1999 Draft Redo - What Should've Happened

What should each team have done in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft?

2005 Draft Redo | 2004 Draft Redo | 2003 Draft Redo | 2002 Draft Redo
2001 Draft Redo | 2000 Draft Redo | 1999 Draft Redo | 1998 Draft Redo
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1993 Draft Redo | 1992 Draft Redo | 1991 Draft Redo | 1990 Draft Redo
1989 Draft Redo

Here's a look at past NFL drafts looking to see what each team needed, who they all took in the first round, and in hindsight, who should've gone based on how their pro careers turned out (forgetting about proper coaching and other circumstances).

If each team could draft knowing what we all know now and not taking future drafts into account, this is how the first round should've gone.

There were 31 picks in the first round of the 1999 draft. As you'll quickly see, things turn ugly.

Who Went	How the Draft Should've Gone
1. Cleveland Browns Tim Couch, QB Kentucky	QB Donovan McNabb (1st), Syracuse Philadelphia Eagles
Couch never had any weapons to work with, so you can't necessarily blame him for not turning into a superstar right away. McNabb didn't have any weapons to work with and still turned out to be one of the league's perennial MVP candidates.
2. Philadelphia Eagles Donovan McNabb, QB Syracuse	CB Champ Bailey (1st), Georgia Washington Redskins
While the Eagles needed a quarterback and would've considered Daunte Culpepper, it would've been impossible to pass up on a Hall of Fame corner.
3. Cincinnati Bengals Akili Smith, QB Oregon	QB Daunte Culpepper (1st), UCF Minnesota Vikings
Smith was never healthy and stunk when he got his chance. While Edgerrin James would be considered, with Corey Dillon already in the backfield. Culpepper would've been the better pick.
4. Indianapolis Colts Edgerrin James, RB Miami	RB Edgerrin James (1st), Miami Indianapolis Colts
After all the criticism over taking James instead of Ricky Williams, the Colts deserve credit for hitting a home run by taking the Hurricane star.
5. New Orleans Saints Ricky Williams, RB Texas	DE Jevon Kearse (1st), Florida Tennessee Titans
After all is said and done, from the megatrade to get this pick to the injuries to the horrible contract to the loss of Mr. Dreadlock to the Dolphins, the Williams deal has to go down as one of the NFL's biggest fiascos. Kearse established himself as one of the league's premier pass rushers. Williams deserves to be taken here, but he didn't work out so the Saints aren't taking him again.
6. St. Louis Rams Torry Holt, WR NC State	WR Torry Holt (1st), NC State St. Louis Rams
Holt was one of the best receivers in football from the moment he became a Ram. No need to mess with the pick.
7. Washington Redskins Champ Bailey, CB Georgia	RB Ricky Williams (1st), Texas New Orleans Saints
Washington already had Stephen Davis, but Williams would be better until the wheels came off. Yeah, he'd be leaving leaving, but he would've been worth it for the years he was around.
8. Arizona Cardinals David Boston, WR Ohio State	DE Patrick Kerney (1st), Virginia Atlanta Falcons
Kearney would've become one of the league's most dangerous sackmasters for the Cardinals.
9. Detroit Lions Chris Claiborne, LB USC	LB Joey Porter (3rd), Colorado State Pittsburgh Steelers
Claiborne needed a while to reach his potential and wasn't a bad pick at the eight. Porter would've been the better selection.
10. Baltimore Ravens Chris McAlister, CB Arizona	CB Chris McAlister (1st), Arizona Baltimore Ravens
McAlister was an integral part of one of a Super Bowl winning defense becoming the Ravens' top corner and a Pro Bowl performer.
11. Minnesota Vikings Daunte Culpepper, QB UCF	CB Antoine Winfield (1st), Ohio State Buffalo Bills
Many experts fired on the Vikings for taking Culpepper instead of a much needed defensive player. Yeah, the Viking brain trust blew any chance of looking smart by taking Dimitrius Underwood later, but Culpepper has turned out to be a franchise quarterback. Always needing defense, Winfield wouldn't have been a bad pick.
12. Chicago Bears Cade McNown, QB UCLA	DE Aaron Smith (4th), Northern Colorado Pittsburgh Steelers
McNown was supposed to be the quarterback most ready to start out of the class of 1999. What the Bears failed to properly scout out was just how much of an arrogant jerk McNown turned out to be as he alienated his teammates from the second he became a Bear. Smith would've been a nice pass rusher who would've been a fan favorite.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers Troy Edwards, WR Louisiana Tech	OT Jon Jansen (2nd), Michigan Washington Redskins
