2005 Draft Redo - What Should've Happened

What should each team have done in the first round of the 2005 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
1997 Draft Redo | 1996 Draft Redo | 1995 Draft Redo | 1994 Draft Redo
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 32 picks in the first round of the 2005 draft. In parentheses is the round the player was actually taken. 

Who Went	How the Draft Should've Gone
1. San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith, QB Utah	WR Braylon Edwards (1st), Michigan Cleveland Browns
The Niners needed a ton of help. While taking a quarterback to build around would've been a nice idea, amassing weapons would've been more important. If you have a chance at a No. 1 franchise-making receiver like Edwards, you take him.
2. Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown, RB Auburn	DE/LB Shawne Merriman (1st), Maryland San Diego Chargers
While not necessarily a need pick, Merriman is too good for any team to not slide any further. An elite pass rusher, he'd be even more of a killer with Jason Taylor taking away most of the attention.
3. Cleveland Browns Braylon Edwards, WR Michigan	OT Jammal Brown (1st), Oklahoma New Orleans Saints
Cleveland needed building blocks in a big way. Taking a rock of a starting left tackle like Brown would've given the offense a vital building block.
4. Chicago Bears Cedric Benson, RB Texas	RB Marion Barber III (4th), Minnesota Dallas Cowboys
Too high? There are a ton of fantastic players on the board, but the Bears desperately needed skill players. If Thomas Jones could be effective behind the Bear line, imagine what a hard runner like Barber would've done. He would've been a god in Chicago.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams, RB Auburn	DE Demarcus Ware (1st), Troy State Dallas Cowboys
The Bucs need skill players, but Ware is way too good to let slide any further. He probably could've gone No. 1 overall.
6. Tennessee Titans Adam Jones, CB West Virginia	OT Michael Roos (2nd), Eastern Washington Tennessee Titans
This might be a bit of a stretch, but the Titans needed help on the line and could've used an upgrade at tackle. Plug in Roos and let him be a rock. He worked out well for the Titans with the second round selection.
7. Minnesota Vikings Troy Williamson, WR South Carolina	QB Jason Campbell (1st), Auburn Washington Redskins
The quarterback situation is about to get very, very ugly. Taking Campbell now, considering his upside, keeps the the Vikings from taking Tarvaris Jackson down the road.
8. Arizona Cardinals Antrel Rolle, CB Miami	RB Ronnie Brown (1st), Auburn Miami Dolphins
Rolle hasn't been all that bad coming off a banged up rookie season, but the Cardinals needed a big-time boost in the running game.
9. Washington Redskins Carlos Rogers, CB Auburn	LB Lofa Tatupu (2nd), USC Seattle Seahawks
Washington was in desperate need of linebacking help. See the linebacker, take the linebacker. He'd have been a perfect fit.
10. Detroit Lions Mike Williams, WR USC	TE Heath Miller (1st), Virginia Pittsburgh Steelers
The Lions needed receiving weapons. While Miller might not be explosive, he's becoming the prototype for the position able to do everything well including block.
11. Dallas Cowboys Demarcus Ware, DE Troy State	LB Kirk Morrison (3rd), San Diego State Oakland Raiders
Dallas was going defense, defense, defense in this draft. Morrison would've been a great fit and a tackling machine in the scheme.
12. San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman, LB Maryland	DE Trent Cole (5th), Cincinnati Philadelphia Eagles
Cole isn't Merriman, but he wouldn't have been a bad consolation prize. A Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher, he would've filled in the hybrid OLB/DE role nicely.
13. New Orleans Saints Jammal Brown, OT Oklahoma	S Kerry Rhodes (4th), Louisville New York Jets
While some consideration would've been given to several of the O linemen on the board, the Saints also needed a boost for the defense. The more playmakers, the better, and Rhoeds would've been too good to slide any further.
14. Carolina Panthers Thomas Davis, DB Georgia	RB Frank Gore (3rd), Miami San Francisco 49ers
A do-it-all back like Gore to catch passes out of the backfield as well as become a workhorse would've been a nice luxury to a Panther offense that already had some good backs in place.
15. Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Johnson, LB Texas	LB Derrick Johnson (1st), Texas Kansas City Chiefs
