Redrafting the 2017 NFL Draft: Browns nab Patrick Mahomes, 49ers pass on Christian McCaffrey again

Jacob Camenker

Redrafting the 2017 NFL Draft: Browns nab Patrick Mahomes, 49ers pass on Christian McCaffrey again image

The general consensus entering the 2017 NFL Draft was that the quarterback class was weak and lacked a signal-caller worthy of being the first player off the board.

Looking back, that statement sounds ridiculous. Patrick Mahomes — the best quarterback in the NFL right now — was a part of the draft class.

Mahomes was viewed as a high-upside prospect coming out of Texas Tech, but he was never in the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick despite the Browns needing help at the position. He wasn't even the first quarterback selected, as Mitchell Trubisky's pre-draft rise eventually made him the No. 2 overall pick by the Bears.

Mahomes was far from the only steal in the 2017 draft class. T.J. Watt went much lower than he should have at No. 30 overall, while Cooper Kupp, Alvin Kamara, and George Kittle all turned into big-time offensive playmakers despite being selected after of the first round.

As a result, the 2017 NFL Draft would look a lot different if it were held today. Just how different? The Sporting News takes a look with an entire re-mock of the first 32 selections.

MORE: Sporting News experts make 49ers vs. Chiefs Super Bowl picks

2017 NFL Draft re-draft

Note: All trades that occurred in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft have been left intact. The draft order of this re-draft will mimic that of the actual draft.

Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett, Christian McCaffrey
(Getty Images)

1. Cleveland Browns

  • Re-draft pick: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
  • Actual pick: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M

Few faulted the Browns for their decision to take Garrett atop the 2017 NFL Draft. Cleveland's team was full of holes at the time, so it made sense for them to go with a prospect who was regarded as a "safe," future star with No. 1 pick.

Of course, in hindsight, Mahomes should have been the pick. He flew under the radar while putting up prolific numbers at Texas Tech, but his combination of arm strength, mobility, and ability to deliver unorthodox throws off-platform showcased the potential he had to be a true game-changer in the NFL.

The Chiefs have reaped the rewards from selecting Mahomes, riding him to two Super Bowl wins while watching him win two NFL MVP awards. He has made the Super Bowl four times in his six seasons as a starter, and it looks like he is on pace to be one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

Mahomes would have given the Browns the quarterback talent that they have lacked for so long. While not having him was a regrettable choice looking back, they are far from the only team that failed to see Mahomes' potential.

MORE: How Patrick Mahomes' stats compare to Tom Brady's legendary career

2. Chicago Bears

  • Re-draft pick: T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin
  • Actual pick: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, UNC

Speaking of teams that could have had Mahomes, the Bears were among them. They instead settled for Trubisky, who ended up busting at the NFL level.

Many remember that the Bears chose Trubisky here, but they weren't always hell-bent on landing a quarterback at No. 2 overall. They signed Mike Glennon to a $45 million deal during the offseason, so they could have passed on the position and rode out a season with him as the starter, no matter how painful that would have been.

Getting Watt here would be better than rolling with Deshaun Watson, as Watt would give the Bears a big-time pass rusher for what was an already strong defense. A case could also be made for Garrett here, but Watt has thrice led the NFL in sacks and has 96.5 QB takedowns to his name across seven seasons. He has a slight edge over his divisional counterpart, and it's fun to imagine what Watt could accomplish today if he was playing across from Montez Sweat in Chicago.

3. San Francisco 49ers

  • Re-draft pick: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
  • Actual pick: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

The 49ers face a difficult decision in this re-draft. Would they go for Garrett, a high-end talent at a premium position, or would they select Christian McCaffrey, knowing that his dual-threat ability could have taken them to greater heights across Kyle Shanahan's reign in San Francisco?

Ultimately, Garrett wins the coin-flip battle because of his positional value and McCaffrey's injury history. Garrett has posted double-digit sacks in six of his first seven seasons and would wreak havoc on the 49ers' already strong defensive line.

