and often and was moved inside to right guard in Week 5. Hindsight being 20/20, why not, then, take a guy who was one of the top two rookie guards in the league in Vera-Tucker, a player who the Raiders were high on initially anyway but was gone by the time they came up on the clock? Vera-Tucker has been named to all-rookie teams while Leatherwood, who does have a high ceiling, finished tied for third among all offensive linemen in penalties. -- Paul Gutierrez
18. Miami Dolphins
Original pick: Jaelan Phillips, DE
New pick: Jevon Holland, S
Once again, this is not an indictment of the Dolphins' actual pick, who set a franchise rookie record for sacks in 2021. But Holland was perhaps the steal of the second round and would not make it to his original draft slot of No. 36 overall. Holland is a cornerstone in Miami's secondary, and alongside Brandon Jones forms a safety duo that should sustain this defense for years to come. The Dolphins still must address their pass rush but have two remaining picks to do so. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
19. Washington Commanders
Original pick: Jamin Davis, LB
New pick: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB
There's a lot to like about Davis: He has speed, size and length. If he develops, he could be a big help. But Washington drafted him as a possible middle linebacker, and that's no longer how it sees him. Koramoah was among the Commanders' final choices anyway, and he provides what they love: position flexibility. He could play linebacker in the team's base defense and big nickel in sub packages. He showed instincts and made big stops this past season. The key for him will be staying healthy, but if he does, his speed and versatility are big plusses. -- John Keim
20. Chicago Bears
Original pick: Kadarius Toney (NYG pick from CHI trade)
New pick: Creed Humphrey, C
Humphrey was one of the NFL's best centers as a rookie. If you can get an All-Pro-caliber player at No. 20, especially with Justin Fields off the board, you do it and adjust the rest of your lineup accordingly. Incumbent center Sam Mustipher could slide to guard. -- Kevin Seifert
21. Indianapolis Colts
Original pick: Kwity Paye, DE
New pick: Kwity Paye, DE
The Colts were desperate for help on the edge after the departures of Justin Houston and Denico Autry in free agency. Paye showed glimpses of success as he ended his rookie season with four sacks while starting all 15 games in which he appeared. -- Mike Wells
22. Tennessee Titans
Original pick: Caleb Farley, CB
New pick: Elijah Moore, WR
Moore, who caught 43 passes and had five touchdowns for the Jets, is a perfect fit for the Titans. He gives them both a possession receiver and a vertical threat from the slot. Moore is also an option in the return game. -- Turron Davenport
23. New York Jets (via SEA)
Original pick: Christian Darrisaw, OT (MIN pick from NYJ trade)
New pick: Jaelan Phillips, DE
Two actual Jets picks, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Elijah Moore, are off the board, which shows that others value them as much as the Jets do. The team finished 27th in sacks, so Phillips (8.5 sacks) makes sense from a need standpoint. He'd join Carl Lawson (returning from Achilles surgery) and John Franklin-Myers to give New York a formidable trio on the edge. -- Rich Cimini
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Original pick: Najee Harris, RB
New pick: Javonte Williams, RB
After the way the 2021 season played out, it's clear the Steelers needed to address the offensive line in addition to adding a top-tier running back to fix the run game. But at the No. 25 overall selection, Harris is already off the board and the premium offensive line help -- such as center Creed Humphrey -- is also gone. Because of that, it makes the most sense to add a running back and address the line with a later pick. Williams had a standout rookie year with 903 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. Harris is still the best running back in the class, but Williams showed capabilities of being a close second. -- Brooke Pryor
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR)
Original pick: Travis Etienne, RB
New pick: Christian Barmore, DT
We can't know the kind of impact Etienne would have made because he missed the season because of a Lisfranc injury, but you could see the impact Barmore made in New England. He's a high-motor guy who showed flashes that he can be a good interior rusher. The Jaguars can plug him in the lineup and not worry about the spot for a decade. -- Michael DiRocco
26. Cleveland Browns
Original pick: Greg Newsome II, CB
New pick: Odafe Oweh, OLB
Since the Chargers and Commanders already scooped up Newsome and Owusu-Koramoah, the Browns will add another impact edge rusher to flank Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. The Browns don't have any young, promising pass-rushers on their roster outside Garrett. Oweh had 27 QB pressures for the Ravens as a rookie. -- Jake Trotter
27. Baltimore Ravens
Original pick: Rashod Bateman, WR
New pick: Rashod Bateman, WR
