One thing is clear for the Denver Broncos in 2017: They simply cannot win games with the offense playing at the same level as they did last year. For Denver to become more relevant in Super Bowl talks they need better quarterback play. It's why one question has been asked more than any other this offseason: Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch? Both are young, mostly unproven quarterbacks who seem to be neck and neck in the QB competition as the Broncos' offseason programs come to a close. Let's break down the Broncos quarterback competition, and why Paxton Lynch needs to be the starter for the Broncos to succeed.

After starting in 2016, Trevor Siemian won over many fans playing at a level that exceeded expectations, but at one that still wasn't enough to bring the Broncos to the playoffs. Overall, Siemian was one of the most mediocre quarterbacks in the league. In 2016, he completed the 23rd most passes in the NFL and his overall completion percentage of 59.5% was 25th overall. His 3,401 yards put him at 24th in the league, and his 18 touchdowns had him ranked at 22nd. Trevor had a passer rating (which is measured on a scale of 0-158.3) of 84.6, which was the 23rd best in the league. Across the board, Siemians numbers were average to poor. And while it's easy to point to poor offensive line play and the fact that this was Siemian's first year starting to back his lackluster performance, you also need to remember that we are talking about a 7th round pick who didn't even have a very impressive college career. At Northwestern Siemian threw for just 27 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Basically, you're looking at a quarterback who has never shown high potential and one that was only barely drafted in the NFL. His ceiling can't be much higher than his floor, which is basically what we saw in 2016. Obviously with the Broncos stellar defense they don't necessarily need an elite quarterback, but they also need one that is more capable than of what Siemian showed last year. Enter Paxton Lynch.

​In the 2016 draft, John Elway and company traded up in the first round just to grab Lynch. They saw a potential franchise quarterback that was raw, but could be shaped into a star. Nfl.com's scouting report said that, "Lynch shows the ability to read defenses and make smart decisions, but not yet at the NFL starting level... a team who is willing to allow him to sit and study his craft for a year could reap maximum rewards in the future." This was clear to every NFL scout and everyone said the same thing about Lynch. It seems, however, that some Bronco fans have completely forgotten. Lynch generally dissapointed when he played in 2016, but this was to be expected. He simply was not ready to start a game in the league, and that shouldn't have come as a surprise to anybody. But, it did. The bottom line is, people have already given up on Paxton Lynch, and it's with no real reason. Paxton Lynch's ceiling is clearly higher than Trevor Siemians, and it's time for Paxton to show that. It's this one simple difference that makes Paxton Lynch, and not Trevor Siemian a better QB option for the Denver Broncos going forward. Pete Baron of Milehighreport.com puts it perfectly by saying that, "Siemian is a Honda Civic. Sure, he's OK... but there ain't no Civic winning a race. Paxton Lynch is the race car. Sure he'll need some pit stops, maybe some duct tape... but the race car is built for a singular purpose: To win!" If Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian are as close as reports are saying in the competition, you have to take the one with the higher potential, and that is Paxton Lynch by a mile. He might not be as consistent as Siemian was last year, but Siemian was consistently not anything to write home about. It may be a bumpy ride, but it's time for the Broncos to start a new era with Paxton Lynch at the center of it all.

OFFENSE

​Quarterbacks
#1 QB- Mark Sanchez
Sanchez probably won’t hold this spot for long, but the Broncos will feel most comfortable putting him under center to start the year. He’s a veteran who is least likely to make costly mistakes, and he’s got just enough talent to give the Broncos a win. He's struggled a bit this preseason but it still looks like he could edge out Siemian for the starting spot. 

​#2 QB- Trevor Siemian
Siemian is only a 2nd year player, but he knows the Broncos playbook better than any other QB on the roster. He’s also more developed than Lynch, and could threaten to take Sanchez’s spot. He's outperformed Sanchez this preseason, but be hasn't been good enough to take his spot. 

​#3 QB- Paxton Lynch
Lynch is simply too raw to play week 1, but given time he should develop into the Broncos franchise QB. He won’t be #3 on the chart for too long, but week 1 he won’t be ready. His preseason performance has been stellar, but I still don't see him being the starter come week 1.

Running Backs
#1 HB- CJ Anderson
Anderson is going to have to prove himself at the start of the year, where he has struggled in the past. I don’t think it’s going to be a close competition to begin the season, as Ronnie Hillman struggled last year, and Devontae Booker’s going to have to wait his turn. Anderson deserves the spot to start the year, and can be one of the best runners in the game when given the chance.