Edwards has never given the Steelers the receiving threat the needed. Jansen might have been a 2nd round pick, but he became a consistent performer. If you can find year in and year out starting tackle, you take him.
14. Kansas City Chiefs John Tait, OT BYU	OT John Tait (1st), BYU Kansas City Chiefs
A lengthy holdout hurt Tait's development, but he started to become decent before leaving for Chicago.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Anthony McFarland, DT LSU	DE/LB Rosevelt Colvin (4th), Purdue Chicago Bears
McFarland never panned out for the Bucs. Colvin, until a knee injury, would've been a perfect fit for one of the league's nastiest defenses.
16. Tennessee Titans Jevon Kearse, LB/DE Florida	CB Dre Bly (2nd), North Carolina St. Louis Rams
Bly would've been a Pro Bowl-caliber performer, but the Titans would've had to figure out a way to keep him around.
17. New England Patriots Damien Woody, C Boston College	C Damien Woody (1st), Boston College New England Patriots
Taking a center with the 17th pick might seem high, but Woody became a critical rock in the middle before going to Detroit.
18. Oakland Raiders Matt Stinchcomb, OT Georgia	OT Luke Petitgout (1st), Notre Dame New York Giants
Stinchcomb still hasn't turned into the player the Raiders need. Petitgout would've been the far better tackle for Al Davis.
19. New York Giants Luke Petitgout, OT Notre Dame	C Jeff Saturday, (undrafted) North Carolina Indianapolis Colts
The Giants could've used a receiver, but an undrafted overachiever like Saturday would've found a spot on the line.
20. Dallas Cowboys Ebenezer Ekuban, DE North Carolina	CB Fernando Bryant (1st), Alabama Jacksonville Jaguars
While not a star, Bryant would've helped an aging Cowboy secondary.
21. Arizona Cardinals L.J. Shelton, OT Eastern Michigan	WR Donald Driver (7th), Alcorn State Green Bay Packers
Shelton was considered a dicey draft day pick and it turned out Arizona was two for two on the first round selections. Would Driver have been as good if he didn't have Brett Favre throwing to him? He might not have had the chance.
22. Seattle Seahawks Lamar King, DE Saginaw Valley State	LB Al Wilson (1st), Tennessee Denver Broncos
King just didn't work out for the Seahawks. Wilson, off the field issues and all, turned into a consistent performer for the Broncos and would've helped the Seattle back seven.
23. Buffalo Bills Antoine Winfield, DB Ohio State	WR Marty Booker (3rd), NE Louisiana  Chicago Bears
The Bills needed more receiving weapons and Booker would be a perfect complement to Eric Moulds. At least he would've been good for a little while.
24. San Francisco 49ers Reggie McGrew, DT Florida	RB Kevin Faulk (2nd), LSU New England Patriots
Faulk might not have been a consistent runner, but he'd have been a good all-around weapon out of the 49er backfield.
25. Green Bay Packers Antwan Edwards, DB Clemson	LB Dat Nguyen (3rd), Texas A&M Dallas Cowboys
Edwards hasn't been bad, but Green Bay should've taken a player like Nguyen to be a steady addition to the Packer linebacking corps.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars Fernando Bryant, CB Alabama	LB Chris Claiborne (1st), USC Detroit Lions
While not a star, Claiborne would be a great cog in any linebacking corps.
27. Detroit Lions Aaron Gibson, OT Wisconsin	OT L.J. Shelton (1st), Eastern Michigan Arizona Cardinals
Gibson's massive weight turned out to be a huge problem as he was never healthy and then was cut. Shelton would've been a steal here.
28. New England Patriots Andy Katzenmoyer, LB Ohio State	LB Mike Peterson (2nd), Florida Indianapolis Colts
Katzenmoyer has been so invaluable that the Patriots went and won three Super Bowls without him. Peterson would've been a productive piece to the Patriot defense.
29. Minnesota Vikings Dimitrius Underwood, DE Michigan State	DE Mike Rucker (2nd), Nebraska Carolina Panthers
Underwood might go down as one of the league's all-time busts and a tribute to the lack of homework the Viking front office did. Rucker became a decent pass rusher for the Panthers.
30. Atlanta Falcons Patrick Kearney, DE Virginia	FB Cecil Martin (6th), Wisconsin Philadelphia Eagles
Fullbacks are usually a dime a dozen and the Falcons were pretty set, but Martin's versatility would've come in handy.
31. Denver Broncos Al Wilson, LB Tennessee	LB Warrick Holdman (4th), Texas A&M Chicago Bears
With Wilson off the board, Holdman would be a better than average replacement.