Monday Morning Draft is back! This is a column that delves into the past weekend’s action from an NFL Draft perspective. As the season goes on, the draft picture and slotting will become more clear, but every Sunday will provide a few hints for next April.
By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Race for the No. 1 Pick:
Houston Texans: The Texans lost to the Browns and are getting closer to clinching the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Houston’s only win this year came when its defense simply dominated Trevor Lawrence. With their Week 1 tie against the Colts, Houston the Texans need to win two games to lose the No. 1 pick. Now that Davis Mills has been benched, Houston clearly needs a true franchise quarterback to replace Deshaun Watson. It would make sense for the Texans to target Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Chicago Bears: The Bears lost to the Jets while without starting quarterback Justin Fields, plus the Jets were rejuvenated with the benching of Zach Wilson. Fields has really been playing well over the past recently, so Chicago could easily win a few games down the stretch and end up picking in the back half of the top 10 during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are in the race for the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to their selection from the Broncos. Denver is 3-9 with five games remaining. If Seattle ends up with a high first-rounder, the organization could look to find a long-term upgrade over Geno Smith. If the Seahawks want to stick with Smith, they could add a difference maker for their defense or look to trade down.
Detroit Lions: Detroit is on pace to have a high first-round pick because the Rams are now 3-9 and the Lions hold Los Angeles’ first-round pick from the Matthew Stafford trade. Detroit blew out Jacksonville and improved to 5-7 winning, their fourth game in the last five contests. The Lions have slim playoff hopes alive and are led by one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Detroit wisely traded away the overreate T.J. Hockenson, who is not worth a big second contract. The trades have the Lions loaded up with two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
If Detroit lands the top pick or a high first-rounder, the franchise could look to upgrade over Jared Goff by taking Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. The Lions can hold onto Goff and let the rookie sit behind him for a year, or they can let Goff go without a salary-cap penalty. The team could also look to trade away Goff, who could be worth a second-day pick, as he is a better player than other quarterbacks like Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan who were traded for second-day picks. Aside from quarterback, Detroit badly needs some cornerback upgrades to go with Jeff Okudah.
Top General Manager Candidates:
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Let’s Play Matchmaker:
This section will look at some of the top talent in college football and match those prospects up with teams that have a dire need at the position.
Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon 
The Lions dominated the Jaguars in Detroit, scoring on every possession until they went to the victory formation at the end of the fourth quarter. Detroit’s defense played well allowing, only one touchdown, but the team had problems covering Christian Kirk. Clearly, the biggest weakness on the roster is the cornerback position, and adding a corner to go with Jeff Okudah is a top priority for the 2023 offseason.
Pro team sources have been impressed with Gonzalez (6-2, 201), starting with his 2021 tape and into how he has played in 2022. The junior is a big corner who is fast, athletic, and is able to run the route to prevent separation. Entering 2022, Gonzalez did not have an interception, so NFL evaluators wanted to see him show more ball skills, and he showed improvement in that regard this year. In 2022, he has 51 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes broken up. Gonzalez could be a riser who ends up being the top cornerback prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions would be fortunate to land Gonzalez with their second first-round pick next April during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 
The Steelers held on to for a narrow win over the Falcons and improved to 5-7 on the season. Pittsburgh’s defense played well limiting the Atlanta offense, but Pittsburgh was not impressive one the offensive side of the ball. Tight end Pat Freiermuth (3-76) was the team’s leading receiver, and clearly, the roster could use another wideout to go with Diontae Johnson. Helping Kenny Pickett by taking a true No. 1 receiver would make a lot of sense for the Steelers with their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
So far in 2022, Johnston has 49 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns. He flashed in 2021, catching 33 passes for 612 yards and six touchdowns. Sources from around the NFL are high on his skill set. “He’s 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and can win on all three levels. He puts up 20 yards per catch, runs great routes, is super smart, an alpha, and the hardest worker on the team,” an area scout told WalterFootball.com. Johnston has the skill set of No. 1 wide receiver with mismatch potential. He could be a plug-and-play upgrade for Pittsburgh from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College 
The Ravens pulled off a comeback win with Tyler Huntley playing in relief duty. Baltimore’s offense struggled, but still managed to get a 10-9 win over the pathetic Broncos. All season, it has been clear that the Ravens need more speed and playmaking ability at wide receiver for Lamar Jackson. Here’s a second-day talent who could infuse some speed into the Baltimore scoring attack.
