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There comes a time when names in an NFL Draft board become careers. General managers will receive a rightful verdict based on how the careers of their chosen players panned out.
Attempting to predict a football athlete's trajectory based on their college football stats and game tape is a nuanced art. It's a realm of uncertainty where the player might surpass all expectations at the NFL level or, despite being highly anticipated, might fall short, becoming what's known as a "bust." This unpredictability is what makes the game so thrilling.
The two sides of the coin ring true as a draft class plays out its careers. Some of those selected in the 2014 NFL Draft continue to battle as they reach a decade of pro football. Unfortunately, others had short-lived careers for various reasons. As Marvel Comics introduced the Multiverse, here’s an alternate reality via a redraft of 2014’s first round based on individual NFL accolades. The redraft widely honors the thought process GMs had at the time, giving them a better option for the position of need they targeted.
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1. Houston Texans – Aaron Donald, DT
Heartwarming: The #Rams tribute video to Aaron Donald is awesome ❤️
"The best to ever do it. Nothing but love."pic.twitter.com/BIdOCleapB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 23, 2024
Three years earlier, the Texans selected J.J. Watt 11th overall. It would have been a luxury if they had taken Aaron Donald as the first overall pick. That defensive line will create havoc for opponents, potentially making the Texans one of the best defensive units. Donald is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer after becoming an All-Pro or Pro Bowler in every season he played for the Los Angeles Rams.
2. St. Louis Rams – Zack Martin, OG
Zack Martin career pic.twitter.com/vMucwNmiz8
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 27, 2024
The Rams originally selected offensive tackle Greg Robinson. However, they would have been better off drafting Martin, who has nine All-Pros (seven first-team) and nine Pro Bowl selections for the Dallas Cowboys.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derek Carr, QB
This is wild: #Saints QB Derek Carr told WR Rashid Shaheed to run a go route and win the team the game…
And he did just that!
“Hey, listen to me Shid… freaking run”pic.twitter.com/U1ww4IM3rS
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 12, 2023
General manager David Caldwell selected quarterback Blake Bortles with this pick. While the former UCF standout helped the Jaguars reach the 2017 AFC Championship Game, Derek Carr would have delivered sustained success for Jacksonville. Carr is a four-time Pro Bowler with 4,000-yard seasons from 2018 to 2021.
4. Buffalo Bills – Davante Adams, WR
No DB is safe when Davante Adams is on the field... 💯 #NFL #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/fdhYPnZbte
— OutOfSightSports🚀™️ (@OOSSports) May 24, 2024
Their pick, Sammy Watkins, was a two-time first-team All-American coming out of college. But as it turned out, Adams had the better career, earning three-time first-team All-Pro honors and six Pro Bowl selections. At one point, Adams became the highest-paid NFL wide receiver in terms of average yearly salary.
5. Oakland Raiders – Khalil Mack, LB
SIX SACKS. ONE MORE FOR THE ALL TIME RECORD
KHALIL MACK IS WILD
pic.twitter.com/qfNEspupPT— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 1, 2023
The Raiders found a gem in Mack, a five-time All-Pro edge-rusher who won the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. However, the Raiders traded him to the Chicago Bears at the height of his career. The Raiders could have established a mean identity on defense if Mack stayed with the franchise while they drafted Maxx Crosby in 2019.
6. Atlanta Falcons – Jake Matthews, OT
Jake Matthews ties Falcons franchise record with 154th consecutive start
He's started each game since 2014... that's almost a decade 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rxsyloZean
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 12, 2023
Matthews comes from a prestigious football family. His father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, played 19 seasons. His uncle, Clay Matthews Jr., also had a lengthy career. His cousin, Clay Matthews III, played 11 seasons and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. He’s still playing for the Falcons, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2018.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans, WR
Buccaneers, WR Mike Evans agree to terms on a 2-year, $52 million deal. (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/aDMX3xiOam
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
The Buccaneers made the right choice in Evans, who became the second player in NFL history to have 10 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Over that stretch, he earned two second-team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods. He could retire playing for one NFL team after Tampa Bay rewarded him with a two-year, $52 million contract during the 2024 offseason.
8. Cleveland Browns – Kyle Fuller, CB
This is a Kyle Fuller fan account, part 345. Premier off-ball corner. pic.twitter.com/4av9iwUNEc
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) September 6, 2019
The Browns drafted Justin Gilbert, a 2013 consensus All-American who played in only three NFL seasons. After his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Gilbert for a year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Fuller was clearly the better cornerback after becoming a 2018 first-team All-Pro selection.
9. Minnesota Vikings – Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Panthers’ Jadeveon Clowney and the rest of the edge rushers. He will looks 21, not 31. pic.twitter.com/oFbPf2m4OT
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) April 24, 2024
Clowney's NFL career has been polarizing since the Texans selected him first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. While he has had one All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections, he will play for his sixth team (Carolina Panthers) in 11 seasons. Having Clowney and Danielle Hunter on the same defensive line would have been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
10. Detroit Lions – Odell Beckham Jr., WR
OH MY GOD ODELL BECKHAM JR pic.twitter.com/jU2TCxtWgk
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 31, 2023
The Lions selected 2018 Pro Bowler Eric Ebron with this pick. However, they could have started their rebuilding process with Beckham. The former LSU standout was the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after tallying 1,305 yards and seven touchdowns. He became a two-time second-team All-Pro player and three-time Pro Bowler.