No need to mess with what worked.
16. Houston Texans Travis Johnson, DT Florida State	OG Logan Mankins (1st), Fresno State New England Patriots
It might take a little while, and he became a guard instead of a tackle, but there's no reason to mess with the pick.
17. Cincinnati Bengals David Pollack, DE Georgia	S Thomas Davis (1st), Georgia Carolina Panthers
While Davis isn't special, he's a good, solid defender who does a little bit of everything well. Cincinnati needed good, solid defenders who could do a little bit of everything well.
18. Minnesota Vikings Erasmus James, DE Wisconsin	DE Justin Tuck (3rd), Notre Dame New York Giants
Would Tuck shine as a No. 1 end? Doubtful, but the upside would be there to be far more productive than James, which isn't saying much.
19. St. Louis Rams Alex Barron, OT Florida State	OL Nick Kaczur (3rd), Toledo New England Patriots
Barron wasn't a bad pick, but the versatility of Kaczur would be vital down the road.
20. Dallas Cowboys Marcus Spears, DE LSU	DB Marlin Jackson (1st), Michigan Indianapolis Colts
While Spears might have been the pick here in the redraft, the Cowboys needed secondary help. Jackson might not be a star, but his versatility would turn out to be a godsend for a secondary that needed rotation help everywhere.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars Matt Jones, WR Arkansas	OT Khalif Barnes (2nd), Washington Jacksonville Jaguars
This might be a bit high for the average Barnes, but he worked out well for the Jaguars turning into a starter on the left side. They can't take the chance that he'd be there in the second round again.
22. Baltimore Ravens Mark Clayton, WR Oklahoma	QB Derek Anderson (6th), Oregon State Cleveland Browns
People, he's Derek Anderson. Don't get hung up on one big year, he's Derek Anderson. Give him a few years to prove himself further and then he might deserve to be a top ten pick.
23. Oakland Raiders Fabian Washington, CB Nebraska	LB Barrett Ruud (2nd), Nebraska Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ruud probably should've gone earlier. He would've done a little bit of everything for the Raider D.
24. Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers, QB California	LB Michael Boley (5th), Southern Miss Atlanta Falcons
In the long run, Rodger will probably turn out to be the right pick. Considering there are only a few years of No. 4 left, taking the best player on the board would've been vital.
25. Washington Redskins Jason Campbell, QB Auburn	DT Luis Castillo (1st), Northwestern San Diego Chargers
While this might be a bit low for Castillo, he's not quite the all-around player many make him out to be. He's a good cog in the system, and that's what the Redskin defensive interior could've used.
26. Seattle Seahawks Chris Spencer, C Ole Miss	C/OG Chris Spencer (1st), Ole Miss Seattle Seahawks
There are better players still on the board, but Spencer would eventually turn into a dependable starter for the Seahawks.
27. Atlanta Falcons Roddy White, WR UAB	S Antrel Rolle (1st), Miami Arizona Cardinals
Rolle got hurt early on and is just now growing into the star many expected him to become right away. Atlanta needed to upgrade the secondary and needed a boost at safety.
28. San Diego Chargers Luis Castillo, DT Northwestern	LB Channing Crowder (3rd), Florida Miami Dolphins
It would be nice if a receivers was here worth taking, but the Chargers also needed a linebacker. Take the sure-thing tackling machine over the mediocrity of Roddy White.
29. Indianapolis Colts Marlin Jackson, CB Michigan	CB Adam Jones (1st), West Virginia Tennessee Titans
In dire need of cornerback help, the hope would be for Pacman to take his craft seriously considering he'd be on a Super Bowl contender.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers Heath Miller, TE Virginia	RB Brandon Jacobs (4th), Southern Illinois New York Giants
The Steelers would soon lose the Bus and replace him with a battering ram.
31. Philadelphia Eagles Mike Patterson, DT USC	DT Mike Patterson (1st), USC Philadelphia Eagles
Patterson might not be a superstar, but he's been more than fine as a productive starter.
32. New England Patriots Logan Mankins, G Fresno State	OG/C Jason Brown (4th), North Carolina Baltimore Ravens
Brown probably should've gone in the top 20. He'd be a perennial Pro Bowler in the New England offense.

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