Flowers collected 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022. He totaled 44 catches for 746 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 while playing most of the year without his starting quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder was impressive in 2020, breaking out for the Eagles. He flashed some in 2019, but was significantly improved as a sophomore.
Flowers does not have much size, but he possesses game-breaking speed and is a threat to produce a big play on any reception. His deep speed would be a good fit for Jackson and across the field from Rashod Bateman.
Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC 
The Vikings held on for a narrow win over the Jets despite the New York defense doing a good job of limiting the Minnesota scoring attack. Justin Jefferson (7-45-1) was held in check, and no other Vikings receiver recorded even 39 yards through the air. T.J. Hockenson has been a disappointment, and Minnesota needs a more dangerous receiver to pair with Jefferson in 2023.
Addison was a plug-and-play point producer for USC in 2022, recording 59 catches for 875 yards and eight touchdowns while also missing some time with injuries. Playing for Pittsburgh in 2021, Addison benefited from quarterback Kenny Pickett having a phenomenal year to produce a massive sophomore season himself. Addison caught 100 passes in 2021 for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 175-pounder displayed the speed to get vertical and threaten defenses downfield.
For the NFL, Addison could stand to get stronger and fill out his frame. He could be an ideal No. 2 receiver to go with Justin Jefferson.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama 
The Eagles cruised over the Titans, winning by 25 thanks to the Philadelphia defense completely shutting down Derrick Henry. Jalen Hurts lit up the Tennessee defense through the air, and surprisingly, Philadelphia did not produce much on the ground. Miles Sanders (10-24-1) led the Eagles in rushing despite poor production. Sanders is going to be a free agent after this season, and Philadelphia could consider adding a rushing weapon early in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Gibbs has averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2022 for 850 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has 42 receptions for 378 yards and three scores. Gibbs only landed at Alabama for 2022 after leaving Georgia Tech. He could end up as the latest early-round running back from the Crimson Tide. Gibbs is a beast of a back who is put together well and plows ahead hard. He has speed, natural running instincts, and a lot of upside.
In 2021 for Georgia Tech, Gibbbs averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 746 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 35 receptions for 465 yards and two touchdowns. In 2020, Gibbs averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 460 yards and four touchdowns. He also showed impressive receiving ability with 24 catches for 303 yards and three scores. Gibbs would be a great fit in the Philadelphia offense.
Green Bay Packers: Antonio Johnson, S/CB, Texas A&M 
Some missed kicks by Chicago kicker Cairo Santos were extremely painful, allowing the Packers to come away with their eighth win in a row in their historic rivalry. The Bears outplayed Green Bay for the majority of the game, but a few splash plays in the fourth quarter made the difference. The Packers allowed Justin Fields to produce another touchdown run of over 50 yards, and David Montgomery ran well on them. A defender like Johnson would be a big addition to limit the rushing attack and help Green Bay in pass coverage in the middle of the field.
Johnson recorded 71 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles and one pass broken up in 2022. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder is a massive slot corner who broke out for the Aggies in 2021. The sophomore recorded 79 tackles, an interception and five passes defended on the year. Johnson has phenomenal length and size to match up against NFL receivers while also showing fabulous instincts and tackling ability as a safety. He also lined up as a slot corner and dime linebacker. Johnson is an outstanding defensive back who is a Swiss Army knife to solve coverage problems for his defense. He would be a nice selection for the Packers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Bills: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 
The Bills dropped the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, with Buffalo holding New England to only 10 points. The Bills did not dominate on offense, but the running game was solid and Stefon Diggs played well once again. A wide receiver to pair with Diggs is something Buffalo could use, and that is illustrated by the team’s interest in Odell Beckham Jr. Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie are solid players, but if Diggs were to get injured, the Bills would be in dire straits offensively. Buffalo needs another playmaker at the position to go with Diggs and help offer a potential lead receiver if the team is forced to be without its elite playmaker.