#2 HB- Devontae Booker 
Devontae Booker has been much better than Ronnie Hillman in preseason play, and is working ahead of him in training. I expect him to be the backup to Anderson as he's probably the best running back on the roster in terms of raw talent. Don’t be surprised if he’s the breakout played the Broncos are looking for on offense.

​#3 HB- Ronnie Hillman
Hillman’s had the chance to prove himself as a starter in Denver but didn’t quite deliver. I don’t think he’s any threat to take Anderson’s spot, but it will be a tight competition between him and Booker to see who gets the #2 spot. Hillman will still be used more than most #3 runners, but he won’t be getting too many touches.

Fullback
#1 FB- Andy Janovich
The Broncos drafted Janovich in the 6th round of the draft this year, and I expect them to utilize him as much as they can as Denver shifts to a run-first offense.

Wide Receivers
#1 WR- Demaryius Thomas
No surprise here, as Thomas is a top 10 wide receive in the league and has proven himself to be a star. I expect Thomas to have a great year after being a bit quite last year.

#2 WR- Emmanuel Sanders
Again, this isn’t going to surprise anybody, as Sanders could arguably be put into the same top 10 category that Thomas is in. The tandem of Thomas and Sanders is a scary one for opposing teams, and that should continue come the new season.

#3 WR- Cody Latimer
One of the most intriguing battles going on in Denver is the one for the #3 WR spot, as the Broncos have options between Fowler, Norwood, and Latimer. I think Latimer gets this spot based on the fact that he’s more seasoned than Bennie Fowler, and is a better route runner than Fowler. This is certainly a competition to keep your eyes on, though. It also doesn't help that Bennie is currently out and is expected to miss a couple weeks with injury.

#4 WR- Bennie Fowler
Fowler is young and has potential, but his lack of experience will hurt him too much to get the #3 spot, but I think he’ll still see plenty of the ball. He’s proven himself more than Norwood has, but again, Jordan could push for any spot after the #2 one as well.

#5 WR- Jordan Norwood
I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan takes the 3 or 4 spot later in the year, but he's been the most quiet out of all 3 of these guys this offseason.

Tight Ends
#1 TE- Virgil Green
I’m not sure if Green will be able to hold onto this spot, but come week 1, I think he’ll have the starting spot. Green is trusted the most by Denver, and is a terrific blocker. He’s going to need to outplay Jeff Heuerman and Garrett Graham to keep this spot.

#2 TE- Jeff Heuerman
I think Heuerman is going to end up taking the #1 spot, but I’m not so sure if he’ll get it week 1. Heuerman was drafted in the 3rd round, but missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL. He’s a guy I’m really high on and it looks like the Broncos are going to trust him with a nice role in the offense. He’s going to be the best target that Sanchez will have out of the 3 options Denver has.

#3 TE- Garrett Graham
Graham is a guy who brings veteran leadership and experience to Denver, but not much else. It’s doubtful he gets a spot above this one.

Offensive Line (Only starters)
#1 LT- Russell Okung
Denver may have a shaky offensive line, but if there’s one guy they know they can trust it’s going to be Okung. He’s a solid tackle who can be relied on.

#1 LG- Max Garcia
Garcia started in 5 games his rookie year, and won’t have much completion behind him. He’s capable of playing either guard position, or center, which will be helpful to Denver.

#1 C- Matt Paradis
Paradis is actually one of the best guys the Broncos will have on the line, as the veteran will be the glue that holds the line together.

#1 RG- Ty Sambrailo
Sambrailo appears to have this spot, but it'll be interesting to see what the Broncos do with Connor McGovern. 

#1 RT- Donald Stephenson
The Broncos added Stephenson to bolster their left tackle position, and he’s another average guy who will do his role to keep the O-line solid.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line
#1 LDE- Derek Wolfe
Wolfe is someone the Broncos will have no problem relying on, as he has more than proven himself to be a strong defensive end in the league. Wolfe should be in for another good year.
#2 LDE- Henry Melton
This would've been Vance Walker's spot, but he was put on the IR after a knee injury. The Broncos signed Melton today and he should take the backup duties for Denver.

