- Andrew Whitworth goes No. 1: The Texans nab a future Hall-of-Fame left deal with over their unique number of North Carolina State edge defender Mario Williams.
- Brandon Marshall heads to the Titans: Marshall goes third total on this redraft, giving the Titans a famous person vast receiver who was initially a fourth-round decide.
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Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes
The NFL draft is a crapshoot.
While NFL groups do their finest to forecast which prospects will translate finest to the subsequent degree, the truth is that franchises hardly ever get a decide precisely proper.
But what would a draft appear to be if groups had the good thing about hindsight? PFF has world-class knowledge for each participant on each play in each NFL recreation, relationship again to the 2006 season. Knowing what we all know now, right here is how the primary spherical of the 2006 NFL Draft may have seemed.
1. Houston Texans: T Andrew Whitworth, LSU (Round 2, Pick No. 55)
The Texans struggled mightily to guard the quarterback throughout their first few years as an NFL franchise. Houston’s first-ever draft decide, quarterback David Carr, was sacked an NFL-record 76 instances throughout his rookie season in 2002.
The Texans repair that subject by drafting a projected Hall of Fame left deal with right here in Whitworth. He earned an elite 93.4 PFF total grade throughout his 16-year profession, with 90.0-plus grades as each a go blocker and a run blocker.
2. New Orleans Saints: G Jahri Evans, Bloomsburg (Round 4, Pick No. 108)
- Original decide: RB Reggie Bush, USC
Had the Saints identified that Jahri Evans would grow to be probably the greatest guards within the NFL for a decade, they doubtless would’ve chosen him lengthy earlier than the fourth spherical.
Evans’ 93.4 PFF total grade throughout his first 4 seasons ranked third amongst all guards. He went on to offer the Saints with stability on the inside via 2016, earlier than taking part in one season in Green Bay and retiring after the 2017 season.
3. Tennessee Titans: WR Brandon Marshall, UCF (Round 4, Pick No. 119)
- Original decide: QB Vince Young, Texas
Marshall was a steal as a fourth-round decide to the Broncos. In his 13-year profession, he earned six Pro-Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro picks and two second-team All-Pro picks. He logged six seasons with 100 or extra receptions and earned a 90.6 PFF total grade throughout his first 5 NFL campaigns.
The Titans drafted Vince Young right here, however their passing weapons weren’t ample for any new quarterback coming in that 12 months.
4. New York Jets: DI Haloti Ngata, Oregon (Round 1, Pick No. 12)
- Original decide: T D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
In 2006, the Jets earned the bottom PFF pass-rush grade within the NFL and featured the sixth-lowest-graded group of defensive tackles. Both would’ve definitely been improved with Ngata within the fold.
The legendary Baltimore Raven was the mannequin of consistency in his profession, posting 70.0-plus PFF total grades in seven of his first 10 seasons. He was a dominant run defender at nostril deal with and pressured the quarterback way over anticipated from a 340-pounder.
5. Green Bay Packers: WR Marques Colston, Hofstra (Round 7, Pick No. 252)
The Packers had been looking for a receiving complement to Donald Driver on the surface. Seventh-round decide Marques Colston completed second within the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2006. That was the primary of his six 1,000-yard seasons.
Green Bay would have been thrilled if Colston gave Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers the identical manufacturing he offered Drew Brees.
6. San Francisco 49ers: C Nick Mangold, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick No. 29)
- Original decide: TE Vernon Davis, Maryland
Davis was a dynamic decide on the time, and he grew to become an excellent professional, however Mangold was the highest-graded participant in a five-year pattern measurement from this class, at a powerful 96.1 PFF total grade.
He made seven Pro Bowls, two first-team All Pros and one second-team All-Pro on his method to being a Ring of Honor participant with the Jets.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt (Round 1, Pick No. 11)
- Original decide: S Michael Huff, Texas
Cutler wasn’t an elite passer all through his NFL profession, however he caught round for 12 years and was ok for the Chicago Bears to commerce two first-round picks for him in 2009. He earned a strong 75.3 profession PFF total grade and led the Bears to the NFC Championship recreation in 2010.
Cutler would have stabilized the Raiders’ quarterback room and stored the group from disastrously drafting JaMarcus Russell at No. 1 total the very subsequent 12 months.
8. Buffalo Bills: WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick No. 25)
- Original decide: S Donte Whitner, Ohio State
The Bills had excessive hopes for quarterback J.P. Losman however lacked a high-end receiving risk except for Lee Evans.