Perhaps paying both Garrett and Nick Bosa wouldn't be optimal, but it's easy to imagine the 49ers finding a way to win a Super Bowl with each of them on the team. Given they were able to trade for McCaffrey in 2022, they could eventually still get both of the top players they considered here on their roster in this hypothetical universe.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Re-draft pick: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
  • Actual pick: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

The Jaguars were still committed to Blake Bortles at the time of the 2017 NFL Draft but were looking for ways to support the erratic quarterback. They ultimately settled on Leonard Fournette as the top choice for that role, but McCaffrey, selected four picks later, has been the better player.

While Fournette was a strong downhill runner for a time, McCaffrey has proven to be a true dual-threat star. He would have given the Jaguars' offense a big-time weapon, and that may have been enough for them to beat the Patriots in the 2018 AFC championship game.

Perhaps that's wishful thinking, but the Jaguars would certainly be happy to have a player who has generated two 2,000-yard scrimmage seasons on their roster.

5. Tennessee Titans

  • Re-draft pick: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
  • Actual pick: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Here's another right position, wrong player pick for the Titans. They looked to Western Michigan for a top receiver when they should have looked to Eastern Washington.

Davis turned out to be a fine role player for a time in Tennessee, but Kupp has been a bona fide star. He challenged 2,000 receiving yards in 2021, posting 1,947 overall, and has established himself as one of the best route runners in the league.

Kupp doesn't have many weaknesses in his game, and there's little doubt that he would have been the No. 1 receiver that the Titans thought they were getting in Davis.

6. New York Jets

  • Re-draft pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
  • Actual pick: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

The Jets spent a second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg in the 2016 NFL Draft and signed Josh McCown to compete with him during the 2017 offseason. So, at the time, they didn't necessarily need to take a quarterback in what was viewed as an uncertain class.

Even in this re-mock, the Jets could ignore the quarterback position, but with Deshaun Watson on the board, it's hard to imagine New York passing on him here.

Watson has had a rocky career to date. He once looked like one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions during the 2020 season.

Since then, Watson has played in just 12 games, largely due to accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against him. He also suffered a torn ACL in 2023 and has completed just 59.7 percent of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions over those two seasons.

Taking Watson in this re-draft would be a major risk, but he could have powered the Jets' strong defense to at least a couple of playoff appearances during the first four years of his career. It's hard to imagine New York passing on him here with no other receiver prospects being worthy of top-10 picks.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

  • Re-draft pick: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
  • Actual pick: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The Chargers are certainly happier with their selection of Williams than the Titans were their choice of Davis. Even so, Williams' troublesome injury history — he has missed 27 games over his six-year career — likely would make the Chargers look for a steadier offensive player with this pick.

Ramczyk qualifies. The Wisconsin product was originally selected by the Saints at the end of the first round, but he has developed into a rock-solid starter at right tackle. He has appeared in 101 career regular-season games, all starts, and graded as the NFL's top overall tackle in 2019, per Pro Football Focus.

The Chargers can't do much better than Ramzyk here, who would have solved the issues that they have had on the right side of the line for the better part of a decade.

8. Carolina Panthers

  • Re-draft pick: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
  • Actual pick: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

The Panthers have to be disappointed that McCaffrey is off the board here, but Lattimore is a great consolation prize for the team. Carolina had drafted three cornerbacks in 2016, but only James Bradberry panned out long-term.

Lattimore, meanwhile, is another Saints draft pick who turned into a star. He was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has consistently been one of the NFL's best DBs. He has 15 career interceptions and would have given the Panthers a perfect replacement for Josh Norman, who had left during the 2016 offseason.

Dion Dawkins
(Getty Images)

9. Cincinnati Bengals

  • Re-draft pick: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple
  • Actual pick: John Ross, WR, Washington

The Bengals selected two tackles, Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi, in the 2015 NFL Draft in the hopes that they would develop into quality starters for the team. They didn't, and that left Cincinnati relying on veterans like Andre Smith and Eric Winston as it looked to sport a decent offense around Andy Dalton.