Bateman showed flashes of being a potential No. 1 wide receiver after missing the first five games because of a groin injury. Over the last 12 games, he ranked fourth among rookie wide receivers with 46 catches and fifth with 515 yards receiving. Baltimore loves Bateman's route running and upside, especially when he builds a stronger rapport with Lamar Jackson. Injuries limited them to seven games together in 2021. -- Jamison Hensley
28. New Orleans Saints
Original pick: Payton Turner, DE
New pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
I strongly considered Davis Mills because the Saints won't be in a better position to draft a quarterback in 2022. But they also have a glaring WR need. St. Brown ranked in the top three among all NFL receivers over the final six weeks with 51 catches, 560 yards and five TDs. -- Mike Triplett
29. Green Bay Packers
Original pick: Eric Stokes, CB
New pick: Eric Stokes, CB
Stokes got off to a bit of a slow start but grew into a starting role -- and he had to, given the shoulder injury that All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander sustained a month into the season. Stokes has figured out how to use his speed along with the techniques needed to play on the perimeter in the NFL. His next step is more splash plays; he had only one interception. But it took Alexander some time for that as well, and now look at him. -- Rob Demovsky
30. Buffalo Bills
Original pick: Greg Rousseau, DE
New pick: Greg Rousseau, DE
The argument could have been made midway through the regular season that the Bills should have used this pick on a running back, but that has come and gone thanks to the play of Devin Singletary in the last quarter of the season and through the playoffs. Rousseau had four sacks in the regular season, continued to play better as the season progressed and has a high ceiling on this defense. -- Alaina Getzenberg
31. Baltimore Ravens (via KC)
Original pick: Odafe Oweh, OLB
New pick: Tre'von Moehrig, S
The Ravens need a pass-rusher or an offensive lineman more, but Moehrig is the best available player here and fills a void as a center fielder of the defense. Baltimore allowed an NFL-worst 16 completions of 40 yards or more. According to Pro Football Focus, Moehrig was credited with nearly as many interceptions plus forced incompletions (six) as he had completions allowed as the primary coverage defender (nine). -- Jamison Hensley
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Original pick: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE
New pick: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE
The Bucs were wise to grab Tryon-Shoyinka despite having starter Jason Pierre-Paul, now 33, under contract through 2021. They needed to be thinking about the future, and Pierre-Paul wound up missing five regular-season games in 2021 while dealing with a torn rotator cuff. Tryon-Shoyinka was able to step into a rotation and have success without the expectations that come from starting every week, and he showed tremendous growth, registering 4.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, 10 QB hits and three passes defensed during the regular season, with his best game coming in a Week 4 nail-biter at New England, where he had two sacks and four QB hits. -- Jenna Laine
ROUND 2
33. Jacksonville Jaguars
Original pick: Tyson Campbell, CB
New pick: Pat Freiermuth, TE
Building around Lawrence should have been a priority, and even though the Jaguars tried to do that by selecting RB Travis Etienne late in the first round, he missed his rookie season because of an injury. Freiermuth at the top of the second gives the Jaguars a player who had 60 catches and seven TDs as a rookie for the Steelers. Jaguars tight ends, by the way, haven't combined to catch seven TD passes since 2013. -- Michael DiRocco
34. New York Jets
Original pick: Elijah Moore, WR
New pick: Trey Smith, OG
Ideally, the Jets would like a wide receiver to bolster the talent around quarterback Zach Wilson, but there's a drop-off in talent here and Smith is too good to pass up. He played every single offensive snap for the Chiefs, demonstrating the ability that could make him a 10-year starter. Jets general manager Joe Douglas wants to build in the trenches, and the Smith-Phillips combo allows him to do that. -- Rich Cimini
35. Atlanta Falcons
Original pick: Javonte Williams, RB (DEN traded up)
New pick: Sam Cosmi, OT
Again, while the Falcons need help lots of places, protecting Matt Ryan remains paramount. This move would allow Atlanta flexibility in either trying Kaleb McGary inside or offering other long-term options to an offensive line that routinely struggled to protect Ryan. -- Michael Rothstein
36. Miami Dolphins (via HOU)
Original pick: Jevon Holland, S
New pick: Azeez Ojulari, DE
After passing on Jaelan Phillips in the first round, Miami gets a pass-rusher with its top pick in the second round. There were consistency and size concerns about Ojulari entering the draft, but he was perceived by many to be a first-round talent. After recording eight sacks as a rookie, he proved his ability to overcome those concerns. He ranked third among all rookies in sacks in 2021 and is an incredible value at pick No. 36. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