In 2022, Tillman recorded 37 receptions for 417 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was a tough receiver in 2021 for the Volunteers, showing good size and playmaking ability. During his breakout season, Tillman caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards with 12 touchdowns. Tillman would give the Bills a big receiver to pair with Diggs. Thanks to his size mismatch and run-after-the-catch ability, Tillman would be a great fit for Buffalo. He could be a nice addition to the team late in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks : The Seahawks are one of the surprise teams in the NFL this year. Many thought they would be among the league’s worst teams in 2022, but they are instead contending for the playoffs in their first season without Russell Wilson. Veteran Geno Smith has been a dependable game manager, while Seattle has been gritty on defense and running the ball well. The Seahawks put together an excellent 2022 NFL Draft to supercharge their ground attack, adding multiple good offensive linemen led by a pair of good rookie tackles in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas and a superb ball-carrier in Kenneth Walker. With two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, one of which is destined for the top 10 because of the Denver collapse, the Seahawks have reason for optimism for a fast and effective rebuild in the post-Wilson era under head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Seahawks attacking the defensive line. Seattle could use more edge-rush talent and an interior disruptor to go with Poona Ford. With their high first-rounder from the Broncos, I have the Seahawks grabbing Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. He is a fast and athletic tackle who provides interior pass rush while being a tough run stuffer. Carter has a great skill set and a ton of upside.
With their second-round first-round pick, I have Seahawks taking a defensive end in Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson. He would be a tough run defender and contributing pass rusher for Seattle. Other defensive end options the organization could consider include Clemson’s Myles Murphy, Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey and USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu. Bruce Irvin is not a long-term contributor at this point of his career, and L.J. Collier has been a bust. Seattle needs to improve its edge rush for 2023 and the years to come.
Offensively, the Seahawks could consider taking a quarterback depending on how they feel about Geno Smith being their starter in 2023. Right now, the Denver pick is outside the top three, and the Broncos could easily win a game down the stretch to definitely cost Seattle a chance at selecting Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Seahawks are loaded with picks to trade up, but other teams like the Texans and Lions are picking higher and won’t trade down when it would cost a shot at a franchise quarterback.
Seattle could have a chance at taking Kentucky’s Will Levis or Stanford’s Tanner McKee. The Seahawks also could consider second-day quarterback prospects like Arkansas’ K.J. Jefferson, BYU’s Jaren Hall, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and TCU’s Max Duggan. The quarterback decision is going to be huge, but if Smith leads the Seahawks to the playoffs this season, drafting his replacment will be hard to justify to the locker room. Seattle has two second-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, so taking a quarterback on Day 2 might make more sense to give the team a player with starting potential without alienating the locker room or hurting the positive chemistry on the team.
The Seahawks look to be headed in the right direction. If they have another good draft, they could be poised to quickly become a serious contender in the NFC.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams are having a historic NFL season, going from winning the Super Bowl the year before to being one of the worst teams in the league, at 3-9 after 12 games. Even before Los Angeles suffered serious injuries to Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, the team was losing games. The NFL is designed for parity to be up one year and down the next, so the good news is the Rams could rebound next year. The trio of Stafford, Kupp and Donald should be shut down to protect their health for next season. In the 2023 offseason, the Rams have to improve their running game to have a shot at turning things around next year.
The Rams are without their first-round pick because of the Matthew Stafford trade with the Lions. If Los Angeles loses out, the team could end up picking No. 32 or No. 33 near the top of Round 2 in the 2023 NFL Draft – there is only 31 picks in the first round next April. That is still high enough where a first-round talent could slip to the Rams. Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs would be a superb addition of them and should be a perfect fit for Sean McVay’s offense. Gibbs is both a dynamic receiver and speed threat as a runner who would be a plug-and-play upgrade for the Los Angeles offense.
However, Gibbs may not get to the Rams high second-round pick. In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Rams taking UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet, and he would be another good fit. Charbonnet could pound the ball between the tackles because he is a tough runner who would bring physicality to the Rams offense. Charbonnet also is a good receiver for a big back. Aside from Charbonnet, Los Angeles could consider other second-day back prospects like Ole Miss’ Zach Evans, Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh and Texas A&M’s Devon Achane.
Perhaps Cam Akers will close the season well for the Rams and prove that he can be the lead back for 2023. If that were to happen, Los Angeles should pivot to improving the offensive line. The Rams could use help at tackle and guard. If they target a guard on Day 2, they could consider the likes of Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence, TCU’s Steve Avila, North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch or Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson. For an offensive tackle, Los Angeles could consider options like Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison, Washington’s Jaxon Kirkland or Oklahoma’s Wanya Morris.
The Rams have a good coaching staff with some elite players on both sides of the ball. The defense is tough, coached well, and talented. Los Angeles also has a franchise quarterback and an elite receiver. If the Rams improve their running game, they could have a huge rebound in 2023 and be right back as one of the best teams in the NFC contending for the Super Bowl.
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