In retrospect, replacing either Fisher or Ogbuehi would have done a lot more for the Bengals' offense than selecting Ross — a speed demon who was inconsistent during his career — at No. 9 overall.

Dawkins is a steady, consistent tackle who has started 102 games for the Bills and made three Pro Bowls. He would have provided Cincinnati a big boost to its offensive line in Super Bowl 56 against the Rams, so this is an easy selection at this point in the re-mock.

10. Kansas City Chiefs

  • Re-draft pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
  • Actual pick: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Let's face it: no pick here can come close to replacing Mahomes. The Chiefs probably wouldn't trade up from 27 to 10 without a quarterback available here either.

However, within the rules of this re-mock, Humphrey is among the top options for the Chiefs to add. The 2019 All-Pro has been among the best, most consistent cornerbacks in the NFL and has been a force for the Ravens' defense. Pairing him with Marcus Peters in Kansas City's defense could have made the Chiefs a terrific unit, and that would have boosted them at least a bit without Mahomes.

The Chiefs could also consider adding Alvin Kamara to give themselves a dynamic, all-around offensive weapon or George Kittle to create a fearsome tight end tandem with Travis Kelce. That said, Andy Reid has typically favored adding talent to the trenches or the secondary with his first-round picks, so Humphrey makes the most sense for the Chiefs at this juncture.

11. New Orleans Saints

  • Re-draft pick: George Kittle, TE, Iowa
  • Actual pick: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

The Saints have already seen two of the players they landed in the 2017 NFL Draft come off the board, and Kamara will likely shake loose, as well. New Orleans could go with Kamara here, but the best way to maximize the end of Drew Brees' career would probably be to select Kittle.

Kittle has developed into one of the NFL's best dual-threat tight ends. He's a terrific blocker and has generated three 1,000-yard seasons, 37 touchdowns, and two All-Pro first-team nods during his career. He would have been a big upgrade over Coby Fleener and could have given the Saints the firepower needed to make one last Super Bowl run.

MORE: George Kittle among players voted to SN's All-Pro team for 2023

12. Houston Texans

  • Re-draft pick: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Florida Atlantic
  • Actual pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

The Texans probably aren't too upset to lose out on Watson here, though they may be upset that they can't trade him in this alternate universe. While rolling with Tom Savage as the team's starting quarterback in 2017 wouldn't have been ideal either, getting a big-time defensive playmaker like Hendrickson to pair long-term with J.J. Watt would be a big win.

Hendrickson had a slow start to his career with the Saints but eventually broke out in 2020. Since then, he has racked up 53 sacks across four seasons with the Saints and Bengals. Perhaps playing across from Watt and with Whitney Mercilus would have unlocked Hendrickson's potential a bit earlier in his career.  

13. Arizona Cardinals

  • Re-draft pick: Budda Baker, S, Washington
  • Actual pick: Haason Reddick, LB/EDGE, Temple

The Cardinals landed Baker in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He wouldn't last that long in this re-draft.

Baker may be undersized at 5-10, 195 pounds, but he is a do-it-all threat at the safety position. He has averaged 119 tackles, six pass defenses, a sack, and an interception per 17 games played during his career. The Cardinals won't want to surrender his two All-Pro nods, so selecting him at 13 would be in play here.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

  • Re-draft pick: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
  • Actual pick: Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

The Eagles traded for Jay Ajayi during the 2017 NFL season, and he helped the Eagles to a win in Super Bowl 52. Philadelphia wouldn't have to make that trade if it drafted Kamara at No. 14.

Kamara has emerged as the second-best running back from the 2017 NFL Draft. He has been a dual-threat weapon and has recorded no fewer than 1,160 scrimmage yards in a single season. He doesn't have a 1,000-yard rushing or receiving season to his name, but he could have been a big-time playmaker for the Eagles were he given a chance to operate in the Corey Clement role.

