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Bucky Brooks of NFL.com posted a do-over of the 2013 NFL Draft now that we have had three full years to evaluate the top talents in that class. As underwhelming as the group may be as a whole, several spectacular stars have emerged to become household NFL names, perhaps most notably Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Brooks likes Hopkins so much, in fact, that he slotted him first overall to the Chiefs as their wide receiver of the future.
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Pick: Eric Fisher
Do-over: DeAndre Hopkins
Comment: Hopkins would give the Chiefs an explosive WR1 to build around with Alex Smith at the controls.
The rest of the "high profile" receivers in the 2013 class who have seemingly fallen off the earth in Hopkins’ wake also mysteriously stayed within the first round. Rams receiver Tavon Austin kept his eighth overall status, while Vikings backup Cordarrelle Patterson actually jumped up 17 spots to be taken at 12th overall. Chargers star wideout Keenan Allen – originally a third round selection – went three picks later at 15th overall. As for the player that the Texans took at 27th overall in this fake draft, how does a new backup right tackle sound?
27. HOUSTON TEXANS
Pick: DeAndre Hopkins
Do-over: Justin Pugh
Comment: Pugh's versatility (offensive guard/tackle) would provide Bill O'Brien with lineup flexibility on game day.
Ignoring the fact that the Texans left one of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL, Darius Slay, on the board, I cannot for the life of me see Gary Kubiak (at the time) taking an offensive lineman when he was so committed to making Derek Newton work at right tackle. To his credit, Newton eventually did turn into a quality starting tackle that more than earned his contract extension last March. Houston of course has a trio of excellent corners now with Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, and Kevin Johnson, but tacking Darius Slay on top of those three with a cheap rookie contract would certainly be more valuable than getting a marginal (if any) boost at the left guard or right tackle positions.
What do you think, BRB? Would you rather have an amazing fourth cornerback that could offer a temporarily cheap replacement for Johnathan Joseph, or a slightly better right tackle that can protect Houston’s next young quarterback project?