- Patrick Mahomes heads to the Browns: Cleveland takes the three-time Super Bowl champion with the No. 1 overall pick, reinvigorating a franchise that has long needed a stable passer.
- Myles Garrett falls to No. 2: With Mahomes off the board at No. 1, Garrett heads to San Francisco. He leads the NFL with 528 pressures since he was drafted.
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Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
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The NFL draft is a crapshoot.
While NFL teams do their best to forecast which prospects will translate best to the next level, the reality is that franchises rarely get a pick exactly right.
But what would a draft look like if teams had the benefit of hindsight? PFF has world-class data for every player on every play in every NFL game, dating back to the 2006 season. Knowing what we know now, here is how the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft could have looked.
Any trades made during the original draft were reversed, while trades made before the draft were kept in place.
Looking for more NFL redrafts? Click for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
1. Cleveland Browns: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech (Round 1, Pick 10)
Original Pick: EDGE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
The Browns had a glaring need at quarterback entering the 2017 NFL Draft. But without a clear top option at the time, they instead selected Texas A&M edge defender Myles Garrett at No. 1 overall. And Garrett has been as good as advertised — and will be selected very soon in this redraft.
Cleveland simply cannot pass up Patrick Mahomes in this redraft. The original 10th-overall pick to the Chiefs has won three Super Bowls and two MVPs and brought Kansas City to at least the AFC Championship game in each of his seven years as a starter. He seems poised to challenge Tom Brady’s “greatest of all time” status when it’s all said and done, boasting a 96.0 career PFF overall grade so far.
Patrick Mahomes' Career PFF Grades
2. San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (Round 1, Pick 1)
Original Pick: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
The 49ers moved back one spot on draft night and selected Solomon Thomas, who went on to fall well short of expectations. He has posted sub-65.0 PFF grades in every season of his career. The 49ers instead select Garrett, who leads the NFL with 528 pressures since he was drafted and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. We at PFF recently named him the best player in the NFL.
3. Chicago Bears: EDGE T.J. Watt, Wisconsin (Round 1, Pick 30)
Original Pick: DI Solomon Thomas, Stanford
The Bears moved up one slot on draft night to select Mitchell Trubisky, who has been a below-average quarterback in the NFL. Chicago instead drafts one of the game’s best defenders here in Watt.
The seven-time Pro Bowler won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after tying Michael Strahan’s sack record (22.5). Watt has an elite 93.2 PFF grade for his career and was most recently made the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback, securing a $41 million-per-year contract.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: TE George Kittle, Iowa (Round 5, Pick 146)
Original Pick: RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
The Jaguars needed a tight end after trading away Julius Thomas, and they nab the NFL's best in a redraft. Kittle, a six-time Pro Bowler, has been one of the three most valuable tight ends in the league in six of his eight seasons, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric. He also owns an elite 93.9 career PFF receiving grade.
5. Tennessee Titans: WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington (Round 3, Pick 69)
Original Pick: WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Davis was a solid receiver in the NFL but didn’t quite live up to his top-five-pick billing, so the Titans go with another small-school receiver in this redraft.
Kupp was the most valuable wideout in the league in 2021, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric. That year, his 1,974 receiving yards were the second most in NFL history and he won both Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP.
6. New York Jets: CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 16)
Original Pick: S Jamal Adams, LSU
Adams was arguably the best safety in the NFL with the Jets, but his production fell off a cliff once he was traded to the Seahawks in 2020.
New York takes a longer-term approach in its secondary with Humphrey. He is the sixth-most-valuable cornerback since being drafted in 2017, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric, and is a two-time first-team All-Pro.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Chris Godwin, Penn State (Round 3, Pick 84)
Original Pick: WR Mike Williams, Clemson
Williams was a solid receiver in Los Angeles and will be selected later in this redraft, but Godwin is too good to pass up here. He sports an elite 91.1 PFF overall grade for his career and has been one of the 10 most valuable wideouts in the league since he was drafted, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
8. Carolina Panthers: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Round 1, Pick 8)
Original Pick: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
Despite getting traded to the 49ers in 2022, McCaffrey remains the Panthers' choice in a redraft. He has been the most valuable running back in the league in four of his eight seasons and has 90.0-plus career PFF grades as a rusher and a receiver.