Like the Cardinals, the Eagles would have no issue giving up on Barnett, who only ever flashed as a rotational edge rusher. Kamara would have given the Eagles a bona fide running back to take the pressure off Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, and Jalen Hurts during each QB's run with the team.

15. Indianapolis Colts

  • Re-draft pick: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
  • Actual pick: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

The Colts would probably like to find an offensive lineman in this re-draft to help protect Andrew Luck. Unfortunately, there aren't any worth taking with the 15th pick.

The good news is that Indianapolis can still help Luck by adding Godwin to the fold. The Colts only really had T.Y. Hilton at the receiver position, as Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett were proving to be draft busts. Godwin would have been a nice partner for Hilton thanks to the Penn State product's combination of size, speed, and route-running abilities.

The Colts also could have taken a chance on Mike Williams, who would have been a perfect complement to Hilton because of his size and deep-ball ability. The only thing keeping Williams behind Godwin is his track record of injuries.

16. Baltimore Ravens

  • Re-draft pick: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
  • Actual pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

The Colts may not have wanted to take the risk on Williams, but the Ravens gladly will. Their top receivers ahead of the 2017 season were Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, and Michael Camapanaro. Clearly, Williams would be an upgrade.

As mentioned, Williams has had some injury issues, as he has only played in 12.6 games per season since he came into the league. That said, he has averaged 60 catches, 928 yards, and six touchdowns per 17 games played, serving as a big-bodied, downfield threat for Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert.

Williams' 15.6 yards per reception would have given the Ravens a vertical element to their passing game long before the 2023 NFL season. Pairing him with Zay Flowers would eventually give Lamar Jackson a dynamic one-two punch at the receiver position, and Williams' presence also would have potentially extended Joe Flacco's efficacy.

Jonathan-Allen-021022-GETTY-FTR
(Getty Images)

17. Washington Commanders

  • Re-draft pick: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
  • Actual pick: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama

Here's the first boring pick of the redraft. Allen ended up slipping to the Commanders at No. 17 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has since become a rock-solid interior defender, logging 39 sacks and helping transform Washington's defensive line from a big weakness to a strength.

Allen has also become a team captain for the Commanders, so it's likely they would select him again to provide an upgrade over Ziggy Hood, Terrell McClain, and Stacy McGee up front.

18. Tennessee Titans

  • Re-draft pick: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
  • Actual pick: Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC

Jackson was a solid cornerback for the Titans, but White has turned in the better career to date. White went 27th overall to the Bills but finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Lattimore. He later became an All-Pro first-teamer in 2019 and has 18 interceptions in 82 career games.

The issue with White is that he hasn't stayed healthy in recent seasons. He has played in just 10 games since 2022, and it remains to be seen how he will recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in 2023.

Still, the Titans have long needed a true No. 1 cornerback for their defense. White would provide them with that, and there's little doubt that Mike Vrabel would have gotten the most out of him before he was fired following the 2023 NFL season.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Re-draft pick: Haason Reddick, EDGE, Temple
  • Actual pick: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Like Trey Hendrickson, Reddick was one of the late-blooming pass rushers in this year's class. The Cardinals played a big role in that, however, as they opted to try him at middle linebacker rather than develop his skills as an undersized edge rusher.

Since moving to the edge in his final year with the Cardinals, Reddick has posted a whopping 50.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles. His 6-1, 240-pound frame hasn't proved a hindrance to his game, and he would fit well with a Tampa Bay defense that has gotten the most out of the 6-2 Shaq Barrett since signing him away from the Broncos in 2019.

20. Denver Broncos

  • Re-draft pick: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
  • Actual pick: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah

Here's another re-draft pick that will remain the same as the original pick. Going into the 2017 NFL Draft, Donald Stephenson was the projected starting left tackle for the Broncos. Menelik Watson at right tackle wasn't much better, so the Broncos needed to land a blocker to upgrade one side of their line.

