Commanders star Terry McLaurin lands with rival in PFF’s 2019 re-draft

The Washington Commanders have yielded inconsistent returns in the NFL Draft over the years, but their showing in 2019 was outstanding.

While taking the late Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 overall pick proved to be a mistake, though he was drafted into an impossible situation, the Commanders more than rectified it by nabbing Montez Sweat, Terry McLaurin and Cole Holcomb.

It’s unclear what the future holds for that trio, as both McLaurin and Holcomb are entering the final year of their rookie contracts, while Sweat, the No. 26 overall pick that year, had his fifth-year option for 2023 exercised this offseason.

If the Commanders were to get a re-do, they’d likely take McLaurin No. 15 overall instead of Haskins and keep Sweat as their second pick.

Would it be that simple, though?

As one of the most complete receivers in the game, it’s highly possible McLaurin would’ve been off the board long before pick No. 15. Just ask Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema, who recently reworked the 2019 draft.

Suffice it to say Commanders fans will hate the results.

Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin lands with a rival in Pro Football Focus’ 2019 re-draft.

Here’s how the top 10 picks shake out.

1. Cardinals – Kyler Murray
2. 49ers – Nick Bosa
3. Jets – AJ Brown (Quinnen Williams)
4. Raiders – Maxx Crosby (Clelin Ferrell)
5. Buccaneers – Jeffery Simmons (Devin White)
6. Giants – Terry McLaurin (Daniel Jones)
7. Jaguars – Deebo Samuel (Josh Allen)
8. Lions – Rashan Gary (TJ Hockenson)
9. Bills – DK Metcalf (Ed Oliver)
10. Broncos – Devin White (Devin Bush)

For what it’s worth, the Commanders take Sweat with the No. 15 overall pick in Sikemma’s exercise. That shows the value they got in Sweat at No. 26 overall and with Bosa, Crosby, Gary, Burns and Allen all off the board, taking the Mississippi State product in the top half of the first round would be more than justifiable, as he’s registered back-to-back seasons above 75.0 plaer grade, per PFF.

It’s pretty boring since Sweat is already on Washington but the real takeaway is McLaurin landing with the hated Giants, who laughably drafted Daniel Jones in the No. 6 spot three years ago. Here’s what Sikemma said of the pick.

"At the time, the Giants still had Eli Manning on the roster, but the then-38-year-old was in the last year of his contract and had led the team to a 5-11 record the season before. New York needed a quarterback, but re-drafting one here wouldn’t be fun.Instead, I’ll anger the entire Washington fanbase by giving the Giants a player who should have gone top 10 in this class. McLaurin has averaged more than 1,000 yards a year through his first three NFL seasons. There’s plenty of reason to believe this upcoming campaign will be the best yet for McLaurin."

Yes, McLaurin should have gone top 10 in his class. The same can be said for Brown, Samuel and Metcalf, each of whom fell to second and third rounds.

If anything, this re-draft should sting Giants fans more so than Commanders fans. Not only did Sikemma’s work serve as a reminder to the extraordinary value of netting McLaurin in Round 3, but it reminded G-Men diehards that they’re stuck in limbo at QB with Jones entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The best case for Washington? Get McLaurin extended and hope Jones plays well enough to receive an extension from New York. That way the Giants aren’t a threat to trade up in next year’s loaded quarterback class and they have a mediocre talent in Jones at the position for the next couple years.