Christian McCaffrey's Career PFF Grades
9. Cincinnati Bengals: T Garett Bolles, Utah (Round 1, Pick 20)
Original Pick: WR John Ross, Washington
The Bengals reached on draft night for the speedy John Ross, who tallied less than 1,000 receiving yards in his six-year career. With Cincinnati’s biggest need that season coming along the offensive line, Bolles makes too much sense. He has been one of the five most valuable tackles in the league since he was drafted, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric, with 80.0-plus career PFF grades both as a pass blocker and a run blocker.
10. Buffalo Bills: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 11)
Original Pick: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
After losing Stephon Gilmore to the division-rival Patriots, the Bills needed help at cornerback entering the 2017 NFL Draft. Enter Marshon Lattimore, who has made four Pro Bowls so far with an 85.8 career PFF coverage grade.
11. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic (Round 3, Pick 103)
Original Pick: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
With Lattimore off the board, the Saints go with another one of their 2017 draft picks: Trey Hendrickson. He was a solid player in New Orleans before becoming a star in Cincinnati. Hendrickson’s 35 sacks over the past two years are the most in the league, and he has posted back-to-back 90.0-plus PFF pass-rush grades in that span. Now, the Saints just need to keep him around to ensure his prime is spent in New Orleans.
12. Cleveland Browns: RB Alvin Kamara, Tennessee (Round 3, Pick 67)
Original Pick: QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
After securing their franchise quarterback at pick No. 1, the Browns build around him with Kamara. Since he was drafted, only Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey have been more valuable running backs than him, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric. And like McCaffrey, he owns a 90.0-plus PFF grade as a runner and a receiver.
13. Arizona Cardinals: CB Tre'Davious White, LSU (Round 1, Pick 27)
Original Pick: EDGE Haason Reddick, Temple
The Cardinals needed help at cornerback entering the 2017 NFL Draft, and White is the answer. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 after leading the league with six interceptions, and he boasts an 85.8 PFF coverage grade for his career.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Aaron Jones, UTEP (Round 5, Pick 182)
Original Pick: EDGE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Jones is an elite running back and a necessary boost for the Eagles' backfield ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has an elite 93.8 PFF rushing grade for his career and has been the fifth-most-valuable back in the league since he was drafted.
15. Indianapolis Colts: T Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin (Round 1, Pick 32)
Original Pick: S Malik Hooker, Ohio State
The Colts needed to address the trenches in the 2017 NFL Draft and are able to draft an elite tackle in Ramczyk. While he recently retired due to a knee injury, he was the third-most-valuable tackle in the league since he was drafted. Lane Johnson and Trent Williams were the only two tackles ahead of him.
16. Baltimore Ravens: WR Mike Williams, Clemson (Round 1, Pick 7)
Original Pick: CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
Following Steve Smith Sr.'s retirement in 2017, the Ravens had a dire need at wide receiver. Williams earned a solid 81.9 PFF receiving grade for his career and crossed 1,000 yards twice in his eight years before recently retiring.
Mike Williams' 2021 PFF Stats by Target Depth
17. Washington: S Marcus Williams, Utah (Round 2, Pick 52)
Original Pick: DI Jonathan Allen, Alabama
While Williams appears to be past his prime now as a current free agent, he was one of the best safeties in the league across his first five seasons. From 2017 to 2021, he sported an elite 91.7 PFF overall grade and was the fourth-most-valuable safety in the NFL, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
18. Tennessee Titans: CB Adoree' Jackson, USC (Round 1, Pick 18)
Original Pick: CB Adoree' Jackson, USC
The Titans stick with Jackson. He has a very good 84.5 career PFF coverage grade and is still a starting-caliber cornerback. He could be one of the starting outside cornerbacks for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 season.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Budda Baker, Washington (Round 2, Pick 36)
Original Pick: TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
Tampa Bay entered the draft with a hole at safety, and Baker fills in seamlessly. The Arizona Cardinal great has an elite 91.0 PFF run-defense grade for his career, despite measuring only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds.