#1 NT- Sylvester Williams
Williams is a solid nose tackle that the Broncos had no problem playing last season. He’s not a big name guy, but he certainly does his job.
#2 NT- Darius Kilgo
Kilgo is another guy the Broncos won’t really expect to make a huge impact, but he provides nice depth at the position, and could be called upon if need be.

#1 RDE- Jared Crick
After losing Malik Jackson to Jacksonville, the Broncos went to Houston to get veteran defensive end Jared Crick. Crick won’t produce like Jackson did, but he’s going to be a solid guy for Denver to lean on. He probably won’t hold this spot for the whole year, as Adam Gotsis will likely take over.
#2 RDE- Adam Gotsis
Gotsis was the 2nd round pick for the Broncos this year, but he’s a little too raw, and is coming back from an injury, most likely forcing him into a backup role to start the year. Give him time, and he could be an extremely solid starter for the Broncos.

Linebackers
#1 SLB- Von Miller
There’s no chance that one of the best defensive players in football doesn’t start. Von Miller will continue to make life hell for opposing quarterbacks.
#2 SLB- Shaq Barrett
Barrett has proven himself to be an extremely capable player to lean on when needed. In my eyes, he’s the best backup the Broncos have at any position.

#1 ILB- Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall just signed a well deserved contract with the Broncos after quickly becoming one of the better inside linebackers in football. He’s a tackling machine and will continue to impress in 2016.

#1 ILB- Todd Davis
With the absence of Danny Trevathan, the Broncos have yet another battle that needs to be sorted out. Davis played in every game last year, and proved himself to be the guy to replace Danny. He certainly won’t be an upgrade, but the Broncos staff absolutely love this guy.
#2 ILB- Corey Nelson
Nelson could take Davis’s spot if he performs well enough, but it looks like he’ll start the season behind him on the roster. Nelson is another guy the Broncos like a lot, and he could be a solid fit.

Cornerbacks
#1/2 CB- Chris Harris Jr.
Chris Harris has become one of the leagues premier corners, and he will remain one of the most valued members of the No Fly Zone.
#1/2 CB- Aqib Talib
Talib is right next to Chris Harris as one of the best corners in the game, he’s not going anywhere.

#3 CB- Bradley Roby
Roby is one of the most unappreciated players that the Broncos have. He’s probably the best #3 cornerback in the league. Roby truly completes the No Fly Zone.

#4 CB- Kayvon Webster
Webster is a beast when it comes to special teams, and is an extremely solid backup corner for Denver to have. He’s been on the team for his whole career, and is trusted to do his job.

​#5 CB- Lorenzo Doss
Doss won’t see much of the field, but he’s a 2nd year player that could play if need be.

​Safeties 
#1 SS- TJ Ward
Many call Ward the leader of the No Fly Zone, as the hard hitting safety has some of the most energy on the field. Ward is an exciting player to watch, and is easily a top 10 safety in football.
#2 SS- Will Parks
The Broncos drafted a pair of safeties as backups in this years draft. One of them is Will Parks, a 6th round pick who could prove to be a viable backup to TJ Ward. He should beat out Keo for this spot.

#1 FS- Darian Stewart
Stewart is another guy who quietly was a stud for Denver. He’s proven himself to be an extremely solid safety for Denver, and his spot is secured.
#2 FS- Justin Simmons
Simmons is the other guy the Broncos drafted to be a backup at the safety position. Simmons was a 3rd round pick who has an extremely high ceiling.

​SPECIAL TEAMS
K- Brandon McManus
McManus was a great kicker for Denver last year, especially in the post season. He won’t have any competition behind him.

P- Riley Dixon
Colquitt played well in the playoffs, but he struggled in the regular season this year. I think he didn’t do enough to keep his starting spot, as the Broncos drafted Riley Dixon out of Syracuse in the 7th round. Dixon had a tremendous career, and could be the new punter in Denver.

LS- Casey Kreiter
The former Cowboy will fill the void that was created when Brewer left.

KR- Jordan Norwood
This is a spot the Broncos could play around with, but I expect Norwood to get the spot to start the season. He had the longer punt return in Super Bowl history last year, and has good speed and vision.