37. Philadelphia Eagles
Original pick: Landon Dickerson, OL
New pick: Landon Dickerson, OL
It's a good sign for the Eagles that they have no regrets with their top selections. Dickerson took over at left guard when Isaac Seumalo was lost to injury early in the season. He started 13 games in all and finished second among guards in run block win rate (75%), per ESPN, behind only Brandon Scherff. Dickerson was part of an offensive line that powered the top rushing game in football (159.7 yards per game). Injuries were the big concern for him coming out of Alabama, but so far, so good. -- Tim McManus
38. Cincinnati Bengals
Original pick: Christian Barmore, DT (NE traded up)
New pick: Christian Darrisaw, OT
In the actual draft, the Bengals traded down and selected Jackson Carman. While Carman has recovered from a very rocky start, how he'll slot into future offensive lines is unclear. He ended OTAs as the projected starting right guard but has been a reserve the rest of the way, even after the Bengals made a change and went with Hakeem Adeniji. Darrisaw has a pass block win rate of only 77.6% (ESPN metric powered by NFL Next Gen), but it's encouraging enough to suggest he might be the best option for the Bengals at this spot. -- Ben Baby
39. Carolina Panthers
Original pick: Teven Jenkins, OT (CHI traded up)
New pick: Asante Samuel Jr. CB
The Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn in the first round, so getting Samuel in the second round fills a huge need and is a quality pick. Like Horn, he is the son of a former NFL star, Asante Samuel, who played in the league for 11 seasons and made four Pro Bowls. At 5-foot-10, he's not as tall as Horn (5-foot-11), but he has the speed and all the other intangibles to succeed. -- David Newton
40. Denver Broncos
Original pick: Richie Grant, S (ATL pick from Denver trade
New pick: Pete Werner, OLB
In this scenario, with running back Javonte Williams off the board long ago, the Broncos would still look at running back but don't have any on their board for this slot. They snagged two Buckeyes defenders later in the draft in Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper, but even so, Werner would have gotten a long look here, as would have an interior offensive lineman. -- Jeff Legwold
41. Detroit Lions
Original pick: Levi Onwuzurike, DT
New pick: Alim McNeill, DT
Lions general manager Brad Holmes was clearly looking to strengthen the interior defense. He got it right with McNeill in the third round but could've picked him higher in hindsight. Although the D-Line crop was fairly weak among this year's class, McNeill showed flashes of his talent, earning a spot on the Pro Football Focus all-rookie team for 2021. -- Eric Woodyard
42. New York Giants
Original pick: Liam Eichenberg, OT (MIA traded up)
New pick: Quinn Meinerz, OG
There were no edge rushers of interest left in this scenario. At that point, it was mandatory to look at the offensive line. Meinerz was first among all rookie guards with a 66.7 pass blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus. And there is plenty of room to grow with this being his first year after having made the jump from Division III. -- Jordan Raanan
43. San Francisco 49ers
Original pick: Tre'von Moehrig, S (LV traded up)
New pick: Elijah Mitchell, RB
While there are still a couple of intriguing cornerbacks on the board, let's keep the Niners' backfield of the future intact by going with their running back of the present. Mitchell is the latest in a long line of late-round/undrafted running backs scouted and developed by the Shanahans and running backs coach Bobby Turner. He set a 49ers franchise rookie rushing record (963 yards), which was also good for eighth in the NFL despite missing six games. Mitchell's ability to generate yards after contact (2.17, eighth best in NFL) made him better than expected between the tackles, and an offseason spent adding some bulk should only help him continue to produce. -- Nick Wagoner
44. Dallas Cowboys
Original pick: Kelvin Joseph, CB
New pick: Nick Bolton, ILB
I was tempted to go with Jamin Davis, but I'll go with Bolton's productivity as a rookie over Osa Odighizuwa, whom the Cowboys got in the third round. They went with a defensive player with their first six picks of the draft. I wasn't going to break that trend. Bolton doesn't have Micah Parsons' explosion, but he is around the ball a lot. -- Todd Archer
45. Jacksonville Jaguars (via MIN)
Original pick: Walker Little, OT
New pick: Tyson Campbell, CB
Campbell's development was one of the main reasons the Jaguars felt they could trade underachieving cornerback CJ Henderson early in the season. Though Campbell had some issues locating the ball in man coverage, the Jaguars went more zone-heavy and Campbell steadily improved throughout the second half of the season. From Weeks 11 to 16, Campbell was Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded rookie defender. -- Michael DiRocco
46. New England Patriots
