There are draft classes that are maligned at positions, usually. Drafts that at the time looked strong for wide receivers or running backs or defensive ends that just turned into one bust after another. But one draft stands out in particular in recent history as especially terrible; the 2013 NFL Draft Class.
Was it particularly bad? If you just look at first rounders alone, yes. It was a pile of shit. Overall, though, there were some particularly good players to come out of this draft. Most of them in the later rounds.
They say you can’t judge a draft until at least three years later. It’s time to put on our black robes and powdered wigs and figure this out. This draft is based on each team’s final position. That means if they traded up or down, that trade remains, even though their pick has changed.
To see my 2012 Draft Do-Over, click here.
1. Kansas City Chiefs –Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Original pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Fisher has been an OK NFL starter. but Johnson turned out to be the best offensive linemen in this draft by a pretty wide margin.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Le’Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State
Original pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Bell didn’t get picked until the 16th pick of the second round. It’s hard to argue that he isn’t the flat out best player in this entire draft. Joeckel wasn’t exactly a bust for the Jaguars, but he never played like a No. 2 pick. He finished last season on injured reserve and has probably played his last down in Jacksonville.
3. Miami Dolphins – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Original pick: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
It took the Dolphins another two years before they addressed their need at wideout in the draft. Hopkins is the best of this group and a real weapon, especially on money downs. Jordan is our first outright bust to show up on the list. After two subpar seasons, Jordan was banned for 2015 for PEDs and, after being reinstated last offseason, never played a down during the Dolphins’ play off run. Jordan will likely be cut before March 1.
4. Philadelphia Eagles – Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
Original pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Ansah had an off season for the Lions this season, but was an elite NFL pass rusher his first three seasons, recording 30 sacks from 2013-2015. Philadelphia is the first team screwed in our re-draft, losing Johnson to the Chiefs with the No. 1 pick.
5. Detroit Lions – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Original pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
With Ansah off the board, the Lions go with the best cornerback in this draft. Rhodes has turned into a shutdown corner for the Vikings in his four seasons.
6. Cleveland Browns – Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Original pick: Barkevious Mingo
Like Ansah, Richardson is coming off a rough season. For his first three, he was one of the best defensive tackles in the game. Mingo was a flat-out bust pick that the Browns traded away for next to nothing last offseason.
7. Arizona Cardinals – Tyrann Mathieu, Safety, LSU
Original pick: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
The Cardinals still end up with their best defensive player in this draft, they just had to grab him two rounds earlier. Cooper has been a bust in the NFL. The Cardinals traded him away for Chandler Jones last offseason and the Patriots cut him in October. He spent some time with the Cleveland Browns after that and was cut again right after Christmas. Cooper has a real shot to rejuvenate his career after being signed by the Dallas Cowboys back on Jan. 4, but this is probably his last shot to keep an NFL job.
8. Los Angeles Rams – Keenan Allen, WR, California
Original pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
New Rams head coach Sean McVay is probably looking at tape right now excited about the potential that Tavon Austin has shown, but never had a chance to reach under Jeff Fisher’s ridiculously inept coaching staff. Still, there’s no question Allen has been the better NFL receiver. He spent last season on injured reserve and has never played a full season, but caught more than 67 passes in his first three seasons and, his rookie year, caught 71 passes for 1046 yards and eight touchdowns. Austin has nebver has more than 58 catches and 509 receiving yards, both career highs set this season.
Click here for Part 2 of the 2013 NFL Draft Do-Over.
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