​PR- Emmanuel Sanders
Sanders has terrific speed and good cuts, he also doesn’t fumble a ton. It’s his job to lose at this point, but there could be more experimentation with this spot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Pick 1
Actual pick: Jameis Winston, QB, FSU
Redraft pick: Jameis Winston, QB, FSU

Winston was everything the Buccaneers were hoping for when they drafted him with the first pick in the draft. There’s no way that they would draft anybody else after Winston threw for over 4000 yards and 22 touchdowns. He should only continue to improve and was a tremendous pick for Tampa Bay in 2015.

Tennessee Titans: Pick 2
Actual pick: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Redraft pick: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Much like Winston, Marcus Mariota was a game changer in the 2015 season. Before missing the last 4 games of the season due to injury, Mariota threw for just under 3000 yards and 19 touchdowns, and was a threat in the run game as well, where he ran for over 250 yards and added 2 touchdowns. The Titans are still rebuilding, but they found a guy to build their team around in Mariota.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Pick 3
Actual pick: Dante Fowler Jr, DE, Florida
Redraft pick: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia (Originally picked #10)

Dante Fowler Jr didn’t play a single game in the 2015/16 season due to an injury, and still has potential to be a terrific player for the Jaguars, but Todd Gurley was simply too good to pass up on for the Jags. Jacksonville’s run game was poor last year, as they ranked just 27th in rush yards and 29th in rushing touchdowns. Gurley was possibly the best running back in the league last year, and looks to be the next super star running back in football. He missed the first 2 games of the season and didn’t get his first start until week 4, but still amassed over 1000 yards rushing, and 10 touchdowns. Fowler could still have a nice impact for Jacksonville, but it’s hard to imagine him having a bigger one than Gurley did last season.

Oakland Raiders: Pick 4
Actual pick: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Redraft pick: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Amari Cooper has quickly risen to an elite status of wide receiver after a terrific 2015 season. He has given Derek Carr a deep threat in the passing game, and was one of the main reasons why the Raiders won 7 games last year, compared to just 3 in 2014. Cooper had over 1000 yards, and also caught 6 touchdown passes. You can expect even greater things from Cooper in the near future.




Washington Redskins: Pick 5
Actual pick: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Redraft pick: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington (Originally picked #18)

All due respect to Brandon Scherff who had a good year, the Redskins have one of the poorer secondary’s in football, and Marcus Peters would have been a huge addition for them. Peters won the Defensive Rookie of he Year after an incredible 2015 season. He tied for the most interceptions with 8, and ran back 2 of those for touchdowns. Peters tacked on 60 tackles and a forced fumble, and had 26 passes defended. The Chiefs star can already be argued as a top 5 cornerback in the league, and he would have had a much bigger impact on the Redskins secondary than Scherff did on their offensive line.

New York Jets: Pick 6
Actual pick: Leonard Williams, DE, USC
Redraft pick: Leonard Williams, DE, USC

Although Williams had a much smaller impact than expected last year, he still has more potential than most players in this draft. Williams could be in for a breakout sophomore season, and the Jets will want to keep the big defensive end around. Williams had 3 sacks and 63 combined tackles in 2015. He has an extremely high ceiling and is a big part of the Jets impressive defense.

Chicago Bears: Pick 7
Actual pick: Kevin White, WR, WVU
Redraft pick: Ronald Darby, CB, FSU (Originally picked #50)

Kevin White missed the entire 2015 season due to injury, but should come back next year and make an impact on the league. That being said, Ronald Darby came out of nowhere and took the league by storm. Darby probably would’ve been DROY if Marcus Peters hadn’t had such a good year. He could be a huge help to the Bears secondary, who allowed the 25th most touchdowns and were tied for 30th in interceptions, with just 8. Darby had over 60 tackles, 2 interceptions and had an impressive 21 passes defended, which was good for 5th in the league. He was a huge part of the Bills success this year, and could be one of the best cornerbacks in the league in the upcoming years, the Bears would have benefited greatly from him.

Atlanta Falcons: Pick 8
Actual pick: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
Redraft pick: Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU (Originally picked #124)

This could be seen as a reach, but Beasley wasn't nearly as good as the Falcons were expecting from him, posting average numbers. However, Kwon Alexander was the better defensive player in the league, and should've helped the Falcons weak defense more than Beasley did. Alexander was a huge addition for the Buccaneers last year, having 93 tackles, 3 sacks. 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. He's only getting better, and should be a star in the league.