Holmes, the eventual Super Bowl 42 MVP, turned in an excellent 88.4 PFF receiving grade throughout his first 5 seasons. His manufacturing tailed off after a commerce to the Jets and a serious foot harm, however Holmes’ early impression would’ve been value a shot right here for Buffalo.
9. Detroit Lions: T D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia (Round 1, Pick No. 4)
The Lions went 0-16 two years after this draft, so this decide wasn’t actually constructing towards something within the quick time period — and sure wouldn’t have stopped that notorious season. But they secured Matthew Stafford because of that winless 12 months, and having Ferguson in entrance of him would’ve made issues a bit higher.
Ferguson earned an 86.9 PFF total grade within the first 5 years of his profession, incomes three consecutive Pro-Bowl nods from 2009-2011.
10. Arizona Cardinals: DI Kyle Williams, LSU (Round 5, Pick No. 134)
- Original decide: QB Matt Leinart, USC
The Cardinals made the franchise’s first and at present solely Super Bowl look in 2008, dropping in heartbreaking trend to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Arizona’s high-flying passing assault was the most important cause for its Super Bowl run, and that was powered by getting older veteran Kurt Warner, not Leinart.
If the Cardinals obtained extra from their defensive position in that recreation, they could have secured their first Lombardi Trophy. Williams made six Pro Bowls in his profession with an 81.6 PFF total grade throughout his 13 seasons.
11. St. Louis Rams: EDGE Tamba Hali, Penn State (Round 1, Pick No. 20)
- Original decide: QB Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
On draft day, the Broncos traded up right here to draft quarterback Jay Cutler. But on this train, we’re reverting picks that weren’t moved earlier than draft night time to their unique groups. The Rams lacked an impression go rusher except for Leonard Little, in order that they add future five-time Pro Bowler Tamba Hali right here.
Hali tallied not less than a 70.0 PFF pass-rush grade in every of his first eight seasons, peaking at 92.1 in 2010.
12. Cleveland Browns: EDGE Mario Williams, N.C. State (Round 1, Pick No. 1)
- Original decide: DI Haloti Ngata, Oregon
The Ravens finally traded as much as this choice to draft defensive deal with Haloti Ngata, parting with simply an additional sixth-round decide to maneuver up one spot. The Browns drafted edge rusher Kamerion Wimbley at decide No. 13, however right here they go together with the participant who went first total on this class, Mario Williams.
Williams won’t have been essentially the most impactful participant from this draft, incomes a 72.7 PFF total grade in his first 5 years, however he nonetheless made 4 Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro and two second-team All-Pro picks in his profession.
13. Baltimore Ravens: S Antoine Bethea, Howard (Round 6, Pick No. 207)
- Original decide: EDGE Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
The Browns ended up making this decide, drafting defensive finish Kamerion Wimbley after buying and selling down only one spot with Baltimore. The Ravens finally chosen Dawan Landry within the fifth spherical to pair alongside Ed Reed, however they go for the very best security within the class in Bethea on this redraft.
Bethea made three Pro Bowls in his profession, with an elite 89.2 PFF total grade throughout his 14 seasons. He is essentially the most useful defender from the 2006 class, in line with PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Elvis Dumervil, Louisville (Round 4, Pick No. 126)
- Original decide: DI Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
The Eagles wanted depth on their defensive position after ending 2005 with the sixth-fewest sacks within the NFL. Future two-time first-team All-Pro Elvis Dumervil would’ve offered that.
Dumervil completed his profession with 105.5 sacks and posted an elite 90.2 PFF pass-rush grade from 2006 to 2014.
15. Denver Broncos: TE Vernon Davis, Maryland (Round 1, Pick No. 6)
- Original decide: CB Tye Hill, Clemson
The Broncos owned this decide from the Falcons getting into draft night time, however they finally moved two future picks in 2007 to rise up to No. 12 to draft quarterback Jay Cutler.
The Broncos’ main tight finish within the 2006 season ended up being 31-year-old Stephen Alexander, who amassed simply 160 yards on 18 catches. Davis didn’t find yourself altering the league like some thought he would, however he nonetheless made two Pro Bowls and earned a second-team All-Pro nod in his profession, with a 76.6 PFF grade in his first 5 seasons.