20. Denver Broncos: T Taylor Moton, Western Michigan (Round 2, Pick 64)
Original Pick: T Garett Bolles, Utah
With Bolles off the board, the Broncos settle for Moton. He boasts an excellent 85.1 PFF pass-blocking grade for his career and has been the sixth-most-valuable tackle in the league since he was drafted.
21. Detroit Lions: EDGE Haason Reddick, Temple (Round 1, Pick 13)
Original Pick: LB Jarrad Davis, Florida
Davis fizzled out in the NFL, posting sub-65.0 PFF overall grades in each of his six seasons. The Lions instead bolster their pass rush with Reddick, whose 90.7 PFF pass-rush grade in 2022 trailed only Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons among all edge defenders.
22. Miami Dolphins: T Dion Dawkins, Temple (Round 2, Pick 63)
Original Pick: EDGE Charles Harris, Missouri
The second straight Temple Owl comes off the board. Dawkins has been a steady player throughout his career in Buffalo, posting an 84.1 career PFF pass-blocking grade.
23. New York Giants: LB Matt Milano, Boston College (Round 5, Pick 163)
Original Pick: TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
The Giants needed help at linebacker in the 2017 NFL Draft, and Milano is the best player available at the position. In 2022, he was a first-team All-Pro and the fifth-most valuable linebacker, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
24. Las Vegas Raiders: DI Jonathan Allen, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 17)
Original Pick: CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State
Conley played just three years in the league, so the Raiders draft Allen — an elite pass rusher during his prime in Washington. From 2020 to 2022, he was the sixth-most-valuable defensive tackle in the NFL and sported a 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade.
25. Houston Texans: CB Kenny Moore II, Valdosta State (Undrafted)
Original Pick: S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
The Texans needed to address their secondary in the 2017 NFL Draft after losing a couple of starters in free agency. While Moore went undrafted, he turned into one of the best slot cornerbacks in football, earning a 78.0 PFF coverage grade and an 83.9 PFF run-defense grade for his career.
26. Seattle Seahawks: CB Rasul Douglas, West Virginia (Round 3, Pick 99)
Original Pick: EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
Douglas isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s been a very solid cornerback in the NFL. From 2021 to 2023, he was the seventh-most-valuable cornerback in the NFL and earned an 86.1 PFF coverage grade.
Rasul Douglas' Career PFF Grades
27. Kansas City Chiefs: DI Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama (Round 2, Pick 55)
Original Pick: CB Tre'Davious White, LSU
The Chiefs needed to improve the depth along their defensive line in 2017, and Tomlinson is a valuable piece. He owns an 82.8 career PFF overall grade and has earned at least a 74.9 PFF overall grade in each of his first six seasons.
28. Dallas Cowboys: S Jamal Adams, LSU (Round 1, Pick 5)
Original Pick: EDGE Taco Charlton, Michigan
Adams’ prime didn’t last long enough to warrant his top-five selection, but it’s still enough for him to make the first round of this redraft. The three-time Pro Bowler was the most valuable safety in the NFL across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, recording a 91.0 PFF overall grade in that stretch.
29. Green Bay Packers: RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma (Round 2, Pick 48)
Original Pick: TE David Njoku, Miami (FL)
The Packers missed out on Aaron Jones in this redraft, so Mixon is the pick. The two-time Pro Bowler sports a 91.3 PFF overall grade for his career and has been the sixth-most-valuable back in the league since he was drafted.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC (Round 2, Pick 62)
Original Pick: EDGE T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
With Watt off the board much earlier in this redraft, the Steelers pick up their original second-round pick. In 2018, Smith-Schuster made the Pro Bowl and led the league with 660 yards after the catch.
31. Atlanta Falcons: TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss (Round 1, Pick 23)
Original Pick: LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
While the Falcons already had Austin Hooper, they could make their passing attack even more dangerous with Engram. Across 2022 and 2023, he was the sixth-most-valuable tight end in the league, according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
32. New Orleans Saints: CB Desmond King II, Iowa (Round 5, Pick 151)
Original Pick: T Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
The Saints needed to address their secondary in the 2017 NFL Draft. King was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and has an 85.8 PFF overall grade for his career.
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