11. Tennessee Titans – Taylor Lewan, OT
Taylor Lewan
• 3x Pro Bowler
• All Pro
• Highest NFL contract for a LT in 2018
• Longest Tenured Titan
• Built a podcast into a multi-million dollar brandThank you for everything, Dad! pic.twitter.com/emHQmMBUne
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) February 22, 2023
A knee injury limited Lewan to two games during the 2022 season. That injury prompted him to retire before the Titans released him. But at his best, Lewan is among the best offensive tackles in the league, helping ward off edge-rushers from Ryan Tannehill and creating gaps for Derrick Henry to burst through.
12. New York Giants – Jarvis Landry, WR
Jarvis Landry #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/gMHQ7c1MzM
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) May 10, 2024
With the Lions selecting Beckham, the Giants can still upgrade their receiving unit with Landry. He became a five-time Pro Bowler who led the league in receptions for one year (112 in 2017). Landry last played for the New Orleans Saints in 2022. However, he joined the Jaguars’ 2024 rookie minicamp.
13. St. Louis Rams – DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
WHAT A PLAY DEMARCUS LAWRENCE pic.twitter.com/k6Ln4LJxcp
— Hammer DAHN (@HammerDAHN) December 27, 2021
Lawrence has been a steady presence for the Dallas Cowboys since 2014, earning second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. The Rams could have had a reliable defensive end like him if the Texans had taken Donald at No. 1.
14. Chicago Bears – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
Still think about this random Ha Ha Clinton Dix interception & Greg Papa lmao pic.twitter.com/3l6iUan7bo
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) June 8, 2023
Dix was a two-time national champion and a 2013 consensus All-American with Alabama. In his eight-season NFL career, he earned a Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2016 after tallying 100 tackles, three passes defensed, and three sacks. After playing, Dix became the Crimson Tide’s director of player development.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – C.J. Mosley, LB
CJ Mosley my godpic.twitter.com/pL6njTM3LE
— The Football Scout (@NFLTrenchBattle) December 29, 2023
The Steelers selected Ryan Shazier, a two-time Pro Bowler whose career was cut short by a spinal contusion. In an alternate decision, the Steelers might still have Mosley if they drafted him instead. He earned his fifth All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections in 2022 after tallying 158 tackles, seven passes defensed, and an interception.
16. Dallas Cowboys – Joel Bitonio, OT
With this week being the pro bowl- its worth highlighting this is Guard Joel Bitonio’s 6th straight pro bowl
That’s tied for the 3rd longest consecutive pro bowl streak in the history of the entire #Browns franchise
1st is LT Joe Thomas w/ 10 straightpic.twitter.com/H1XgtA6eQY
— Mac🦬 (@tha_buffalo) January 29, 2024
If Martin is already off the board, the Cowboys can still get a quality player in Bitonio. He’s still playing for the Cleveland Browns after signing a three-year, $48 million contract extension, which will expire after the 2025 season. Bitonio has five All-Pro (two first-team) and six Pro Bowl selections in 10 seasons.
17. Baltimore Ravens – Dee Ford, DE
If Mosley is already off the table, the Ravens can find a solid alternative in Ford, a defensive end who led the league with seven forced fumbles in 2018. Ford played eight NFL seasons, five with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the San Francisco 49ers.
18. New York Jets – Jason Verrett, CB
Throwback to Jason Verrett’s 2020 season🗜️pic.twitter.com/Dct3y4Mhiq
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 6, 2024
The Jets selected Calvin Pryor, a safety from Louisville, who played for two teams in four NFL seasons. Verrett would have been a better option. The cornerback from TCU made the Pro Bowl in his second season. While he’s a free agent as of May 2024, he suited up for one game for the 49ers in 2023.
19. Miami Dolphins – Trai Turner, OG
.@panthers #traiturner taking it to NT Alan Branch who doesn't look like the same dominant player from '16 #baldybreakdowns pic.twitter.com/DOWhfxnR0J
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 3, 2017
The Dolphins drafted Ja’Wuan James, an offensive tackle who carved out a nine-season career. However, Miami could have gotten a better deal with Turner, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Carolina Panthers (2015-2019). He was under contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2023 but did not play a game due to a torn quad.
20. New Orleans Saints – Brandin Cooks, WR
let him cook 🍽️ @brandincooks #DallasCowboys | @Invisalign pic.twitter.com/twBuV6JePF
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 24, 2024
The Saints made the right choice in drafting Cooks, especially after he registered 1,000-yard seasons in two of his first three seasons. However, they traded him to the Patriots for two picks, including the first-rounder that got them All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk. With Cooks establishing a solid career as a WR2 or WR3, the Saints holding onto him would have made sense.