New York Giants: Pick 9
Actual pick: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Redraft pick: Thomas Rawls, RB, Central Michigan (Originally undrafted)

Flowers had a good year for the Giants, but a more obvious void for New York was their running game. Because of Gurley not being available here, the Giants would have to settle for the second best runner in this draft, Thomas Rawls. Rawls stepped in when Marshawn Lynch was hurt for Seattle, and had an amazing year. Rawls started in just 7 games this year, and had 830 yards, 4 touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 5.6 yards a carry, which led the league. The Giants on the other hand, were just 19th in rushing yards, and 29th in touchdowns. Rawls would’ve been the pick for New York here.

St. Louis Rams: Pick 10
Actual pick: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Redraft pick: Brandon Scherff, OG, Iowa (Originally picked #5)

The Rams hit a home run in drafting Gurley last year, but in this redraft there’s no way he’d be available for the Rams again. With Rawls gone as well, and a weak offensive line, the Rams would go with Scherff here. According to Pro Football Focus’s rankings of offensive lines, the Rams ranked 28th in the league. The Redskins, with the help of Scherff, were ranked 11th. Scherff played like the best rookie offensive lineman in football, and ended the year playing extremely well. He would be a huge addition for the Rams struggling line.

Minnesota Vikings: Pick 11
Actual pick: Trae Waynes, CB, MSU
Redraft pick: Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State (Originally picked #60)

Waynes didn’t have a huge impact for the Vikings this season, and Minnesota shouldn’t miss him too much if they passed on him. What was clear for the Vikes, was their need for wide receivers. They snagged Stefon Diggs later in the draft and he turned out to be a great pick, but Lockett was a little better and deserves the nod at pick 11. Lockett thrived as both a receiver and returner for Seattle, and turned out to be a Pro Bowler. Lockett would be a nice deep threat for Teddy Bridgewater and looks like he has a bright future ahead. Lockett finished the season with 664 yards, 6 touchdowns, and added 1 kick return and 1 punt return touchdown. He should have been a big add for the Vikings.

Cleveland Browns: Pick 12
Actual pick: Danny Shelton, DE, Washington
Redraft pick: Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU (Originally picked #39)

Shelton wasn’t terrible last year, but was nowhere near a top 15 pick in the draft. Goldman was much more productive, recording 4.5 sacks, 22 tackles, and was a great pass rusher for Chicago. He’s versatile, and would be a nice upgrade from Shelton for the Browns.

New Orleans Saints: Pick 13
Actual pick: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Redraft pick: Byron Jones, CB, UCONN (Originally picked #27)

The Saints defense struggled immensely this year and in a redraft they would need to take a defensive player with an early pick. They struggled all around, but mainly with their secondary, where they allowed the 2nd most yards, the most touchdowns (they had 9 more than the team ahead of them), and tied for 26th in interceptions. Obviously, they need some major help at both the cornerback and safety positions, and Jones would be a huge help. Jones is one of the more athletic defensive players in the league and has an extremely bright future. He finished with 66 tackles and 8 passes defended with Dallas last year.

Miami Dolphins: Pick 14
Actual pick: DaVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Redraft pick: Kevin Johnson, CB, University of California (Originally picked #16)

Brent Grimes had an extremely disappointing season in Miami, and the Dolphins entire secondary didn’t play as well as they should have. Moreover, DaVante Parker had an extremely quiet season, finishing with less than 500 yards and caught only 26 balls. Johnson would be a much better for Miami here, as he had a good year with Houston, getting better every game. He had 54 tackles,9 passes defended, and an interception as a Texan. Johnson would have filled a hole in the Dolphins defense.

San Diego Chargers: Pick 15
Actual pick: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Redraft pick: Dante Fowler Jr, DE, Florida (Originally picked #3)

Yes, Fowler tore his ACL and didn’t play a single game in 2015, but there was a reason he was drafted in the top 3 in this draft. Gordon was one of the worst starting running backs in the league this year and struggled from day 1 in San Diego, perhaps being one of the biggest busts of the year. The Chargers defense was subpar last year, and struggled to defend the run, allowing the 6th most yards, and the 4th most rushing touchdowns. They also were just 24th in sacks. In college, Fowler had 8.5 sacks in 2014, as well as 15 tackles for losses. The Chargers would have been without him in 2015, but he should be a force in the league when he starts playing.

