The NFL Draft, a spectacle second only to the Super Bowl, never fails to ignite passionate debates among fans and analysts alike. Its allure lies not just in the promise of new talent but in the endless “what-ifs” that fuel discussions for years to come. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has tapped into this fascination with their captivating re-draft series, and their latest dive into the 2016 NFL Draft has sent shockwaves through the NFC North—particularly for the Minnesota Vikings.

In the original 2016 draft, the Vikings swung for the fences with their first-round pick, selecting Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell at No. 23 overall. The move, hoped to be a game-changer for Minnesota’s offense, instead became a cautionary tale of high-risk picks gone awry. Treadwell struggled to make an impact, leaving fans wondering what might have been. But PFF’s re-draft offers a tantalizing alternate reality, one where the Vikings bypass Treadwell entirely and instead poach a proven star from a division rival: Chicago Bears guard Cody Whitehair.

In Trevor Sikkema’s re-draft, Whitehair, originally a second-round pick by the Bears, lands in Minnesota, reshaping the Vikings’ offensive line and rewriting franchise history. Sikkema highlights Whitehair’s stellar early career, noting, “Whitehair was quite effective in his early years with the Bears. He earned an 87.5 PFF overall grade as a rookie in 2016, before posting single-season marks above 70.0 for three out of the next four seasons. He played more than 900 snaps in each of his first six years in the league.” For a Vikings team that has long sought stability up front, Whitehair would have been a godsend.

Whitehair’s real-life tenure with the Bears spanned eight seasons, earning him a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 and All-Rookie honors in 2016. His versatility and durability made him a cornerstone for Chicago, qualities that would have seamlessly translated to Minnesota’s needs at the time. The Vikings’ offensive line in 2016 was a patchwork unit, and a player of Whitehair’s caliber could have provided the anchor they desperately needed to protect quarterback Sam Bradford and open lanes for a young Dalvin Cook in subsequent seasons.

Meanwhile, the re-draft delivers a harsh verdict on Treadwell. In this alternate timeline, the former first-rounder doesn’t even sniff the first round, a stark reflection of his underwhelming NFL career. The Vikings’ decision to chase the upside of a flashy wide receiver over a reliable lineman like Whitehair serves as a reminder of the fine line between draft success and failure.

PFF’s re-draft not only highlights the Vikings’ missed opportunity but also underscores the ripple effects across the NFC North. Stealing Whitehair from the Bears would have bolstered Minnesota’s roster while weakening a division foe—a double win for a franchise looking to assert dominance in a competitive division. As fans look back on the 2016 draft, this reimagined scenario sparks excitement and frustration in equal measure: excitement for what Whitehair could have brought to U.S. Bank Stadium and frustration for the reality that never was.

The beauty of the NFL Draft lies in its unpredictability and the endless possibilities it inspires. PFF’s re-draft of 2016 paints a picture of a Vikings team that could have transformed its fortunes with a single, savvy pick. Cody Whitehair in purple and gold? That’s the kind of move that could have had the NFC North reeling—and Vikings fans dreaming of a different legacy.