Jonathan Ogden became the first member of the 1996 NFL draft class to entered the Hall of Fame last Saturday. Which made me think about the other players drafted in '96. Then I remembered how SVP & Russillo redrafted the previous five NFL drafts this past April, so I figured I would give it shot for the first ten picks of the '96 draft.
1. New York Jets - Original Pick - Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC --- New Pick ---
Ray Lewis, LB, Miami (Originally drafted Round 1 Pick 26)
Keyshawn was certainly not a bust but he only played for the Jets for four seasons before being traded to the Buccaneers in 2000. Had they have chosen Ray Lewis with the number one pick the Jets would have gotten a 13 time pro bowler and a Super Bowl MVP. The latter being the thing all Jets fans would have most liked to see.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Original Pick - Kevin Hardy, LB, Illinois --- New Pick ---
Jonathan Ogden, OT, UCLA (Originally Round 1 Pick 4)
Kevin Hardy wasn't a terrible pick. He made a pro bowl and during his six years as a Jaguar they had a winning season four times. However, they would have loved getting Jonathan Ogden instead to play Left Tackle. Big O was an eleven-time Pro Bowl selection during his 12 year career. Sure he never once blocked James Harrison legally (but to be fair that was during the latter stages of his career), he was just named a first ballot hall of famer.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Original Pick - Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois --- New Pick ---
Brian Dawkins, S, Clemson (Originally Round 2, Pick 65)
I'll get back to Rice later in the top 10 but he only spent five seasons with the Cardinals and his best years didn't come until his time with the Bucs. Had they had drafted Dawkins they would have taken one of the best players in Eagles history. Dawkins was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and he is one of only ten players to have 20 career interceptions and 20 career sacks.
4. Baltimore Ravens - Original Pick - Jonathan Odgen, OT, UCLA --- New Pick ---
Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse (Originally Round 1 Pick 19)
It's safe to say that the Ravens won this draft. With their first two picks in franchise history, they drafted two hall of fame players (Ogden and Ray Lewis). Not too shabby. So since both the Ravens players are already off the board I have them taking Marvin Harrison. In the short history of the Baltimore Ravens, offense has never been their strong point. Sure that has a lot to do with their QBs but getting Harrison may have helped alter that. Marvin may have benefited from playing with Peyton Manning but he did finish his career with 1,102 receptions (3rd all-time). He caught a pass in all 190 career games and in 2002 he caught an NFL record 143 balls. I'm assuming he will be in the hall of fame, but he could also pull an Aaron Hernandez before he gets inducted.
5. New York Giants - Original Pick - Cedric Jones, DE, Oklahoma --- New Pick ---
Zach Thomas, LB, Texas Tech (Originally Round 5 Pick 154)
The first bust of the 1996 draft was made right here with Giants pick of Cedric Jones. That didn't really work out. Zach Thomas didn't get picked until the fifth round but that didn't stop him from having a fantastic career mostly with the Miami Dolphins. Thomas was a five-time First-Team All-Pro and he has the fourth most tackles in the history of the NFL.
6. St. Louis Rams - Original Pick - Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska --- New Pick ---
Terrell Owens, WR, Tennessee-Chattanooga (Originally Round 3 Pick 89)
Phillips was one of the biggest busts in NFL history. He got arrested a ton of times so the Rams probably should have know they were getting themselves into trouble. Phillips only played two seasons with the Rams and he only complied 1,453 rushing yards for his career. So in the redraft they should take Terrell Owens. Sure he was a headache throughout his career but the man produced pretty much every where he went. Plus imagine if he was on the Rams team when they were the Greatest Show on Turf. TO, Issac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim at wide receiver then Marshall Faulk running and Kurt Warner flinging the rock. They could have won more than just one Super Bowl.
7. New England Patriots - Original Pick - Terry Glenn, WR, Ohio State --- New Pick ---
Tedy Bruschi, LB, Arizona (Originally Round 3 Pick 86)
Terry Glenn didn't have a bad career but when your head coach calls you "she" at one point that's probably not a good thing, which is exactly what Bill Parcells did. Anyway, I have the Patriots taking Patriot great Tedy Bruschi. There might be better players on the board for the Pats right here but Tedy became a perfect Patriot. He made the All-Pro team twice but more importantly he won 3 super bowl titles while in New England. He was arguably the leader of the locker room and a vital piece of the Patriots dynasty in the early 2000s.
8. Carolina Panthers - Original Pick - Tshimanga Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan --- New Pick ---
Eddie George, RB, Ohio State (Originally Round 1 Pick 14)
I almost was going to re-pick Timmy Biakabutuka for the Panthers just because of the name. My only question for the Panthers is why would you take Timmy over the Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George? Eddie had a great career for the Titans, rushing for over 10,000 career yards. I'm not trying to be too biased but Eddie George was one of my favorite players. He was a solid all-around durable back. Also fun fact, his wife was on Survivor and so was he for one episode.
P.S. Why people don't watch Survivor anymore blows my mind. Fantastic show.
9. Oakland Raiders - Original Pick - Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State --- New Pick ---
Simeon Rice, DE, Illinois
Not the best pick for the Raiders, but when do they ever make good picks? In the redraft if Simeon Rice was available Al Davis would have been in love with him. Out of college Rice was 6'5'' 253 lbs and he still ran a 4.5 second 40 yard dash. Size and speed = Al Davis favorite player. It would have been a great pick for Mr. Davis also. Rice recorded 122 career sacks ranking him 13th All-Time. Plus he beat the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, in which he sacked Rich Gannon twice.
10. Cincinnati Bengals - Original Pick - Willie Anderson, OT, Auburn --- New Pick ---
Mike Alstott, FB, Purdue (Originally Round 2 Pick 35)
Willie Anderson was a late bloomer and he ended out making four pro bowls for the Bengals. However they only made the playoffs once while he was on the roster so they might have been better off taking Mike Alstott. One of the best power backs in recent history. Alstott was not afraid to run you over. He made six pro bowls in his career and ran for 5,088 yards and 71 total touchdowns.
Almost made the top 10 --- Keyshawn Johnson, Lawyer Milloy, Joe Horn, Adam Vinatieri (Undrafted), Amani Toomer