Houston Texans: Pick 16
Actual pick: Kevin Johnson, CB, University of California, Berkeley
Redraft pick: Kevin White, WR, WVU (Originally picked #7)

The Texans made the right decision when they selected Johnson, but in this redraft he wouldn’t be available at this pick. Their biggest problem still remains QB, but the only guys worth drafting were gone by the first 2 picks. Much like Dante Fowler, White didn’t get a chance to play in 2015 due to injury, but was a top 10 pick thanks to an extremely good college career. The Texans defense didn’t have too many holes in it, so an offensive pick makes the most sense here. Besides DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans pass catching options were limited in 2015. If White is anything like he’s expected to be in the league, the Texans could benefit greatly. With a strong number 2 receivers, Hopkins would see less attention defensively, and the Texans could exploit that. They’d have to wait a year, but White could have been a huge add for Houston.

San Francisco 49ers: Pick 17
Actual pick: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Redraft pick: Mario Edwards, DE, FSU (Originally picked #35)

Armstead wasn’t a bad pick for the 49ers, but Mario Edwards would’ve been even better. Edwards had 42 tackles, 2 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles last year, starting in 10 games. He was a force in his run defense, and is one of the more versatile players available, as he can play linebacker and defensive end. The 49ers allowed the 4th most rushing yards and the most rushing touchdowns in 2015, and would’ve been happy to take Edwards with the 17th pick.

Kansas City Chiefs: Pick 18
Actual pick: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Redraft pick: Damarious Randall, CB, ASU (Originally picked #30)

Unfortunately, the reigning DROY wont be available again for Kansas City, so they’ll have to look to another CB to replace him. Randall was inconsistent at times for the Packers, but he certainly showed some flashes of being a solid corner. Randall had 58 tackles, just 2 under Peters 50, 3 interceptions, and 14 passes defended. Randall certainly wasn’t as good as Peters, but still had an impressive year.

Cleveland Browns: Pick 19
Actual pick: Cameron Erving, C, FSU
Redraft pick: La’el Collins, OG, LSU (Originally undrafted)

Erving struggled in his first year with Cleveland, and he slips outside the first round in this redraft. Collins was a big prospect in the draft before he was linked to a double homicide that forced teams to wait on him. After he was cleared, the Cowboys were smart enough to take him, and he became a huge help to their offensive line. Collins could have helped the Browns with their run game had they taken him.



Philadelphia Eagles: Pick 20
Actual pick: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
Redraft pick: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland (Originally picked #146)

Agholor wasn’t worthy of a top 20 pick in the draft, but breakout star Stefon Diggs was. Diggs provided a nice option for Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings, posting 720 yards and 4 touchdowns. Agholor on the other hand, had just 283 yards and one touchdown. Diggs was obviously the better option, and would’ve provided a better receiver core for the Eagles.

Cincinnati Bengals: Pick 21
Actual pick: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Redraft pick: Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State (Originally picked #38)

The Bengals didn’t have any huge holes in their roster going into this draft, so they went ahead and bolstered their offensive line. However in a redraft, they probably would have taken the best available player- Preston Smith. Smith led all rookies with his 8 sacks last year; he also added 35 tackles and 3 forced fumbles with Washington. Smith put together a nice 2015 campaign and would have helped the Bengals more than Ogbuehi did.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Pick 22
Actual pick: Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky
Redraft pick: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Originally picked #9)

Dupree had a good rookie year with the Steelers and provided nice depth at their linebacker spot, but the Steelers biggest need was to bolster their offensive line. Flowers had a solid year with New York, and should only get better as a lineman for the Giants. The Steelers would have benefited from Flowers after a season where Pro Football Focus ranked them as just the 23rd best-run blocking offensive line. Flowers specialized in run blocking and should have helped open holes for the Steelers running backs.

Denver Broncos: Pick 23
Actual pick: Shane Ray, DE/LB, Missouri
Redraft pick: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford (Originally picked #13)

Shane Ray wasn’t supposed to be an immediate help for the Broncos as they already had Demarcus Ware and Von Miller, and he does provide nice depth for Denver, but their biggest problem is and was their offensive line. Peat had a good year with the Saints and was a reason why their offensive line was highly regarded. He landed a top 15 pick thanks to his talent, and there’s no reason to think he wont get better. Peat could have filled in at left guard or tackle in Denver, who defensively didn’t need nearly as much help as their offense did.