Original pick: Jackson Carman, OT (CIN pick from NE trade)
New pick: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB
The Patriots landed Stevenson in the fourth round, but given his production and future promise, he warrants a selection at this spot. The hard-charging 226-pound Stevenson overcame some struggles early in the season to earn the respect of coaches and teammates as a dual-threat option who was a capable "1B" to the team's "1A" option of Damien Harris. If Stevenson keeps ascending, he could be a "1A," as he was one of the bright spots of the team's blowout playoff loss. -- Mike Reiss
47. Los Angeles Chargers
Original pick: Asante Samuel Jr., CB
New pick: Caleb Farley, CB
The Chargers could take a chance on a first-round talent here and go with back-to-back corners in this draft. Farley played in just three games in 2021 after he tore an ACL in October, but there's a reason the Titans took him in Round 1 last April. Farley would be a pick for the future, as he could make the secondary a position of strength for the Chargers. No, they don't get their left tackle of the future in this scenario, but this is great value. -- Shelley Smith
48. Las Vegas Raiders
Original pick: Aaron Banks, G (SF pick from LV trade)
New pick: Nate Hobbs, S
The Raiders still need a safety here but with actual pick Tre'von Moehrig gone, it's time for Las Vegas to protect one of its own in the secondary. Sure, Hobbs goes three rounds and 119 picks higher here than he did in the actual draft, and his off-the field decision-making late in the season was suspect at best, but a DUI charge has been dropped. Playing primarily in the slot, Hobbs' 74 tackles ranked fourth on the team as he also had an interception, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a sack in 16 games. -- Paul Gutierrez
49. Arizona Cardinals
Original pick: Rondale Moore, WR
New pick: Rondale Moore, WR
This is the spot for Moore to go again. He was a steal of sorts, but his speed makes him such a dynamic option for the Cardinals' offense that he was able to make an instant impact. Could he have been used more? Yes, but that's for Kliff Kingsbury to figure out in 2022. Moore's ability to make plays near the line of scrimmage with his legs as well as take the top off defenses with deep routes gave quarterback Kyler Murray plenty of options and kept defenses guessing. -- Josh Weinfuss
50. Miami Dolphins
Original pick: Azeez Ojulari (NYG pick from MIA trade)
New pick: Michael Carter, RB
General manager Chris Grier has a history of not taking running backs until Day 3 of the draft, but Carter is too good to pass up at No. 50 overall. Miami ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing last season, but Carter was productive within a bad Jets offense; he would slot as Miami's best running back and eliminate a dire position of need. Not getting a wide receiver in the first two rounds stings but with Rashawn Slater and Carter, Miami is better suited to be more physical on offense. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
51. Washington Commanders
Original pick: Sam Cosmi, OT
New pick: Elijah Molden, CB
Washington would like to have taken an offensive lineman, but those remaining weren't going to help. Molden allows the team to bolster its secondary and gives it a strong inside corner; he's smart, physical and an excellent blitzer. The Commanders can then let Kendall Fuller stay outside along with William Jackson III. Molden can help vs. the run, a trouble spot for Washington, as well as in coverage. One thing that is always hard to turn down: quality corners. -- John Keim
52. Chicago Bears
Original pick: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah OLB (CLE traded up)
New pick: Teven Jenkins, OT
The Bears loved Jenkins enough to trade up for him in the real draft, and despite an up-and-down rookie season, they still have high hopes for him as a long-term solution. If you have a chance to jump on a starting left tackle in the second round, you do it. -- Kevin Seifert
53. Tennessee Titans
Original pick: Dillon Radunz, OT
New pick: Kelvin Joseph, CB
Ideally the Titans would have taken Elijah Molden or Nate Hobbs to man the nickel spot. Joseph gives the Titans a future starter at outside corner. Joseph's aggressive tackling mindset vibes perfectly with the Titans' DBs, who pride themselves on being able to stop the run. His ball skills are a plus, which will help Tennessee's defense get more turnovers. -- Turron Davenport
54. Indianapolis Colts
Original pick: Dayo Odeyingbo, DE
New pick: Kadarius Toney, WR
The Colts lacked a true No. 2 receiver to go with Michael Pittman Jr. this season. Toney, despite missing seven games, would have been the second-leading receiver behind Pittman with his 39 receptions for 420 yards. The Colts now head into the offseason still seeking a second receiver for next season. -- Mike Wells
55. Pittsburgh Steelers
Original pick: Pat Freiermuth, TE
New pick: Dillon Radunz, OT
