Pro Football Focus once again hopped back in the time machine and traveled to the 2009 NFL draft to reselect the first round using hindsight and the PFF grading system as their guide. So, who did the Indianapolis Colts come away with this time?
Following a 12-4 season in 2008, the Colts held the 27th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. With their original pick, they selected UConn running back Donald Brown, but this time, PFF had Indianapolis selecting North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who actually went 29th overall to the Giants.
"Nicks racked up a career-best 1,192 receiving yards when the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2011 and posted an 85.6 PFF overall grade for his career," wrote PFF. "He will be a nice complement to Reggie Wayne for Peyton Manning."
Nicks ended up playing seven seasons, six of which came with the Giants, along with a one-year stint with the Colts in 2014. He appeared in 92 games over his career, which included 67 starts.
He was a big part of the Giants' offense, totaling 100-plus receptions each season from 2010 through 2013. He eclipsed 1,000 yards twice, which, as mentioned by PFF, included a career year during New York's Super Bowl run.
Brown, meanwhile, also played seven NFL seasons like Nicks, with the first five coming with the Colts and the last two with the Chargers. As PFF noted, Brown held more of a rotational role throughout his career, appearing in 89 games but making just 25 starts.
His most productive season with the Colts came in 2011, when Brown rushed for 645 yards. He also had three seasons with at least 200 receiving yards.
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