If only NFL front offices knew in April what we know today...

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SI.com's Don Banks stepped into the DeLorean today for his fifth annual December re-draft, a historical reenactment of the 2008 NFL Draft with the benefit of hindsight.

There aren't many surprises among the first 10 choices.

1. MIA: QB Matt Ryan
2. STL: QB Joe Flacco
3. ATL: OT Jake Long
4. OAK: RB Chris Johnson
5. KC: DE Chris Long
6. NYJ: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
7. NO: RB Matt Forte
8. JAX: WR DeSean Jackson
9. CIN: RB Steve Slaton
10: NE: LB Jerod Mayo

But with the No. 22 pick, Banks sends Chris Horton to the Cowboys. Horton, a safety from UCLA, went to the Redskins with the fourth-to-last pick in the entire draft: No. 249 overall on the back end of the seventh round.

"Between the injured Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin, the Cowboys safety position has been a disaster," observes Banks. "Horton, a seventh-round pick of Washington's, made an early impact this season and has three interceptions, 65 tackles, eight passes defensed and a fumble recovery. This would also allow Dallas to conveniently weaken a division rival."

Another interesting tidbit comes at the end of the piece, where Banks lists the first-round draft picks who didn't make the cut this time around: No. 6 Vernon Gholston, Jets, LB; No. 14 Chris Williams, Bears, OT; No. 17 Gosder Cherilus, Lions, OT; No. 21 Sam Baker, Falcons, OT; No. 22 Felix Jones, Cowboys, RB; No. 23 Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers, RB; No. 25 Mike Jenkins, Cowboys, CB; No. 27 Antoine Cason, Chargers, CB; No. 28 Lawrence Jackson, Seahawks, DE; No. 29 Kentwan Balmer, 49ers, DT.

What are your reactions to this year's re-draft? Are you satisfied with your team's real-life selection, or would you rather have the player Banks chose in his place?

Don Banks: Draft redux [SI.com]