16. Miami Dolphins: CB Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina (Round 1, Pick No. 24)
- Original decide: CB Jason Allen, Tennessee
Jason Allen didn’t do a lot with the Dolphins, incomes sub-70.0 PFF total grades in every of his 5 years in Miami. The Dolphins as an alternative seize the highest cornerback on the board in Joseph, who earned an elite 90.6 PFF total grade with 32 interceptions throughout his 15 seasons within the NFL, which included two Pro Bowl nods.
17. Minnesota Vikings: WR Greg Jennings, Western Michigan (Round 2, Pick No. 52)
- Original decide: LB Chad Greenway, Iowa
As Minnesota was attempting to transition at quarterback from veteran Brad Johnson to the teenager Tarvaris Jackson, they wanted one other weapon within the passing recreation. They choose former Green Bay Packer Greg Jennings right here earlier than he can torture them for the subsequent seven years.
At the height of his powers, Jennings turned in three seasons with greater than 1,100 receiving yards and eight consecutive seasons with not less than a 71.0 PFF receiving grade.
Greg Jennings’ 2010 Season by Targeted Depth
18. Dallas Cowboys: LB DeMeco Ryans, Alabama (Round 2, Pick No. 33)
- Original decide: LB Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
The Cowboys featured a stout offense on the time of the 2006 NFL Draft. They ended up deciding on Bobby Carpenter from Ohio State, however the higher decide would have been Ryans on the similar place.
He ended up successful Defensive Rookie of the Year whereas main the NFL in solo tackles in 2006. Through his first 5 seasons, he earned an 85.6 PFF total grade.
19. Los Angeles Chargers: CB Antonio Cromartie, Florida State (Round 1, Pick No. 19)
- Original decide: CB Antonio Cromartie, Florida State
Cromartie stays the decide for the Chargers right here — and he’s the one unchanged decide on this redraft. While he endured an up-and-down profession, incomes a 68.0 profession PFF protection grade, there’s no denying his peaks had been elite.
Cromartie was named to 4 Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2007, when he posted an elite 90.8 PFF protection grade.
20. Kansas City Chiefs: T Eric Winston, Miami (FL) (Round 3, Pick No. 66)
- Original decide: EDGE Tamba Hali, Penn State
The Chiefs didn’t know that star left deal with Willie Roaf would retire till nicely after the 2006 NFL Draft, however they in all probability want they had been extra ready for the state of affairs anyway. Either manner, they’d a necessity at each deal with spots, and Miami’s Eric Winston would’ve been a worthy candidate, even when he performed on the proper aspect.
During his first seven seasons, together with one in Kansas City, Winston earned a strong 87.9 PFF total grade and an elite 91.0 PFF run-blocking grade.
21. New England Patriots: WR/KR Devin Hester, Miami (FL) (Round 2, Pick No. 57)
- Original decide: RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
The Patriots initially added working again Laurence Maroney with this choice, and Maurice Jones-Drew and DeAngelo Williams are nonetheless on the board in the event that they wished to stay with a working again on this redraft. But what about Bill Belichick getting the one Hall of Famer so removed from the 2006 class?
Hester was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro. He returned 4 kicks and 7 punts for touchdowns in his first two seasons, although he didn’t do a lot as a large receiver, incomes only a 68.1 PFF receiving grade in his first 5 seasons.
22. Denver Broncos: S Dawan Landry, Georgia Tech (Round 5, Pick No. 146)
- Original decide: LB Manny Lawson, North Carolina State
The Broncos had two first-round picks getting into the primary spherical of the 2006 NFL Draft, with this choice coming from a trade-down with Washington the 12 months prior. Denver ended up transferring this decide to San Francisco, who took linebacker Manny Lawson.
The group wanted security depth on the time behind John Lynch and Nick Ferguson, who was 32 years previous and was about to play his final 12 months as a starter in Denver. Landry didn’t get All-Pro or Pro Bowl nods in his profession, however he offered longevity and the best PFF total grade of the safeties thought of right here, with a 79.1 cumulative grade via his first 5 seasons.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T Donald Penn, Utah State (Undrafted)
Penn went undrafted was lower by the Vikings earlier than discovering his method to Tampa Bay. By early 2007, he was entrenched because the Buccaneers’ beginning left deal with and didn’t miss a recreation for the group via 2013. He then spent a number of years in Oakland earlier than age and accidents caught up with him.
From 2007 to 2017, Penn posted an elite 91.5 PFF total grade. His two finest seasons got here after his departure to Oakland, so the Buccaneers in all probability want they stored him round a bit longer.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: T Willie Colon, Hofstra (Round 4, Pick No. 131)
- Original decide: CB Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina
The Bengals ended up deciding on offensive deal with Andrew Whitworth within the second spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he grew to become a rock for his or her offensive line for years to come back.