Bolles was merely solid to start his career, but Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL's third-best tackle for the 2020 NFL season. He has continued to be an above-average — albeit penalty-plagued — blindside blocker, so the Broncos should be happy enough to grab him here as a building block on the offensive line.

MORE: Myth-busting the worst narratives for Super Bowl 58

21. Detroit Lions

  • Re-draft pick: Matt Milano, LB, Boston College
  • Actual pick: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

The Lions were another team that addressed the right position in the first round of the 2017 draft but ended up with the wrong player. Davis showed downhill playmaking skills with 100 tackles and six sacks in 2018, but he has otherwise been inconsistent and has struggled in coverage.

Comparatively, Milano has been a true three-down linebacker since being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was named to the All-Pro first-team in 2022 and has averaged 93 tackles, seven pass defenses, two sacks, and two interceptions per 17 games played in his career.

Milano would be a true kneecap-biter for Dan Campbell's defense, so it's fun to imagine what he could have done had he landed in Detroit.

22. Miami Dolphins

  • Re-draft pick: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
  • Actual pick: Charles Harris, EDGE, Missouri

Harris recorded just 3.5 sacks in three seasons with the Dolphins before he was released making him one of the biggest busts in the first round of this draft class. Miami would have been better off adding a ballhawk like Williams to improve its secondary.

Williams has 20 career interceptions, good for the most among players in the 2017 NFL Draft class. He would have added another dimension to Miami's secondary, which had veterans Reshad Jones, T.J. McDonald, and Nate Allen at safety in 2017. Williams would add some youth to that group and eventually emerge as the Dolphins' top coverage safety. 

23. New York Giants

  • Re-draft pick: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
  • Actual pick: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

The top running backs on the Giants entering the 2017 NFL Draft were Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, and Shaun Draughn. Suffice it to say that they could have used an infusion of talent at running back.

Cook peaked as one of the NFL's best running backs, posting at least 1,383 scrimmage yards in four consecutive campaigns while making the Pro Bowl each season. The Giants may have preferred to address their offensive line in this re-draft, but with no linemen worth taking here, getting Cook to take the pressure off Eli Manning at the end of his career would have been a smart move.

One could argue that spending a premium pick on a running back may not be wise, but the high-end talent in the 2017 NFL Draft largely dried up near the end of the first round. So, some of the class' top running backs will make an appearance over the final 10 selections.

24. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Re-draft pick: Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
  • Actual pick: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

The Raiders took a risk by choosing Conley, who was viewed by many to be a second-round pick, at No. 24 overall. It didn't quite pan out, as Conley was traded to the Texans in 2019 and didn't play an NFL game after that.

Douglas would have given the Raiders the starting outside corner they were hoping for. The West Virginia product was a bit of a late bloomer, as he didn't become a solid starter until the 2021 season with the Packers. Despite that, he has logged 19 interceptions, good for the second most in this draft class, while thriving in coverage with the Packers and Bills.

Aaron Jones
Getty Images

25. Cleveland Browns

  • Re-draft pick: Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP
  • Actual pick: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

The Browns will look to get Mahomes some help right off the bat in this re-draft. Jones is a great fit at this juncture, as he would be a big upgrade over the Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson combination that the team sported in 2017.

Jones has averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per carry during his NFL career, and, like Cook, had four consecutive seasons during which he recorded at least 1,190 scrimmage yards. Mahomes would have learned to love relying on Jones as both a runner and receiver, and it's easy to imagine Jones thriving with Mahomes after seeing him find success with Aaron Rodgers.

26. Atlanta Falcons

  • Re-draft pick: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
  • Actual pick: Takkarist McKinley, EDGE, UCLA

The Falcons needed defensive line help entering the 2017 NFL Draft, but there aren't any edge players worth taking in this re-draft. Atlanta will address the interior instead, as Tomlinson would have been a great long-term partner for Grady Jarrett.

