NFL Draft: Redrafting the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft
48. . CB. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Xavien Howard. 11. player
NFL Draft: Redrafting the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft 11. Xavien Howard
Originally selected 38th overall (+27)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately needed a cornerback in the 2016 NFL Draft. They’d make this clear when they picked up Vernon Hargreaves with the 11th pick in the draft. Unfortunately, he would end up being one of the bigger busts from the first round.
Hargreaves wasn’t a bad player, but he had a handful of injuries and would never reach his full potential. As a result, he would eventually be waived by the Buccaneers.
In this scenario, the Bucs use a magical second chance to draft a different cornerback. They’d take a guy who fell to the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Xavien Howard took a while to become acquainted with the NFL, but once he settled in, he became one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
In 2018 and 2020, he made Pro Bowl appearances during seasons that saw him lead the NFL in interceptions. His 2020 season also resulted in a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career. Imagine the Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers with this guy as part of its secondary. Scary thought.