21. Green Bay Packers – Shaquil Barrett, LB
Shaq Attack has arrived in Miami 🦈
We have signed LB Shaquil Barrett. pic.twitter.com/8hvK8z5bdv
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 18, 2024
Barrett went undrafted in 2014 after playing three seasons at Colorado State. He became a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2019 second-team All-Pro member. He was also part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, one with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 and the other with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. He continues his career with the Dolphins on a one-year contract.
22. Cleveland Browns – Teddy Bridgewater, QB
Former NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater, who retired from the league to become a high school football coach, is truly hands-on with his team.
In a recent practice, he stepped in as quarterback and threw a touchdown on a swift 3-play drive.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 17, 2024
With this pick, the Browns selected Johnny Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner. Despite the hype surrounding his entry into the NFL, he lasted only two seasons. Bridgewater would have been a better option, as proved by his 10-season career and one Pro Bowl selection (2015). He’s not flashy, but he got the job done.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – Anthony Barr, LB
For everything you did in Minnesota on and off the field, thank you @anthonybarr! pic.twitter.com/TJOETPffru
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 4, 2022
While Barr is a free agent as of May 2024, he has established a solid career with the Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys. The 2013 consensus All-American had four Pro Bowl selections, all with Minnesota. Barr has 554 tackles, 32 pass deflections, 18.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and five interceptions in 116 games.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Malcolm Butler, CB
Which Super Bowl Championship Saving Play was GREATER❓
Mike Jones’s “The Tackle”: Super Bowl XXXIV
Or
Malcolm Butler’s Interception: Super Bowl XLIX #NFL #Rams #Patriots
⬇️🔥⬇️🏈 pic.twitter.com/wiQO8JcH5T
— SportsOddShift (@TheSports_Shift) May 3, 2024
The Bengals selected Darqueze Dennard, the 2013 unanimous All-American cornerback from Michigan State. However, he was out of the league after eight seasons. Meanwhile, Butler earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015 and was a 2016 second-team All-Pro member. He won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, sealing the first one (SB XLIX) via his game-winning end- zone interception.
25. San Diego Chargers – Jimmie Ward, S
#Texans Tank Dell and Jimmie Ward, the new No. 20, repping the Liberty Whites. pic.twitter.com/aobZ8YEs4E
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) April 24, 2024
The Chargers selected Verrett. But if he’s already off the board, they can get a quality defensive back in Ward, who’s still in the league with the Texans. Hip and hamstring injuries limited him to nine games during the 2023 regular season. However, he made it up in leadership as he was named one of the team captains.
26. Philadelphia Eagles – Devonta Freeman, RB
The Eagles selected Marcus Smith, a linebacker who lasted five seasons in the NFL. While he’s playing on offense, Freeman could be a good alternative, as proved by his one All-Pro and two Pro Bowl selections. Freeman has 4,720 career rushing yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry.
27. Arizona Cardinals – Adrian Phillips, S
The Cardinals selected Deone Bucannon, a safety who was a part of the 2014 Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team and the Super Bowl LV-winning Buccaneers. Drafting Phillips would have been the better choice. In 2018, the undrafted safety became a first-team All-Pro member and Pro Bowler for the Chargers. He’s also been healthy, playing 51 games for the New England Patriots from 2021 to 2023.
28. Carolina Panthers – Allen Robinson, WR
The Panthers drafted Kelvin Benjamin, a wideout who played four seasons with the team. However, he was out of the league after the 2018 season. Meanwhile, Robinson is still in the league, playing for the New York Giants in 2024. It will be the one-time Pro Bowler’s fifth team in 11 seasons.
29. New England Patriots – Corey Linsley, C
The Patriots selected defensive tackle Dominique Easley. He won Super Bowl XLIX with New England but was out of the NFL after the 2018 season. With Bill Belichick enamored in building the trenches, he could have opted for Linsley, who eventually made two All-Pro teams and a Pro Bowl selection. Linsley’s still playing for the Chargers under a five-year, $62.5 million contract he signed during the 2021 offseason.
30. San Francisco 49ers – Kyle Van Noy, LB
With Ward (their original pick) already off the board, the 49ers could take Van Noy near the end of Round 1. While he has no Pro Bowl or All-Pro accolades, he has been a vital contributor to the teams he played for. Van Noy will play for the Ravens in the 2024 season, his fifth team in a decade.
31. Denver Broncos – Bradley Roby, CB
The Broncos made the right pick with Roby, a 2012 second-team All-American with Ohio State. He helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 and played for three more teams until the 2023 season. Any team looking to bolster their secondary must consider this veteran defensive back.
32. Minnesota Vikings – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
The Vikings selected Bridgewater to end Round 1 of the 2014 draft. But with the Browns already taking him at No. 22, they can go for Garoppolo. He helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV against the Chiefs and the 2021 NFC Championship Game, which San Francisco lost to the Rams.
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