Arizona Cardinals: Pick 24
Actual pick: D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
Redraft pick: David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa (Originally picked #86)

This pick seems odd considering Johnson went to the Cardinals as a 3rd rounder last year, but in a redraft, the Cardinals would have to take him much earlier. I doubt they would even considering drafting someone else after Johnson had such a good year with the Cardinals. He finished the year with 581 yards, and 8 touchdowns, starting in just 5 games. He added 457 receiving yards on 36 receptions, and 4 more touchdowns. Johnson figures to be the Cardinals star runner for years to come.

Carolina Panthers: Pick 25
Actual pick: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Redraft pick: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

The Panthers didn’t have any obvious gaps on their team, so much like the Bengals, they probably would just look to draft the best available player if given the chance. Thompson was good enough to be drafted again for the Panthers. He had 50 tackles and a sack last year, and was a good run stuffer for the Panthers, he should remain a solid man for Carolina to rely on.

Baltimore Ravens: Pick 26
Actual pick: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
Redraft pick: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida

The Ravens went ahead and took Perriman with their first round pick, but he didn't play a single game last year due to a prolonged knee injury. With that being said, the Ravens lack weapons for Joe Flacco, and Perriman has potential to be a solid #1 receiver for Baltimore. Perriman was taken in the first round due to his size, speed, and big play ability, which should benefit the Ravens greatly.



Dallas Cowboys: Pick 27
Actual pick: Byrone Jones, CB, UCONN
Redraft pick: Quenten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH) (Originally picked #62)

The Cowboys had the right pick when they took Jones at number 27, but he played well enough to be taken earlier in a redraft. The Cowboys suffered without Tony Romo, but other than that, had few wholes. The a Cowboys would look for another cornerback who had a strong year like Jones did. Rollins was a nice add for the Packers, where he had 31 tackles, a sack, 2 interceptions, and had 6 passes defended. Rollins figures to be a a strong corner for the Packers, and would've warranted the 27th pick for Dallas in a redraft.

Detroit Lions: Pick 28
Actual pick: Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke
Redraft pick: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson (Originally picked #8)

Tomlinson wasn't anything to write home about for the Lions, so it wouldn't be surpassing if they decided to go a different direction if given the chance. Seeing as it's a later pick, they should go with someone with a high upside. Vic Beasley didn't deserve a top 10 pick, but he still merits a first round pick. Beasley's upside is higher than most guys available at this point, so the Lions wouldn't hesitate to take him with their 28th pick. Beasley had 26 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles with Atlanta, and should continue to get better.

Indianapolis Colts: Pick 29
Actual pick: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
Redraft pick: Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky (Originally picked #22)

The drafting of Phillip Dorsett in the first round was questionable from the beginning, and he turned out to be unworthy of any first round pick. Given the chance, there's no way they would go with him again. Instead, the Colts should go with the Steelers DE/LB, Bud Dupree, who had a solid year and should only get better. Dupree finished the 2015 year with 4 sacks and 26 tackles. He would've been a good addition to add depth to the Colts linebacker core.

Green Bay Packers: Pick 30
Actual pick: Damarious Randall, CB, ASU
Redraft pick: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota (Originally picked #55)

This is probably the biggest reach in the redraft, but the Packers have few other holes bigger than the one at tight end. The Packers wouldn't have need to draft Williams if it weren't for Randall being taken in the redraft. Williams went in the 2nd round to the Ravens, and had a pretty average year, recording 268 yards and a touchdown. Williams showed tremendous progress as the year went on, having much better stats the second half of the year. Don't forget that Williams was catching passes from Matt Schaub, Ryan Mallett, and Jimmy Clausen. His numbers would've been inflated greatly with a QB like Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

New Orleans Saints: Pick 31
Actual pick: Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson
Redraft pick: Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson

The Saints made the right pick by taking Anthony with their 2nd 1st round pick, and he'd stay in New Orleans in a redraft. Anthony was one of the better players on the Saints poor defense, recording 112 tackles, a sack, and interception, and 2 forced fumbles. Anthony should continue to be a bright spot for the them.

New England Patriots: Pick 32
Actual pick: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
Redraft pick: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas

There's actually a chance that a team like San Diego would've taken Brown earlier in the redraft, but he should still be available for the Patriots. Brown was a quite name in New England, but was a key part to their defense. He recorded 58 tackles, 3 sacks, and was big in stopping the run. Brown is athletic and uses his size well to be the Patriots top interior lineman. He should continue to be a help for the Pats.