Atlanta was looking for defensive tackle help during the 2017 offseason, and that's part of the reason that then-general manager Thomas Dimitroff signed Dontari Poe. Tomlinson would have provided the same monstrous, run-stuffing ability as Poe while also providing some pass rushing juice (16 sacks in seven seasons).

27. Buffalo Bills

  • Re-draft pick: Alex Anzalone, LB, Florida
  • Actual pick: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU

The Bills had a solid defense in 2017, but they needed to add some talent to the linebacker corps. Milano is off the board in this re-draft, so Anzalone is arguably the best player available at the position.

Anzalone is a great athlete who has emerged as a full-time starter in recent seasons with the Lions. He had injury issues early in his career, but his 296 tackles and 9.5 sacks would make him a nice do-it-all weapon for Buffalo's defense.

Anzalone would give the team more athleticism in the middle of the field than Reggie Ragland was providing in 2017. That's enough to make him the top option among a dwindling field of competitors.

28. Dallas Cowboys

  • Re-draft pick: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
  • Actual pick: Taco Charlton, EDGE, Michigan

The Cowboys had a solid-looking safety duo of Jeff Heath and Byron Jones in 2017, but Jones would eventually move to cornerback and become a great one. Drafting Jackson would allow him to do that earlier and give Dallas an athletic, playmaking secondary.

Jackson was an All-Pro in 2018 after logging six interceptions and two pick-sixes. He hasn't been as consistent of a ballhawk since then, but he had four in 2022 and has generally played well as a rangy free safety. Perhaps his mid-career interception lull could have been counteracted by Dan Quinn's coaching.

MORE: Breaking down the NFL's top free agents for the 2024 offseason

29. Cleveland Browns

  • Re-draft pick: David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL)
  • Actual pick: David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL)

Mahomes, Jones, and Njoku all in one draft? Cleveland fans would have been over the moon with this trio of selections.

Njoku took a while to break out in full, posting a career-best 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns in 2023, but it's worth remembering that he was just 20 when he was drafted. He has elite athleticism, and it's exciting to imagine what he could have achieved if paired with a consistent, high-upside quarterback like Mahomes long-term.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Re-draft pick: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
  • Actual pick: T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin

The Steelers can't replace the impact of Watt with this selection. The Wisconsin product was a steal for the Steelers, and it's hard to imagine their pass rush without him.

Adams' presence might help solidify the defense at least a bit. He racked up 21.5 sacks as a safety during the first four seasons of his career before injuries plagued him and sapped him of some of his athleticism.

Pittsburgh would be equipped to find the best way to use Adams, who was an All-Pro in 2019, so this is a good landing spot for him. His decline from star to middling starter was a rapid one, but perhaps it could have been prevented by the Steelers' coaching staff.

31. San Francisco 49ers

  • Re-draft pick: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
  • Actual pick: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

The 49ers passed on McCaffrey earlier in the draft. They won't pass on a potential difference-making runner with the 31st selection.

Mixon has had an up-and-down career to date, averaging just 4.1 yards per carry, but he has enjoyed five seasons with at least 1,255 scrimmage yards. Perhaps in Kyle Shanahan's runner-friendly scheme, he would have found more consistent success between the tackles.

Either way, Mixon has a well-rounded skill set and the athleticism needed to provide a boost to San Francisco's offense. Getting him and Garrett would have been a massive haul for the 49ers, especially compared to the impacts of Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster.

32. New Orleans Saints

  • Re-draft pick: Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
  • Actual pick: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

The Saints had six picks in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. Incredibly, all have come off the board by this point in our re-mock. As such, the Saints have to look outside of their own draft history to pair someone with Kittle, who they selected 11th overall.

Awuzie's numbers may not jump off the page — he has just six career interceptions — but he ranked among the NFL's top-33 cornerbacks four times in his seven NFL seasons, per Pro Football Focus. While he can be inconsistent and has some injury issues, perhaps working with Sean Payton's staff would have ironed out some of Awuzie's flaws.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.