The Steelers' offensive line needed the most help in the 2021 season, and Radunz would've competed for a starting outside job on either side of the line and been a versatile sixth man -- all necessities with Zach Banner never returning to form after his 2020 ACL tear. The Steelers' biggest position of need on the line is still at center, but at this point in the re-draft, the premium talent is gone and aren't any great mid-tier center who should go this high. -- Brooke Pryor
56. Seattle Seahawks
Original pick: Dee Eskridge, WR
New pick: Paulson Adebo, CB
Eskridge still looks like an exciting prospect, but he hardly gave the Seahawks anything while missing much of the offseason (foot) and seven games (concussion). Adebo, who went 76th overall, looked plenty worthy of a second-round selection while starting every game for New Orleans and picking off three passes. Having him opposite D.J. Reed would have kept the Seahawks from having to suffer through Tre Flowers' shoddy play during their defense's historically bad start to the season. -- Brady Henderson
57. Los Angeles Rams
Original pick: Tutu Atwell, WR
New pick: Osa Odighizuwa, DT
Atwell was slowed during training camp because of COVID-19 and various injuries before he was placed on injured reserve the first week of November because of shoulder surgery. His selection was a head-scratcher to begin with given several other needs the Rams could have addressed, and it will be an uphill battle for Atwell to prove going forward that he was second-round worthy. In a re-draft situation, the Rams could use the pick on a defensive lineman to play alongside Aaron Donald and bolster a unit that lost Michael Brockers over the offseason and will see Sebastian Joseph-Day become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. -- Lindsey Thiry
58. Kansas City Chiefs via BAL
Original pick: Nick Bolton, LB
New pick: Spencer Brown, OT
In this draft, the Chiefs can't get Bolton or either of their two rookie offensive linemen, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. So the pick here is Brown, who had a promising rookie season for the Bills and could fill a void on the Kansas City line. -- Adam Teicher
59. Cleveland Browns
Original pick: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR (CAR pick from CLE trade)
New pick: Milton Williams, DT
The Browns have long-term issues at defensive tackle, with reclamation project Malik McDowell likely gone after his recent arrest in Florida, and Malik Jackson now 32 and a free agent. Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai have had their moments, but the Browns need another prospect inside on the line. That's why the pick here is Williams, who surged as a versatile disrupter down the stretch for the Eagles this past season. -- Jake Trotter
60. New Orleans Saints
Original pick: Pete Werner, OLB
New pick: Davis Mills, QB
Mills might not develop into a surefire starter, but he showed enough traits and potential in Houston to make him seem like a bargain here. I hate to pass on defensive end Payton Turner, though. The Saints liked him enough to draft him in Round 1, and it was injuries that limited him in 2021. -- Mike Triplett
61. Buffalo Bills
Original pick: Boogie Basham, DE
New pick: Ambry Thomas, CB
This is probably a bit of a stretch for Thomas to go in the second round, but if you look at what one of the biggest holes ended up being for the Bills, it was depth at corner, and the top picks are already gone. General manager Brandon Beane has said multiple times that he did not want to reach for a player, but Basham was inactive for nine games due to the depth at defensive line. The 2021 Bills could have used a backup corner like Thomas, who improved for the 49ers as he started in the last portion of the season. It's a position they have to address this offseason with Levi Wallace entering free agency. -- Alaina Getzenberg
62. Green Bay Packers
Original pick: Josh Myers, C
New pick: Josh Myers, C
The Packers probably should have taken Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey in the real draft; he went one pick after Myers. But because Humphrey went much higher this time around, the Myers pick still works. While he battled injuries throughout his rookie season, he looks like the long-term answer at center. -- Rob Demovsky
63. Kansas City Chiefs
Original pick: Creed Humphrey, C
New pick: Baron Browning, LB
Because the Chiefs can't get Nick Bolton in this scenario, they go for linebacker help in Browning, who had 58 tackles for the Broncos as a rookie. -- Adam Teicher
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Original pick: Kyle Trask, QB
New pick: Kyle Trask, QB
I was eyeing Davis Mills with this one, because I think he had some encouraging performances down the stretch, and there's so little we know about Trask as a pro because of his limited reps, which is scary considering Tom Brady's uncertainty and the fact this 2022 QB class is pretty weak. But Mills was off the board, so I went with Trask. I also contemplated Nico Collins, because Tyler Johnson was disappointing as a blocker when pressed into duty, and one more viable target for Brady could have made all the difference in an NFC divisional-playoff loss to the Rams, but I realize that would have been shortsighted. -- Jenna Laine