But with Whitworth lengthy gone on this redraft, Cincinnati opts for an additional offensive deal with in Willie Colon, who earned an 87.3 PFF total grade in his first 5 seasons whereas taking part in a full 10 years within the NFL.
25. New York Giants: S Donte Whitner, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick No. 8)
- Original decide: WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State
The Giants traded this decide on draft night time to the Steelers, who moved up for eventual Super Bowl 43 MVP Santonio Holmes. New York’s stellar defensive position led the group to Super Bowl victories in 2007 and 2011, and the Giants can proceed so as to add to their protection by deciding on Whitner right here. He made two Pro Bowls and earned an elite 90.6 PFF run-defense grade throughout his 11 seasons.
26. Chicago Bears: S Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian (Round 2, Pick No. 42)
- Original decide: DI John McCargo, North Carolina State
The Bears traded this decide on draft night time to the Bills, who moved as much as choose defensive deal with John McCargo. With a little bit of irony concerned, the Bears draft Danieal Manning, whom they chose with the forty second total decide after a commerce with Buffalo anyway.
Manning gave Chicago 5 serviceable years of play, together with his finest being his rookie marketing campaign during which he posted an 80.3 PFF total grade.
27. Carolina Panthers: S Roman Harper, Alabama (Round 2, Pick No. 43)
- Original decide: RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
The Panthers made a strong unique choice in working again DeAngelo Williams, who performed 11 years within the league as a key a part of their backfield. This may’ve been Williams once more, however for the enjoyable of switching it up, Harper joins Carolina even sooner in his profession timeline.
The Panthers’ two beginning safeties in 2006, Mike Minter and Shaun Williams, had been each now not the starters a 12 months later. Harper made two Pro Bowls in his profession and earned a 72.4 PFF total grade in his first 5 seasons in New Orleans.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, UCLA (Round 2, Pick No. 60)
- Original decide: TE Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
The Jaguars initially drafted Marcedes Lewis, who went twenty second total to the Broncos on this redraft. Jacksonville as an alternative provides one other former UCLA Bruin to its offense in Jones-Drew, whom the group really chosen within the second spherical.
MJD is the franchise’s all-time chief in dashing touchdowns (68), and his 8,071 dashing yards are second solely to Fred Taylor. Jones-Drew made three Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro in his NFL profession.
29. New York Jets: T Marcus McNeill, Auburn (Round 2, Pick No. 50)
- Original decide: C Nick Mangold, Ohio State
The Jets acquired this decide, initially from the Denver Broncos, once they traded go rusher John Abraham to the Falcons earlier that March.
New York drafted a Ring of Honor member in Nick Mangold after watching Chad Pennington undergo a slew of accidents all through his profession, however he and unique decide D’Brickashaw Ferguson are off the board right here, in order that they go together with left deal with Marcus McNeill, who gave the Chargers six strong seasons earlier than being compelled to retire resulting from harm. McNeill completed his profession with a 78.7 PFF pass-blocking grade.
30. Indianapolis Colts: RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis (Round 1, Pick No. 27)
- Original decide: RB Joseph Addai, LSU
The Colts drafted Joseph Addai right here initially, however Williams replaces him right here. The Memphis product earned a 75.7 PFF total grade via his first 5 seasons of play, with one Pro Bowl, one second-team All-Pro nod and a 1,500-yard and 18-touchdown season in 2008.
31. Seattle Seahawks: CB Brent Grimes, Shippensburg (Undrafted)
Jennings was a more-than-solid cornerback all through his NFL profession, however the Seahawks merely can’t go up Grimes right here.
After going undrafted out of Division II Shippensburg, he grew to become a star cornerback for the Falcons, Dolphins and Buccaneers. Grimes earned an elite 91.3 PFF protection grade in his profession and was a four-time Pro Bowler with 33 profession interceptions.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Tramon Williams, Louisiana Tech (Undrafted)
The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers traded the ultimate decide of the primary spherical to the Giants in alternate for his or her earlier first-round decide. New York finally chosen edge defender Mathias Kiwanuka.
Pittsburgh provides a participant from its Super Bowl 45 counterpart, the Green Bay Packers, by deciding on cornerback Tramon Williams, who went undrafted out of Louisiana Tech. He racked up 38 interceptions and 111 go breakups throughout 14 seasons, together with the playoffs.