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:
Detroit Lions: The Lions avoided a 0-17 season with a tie in Pittsburgh. A tie keeps Detroit holding onto the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, however. A few weeks ago, Detroit played the Rams tough on the road before Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter. While the Lions are 0-8-1, they had some bad breaks and lost to some crazy long field goals – Baltimore, Minnesota. Detroit has played better than the Texans, so it would not surprise me if the Lions win a few games in the back half of the year and end up picking high, but not first overall.
The Lions are deep in rebuilding mode after previous general manager Bob Quinn and previous head coach Matt Patricia did a terrible job of drafting. It will take some time for Detroit to rebuild the roster new general manager Brad Holmes and new head coach Dan Campbell inherited. Hence, it could be a long year for the Lions, but Holmes is a phenomenal talent evaluator who will build a talented team and the Lions are playing really hard for Campbell. This year is going to be painful, but Detroit has the staff to build a winner.
If the Lions land the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, what they do with it will depend on how Jared Goff plays this season. If Goff plays well enough, they could maybe trade down for a big package of picks. If Goff struggles, they could replace him with the top quarterback. Detroit has two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts, so the franchise already has good resources thanks to the haul that Holmes landed for Matthew Stafford. If the Lions don’t take a quarterback, wide receiver and edge rusher could be the top considerations.
Houston Texans: Houston had a bye this week. A few weeks ago, the Texans came close to the their second win of the season, but the Patriots won thanks to horrible special teams play by Houston. Clearly, the Texans are one of the worst teams in the NFL, and they are paying the price for Bill O’Brien ruining one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. With Deshaun Watson on his way out of town, finding the long-term franchise quarterback is the priority for Houston.
Top General Manager Candidates:
Top Head Coach Candidates:
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.
Miami Dolphins: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama 
Despite beating Texans a week ago, Miami’s offense struggled, with Myles Gaskin running for only 34 yards over 20 carries. Four days later, Gaskin was barely any better with 31 yards on 14 carries. Clearly, those are awful numbers, and Gaskin is really a backup quality back who can contribute as a receiving back while seeing occasional carries. Miami has to find an upgrade in the backfield for the 2022 season.
Robinson is having a breakout 2021 season, averaging 5.0 yards per carry for 823 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has 23 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns as well. Robinson (6-1, 225) has quickness and burst to get to the second level along with surprising athleticism and agility in the passing game for a big back. This season, Robinson has been a real riser with pro teams.
Sources say they there is a lot to like about Robinson. “He has low mileage,” said a director of player personnel. “He’s athletic, instinctive, and has size and power. Right now, he’s our top-rated back.” High in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Robinson could be a good value for the Dolphins.
Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M 
The Bills landed a game with the Jets at the perfect time, allowing them to blow out their division rival. Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis combined for almost 270 yards receiving as Buffalo rolled up 45 points. Once again, however, Buffalo’s running game underwhelmed with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. In the 2022 offseason, the Bills should find a more reliable productive back to provide more balance for their offense.
Spiller has averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 2021 for 873 yards and five touchdowns. He also has 21 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. Spiller ran hard for the Aggies as an underclassman. In 2020, Spiller averaged 5.6 yards per carry for 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns. Spiller averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2019 for 946 yards with 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Spiller is put together well with a nice combination of size, quickness, and the athleticism to contribute as a receiver. Spiller would be a nice value for the Bills in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Washington Redskins: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss 
Washington pulled off a shocking upset over the Buccaneers, intercepting Tom Brady twice and keeping the Tampa Bay offense under 20 points. The Redskins enjoyed Taylor Heinicke avoiding turnovers and giving the game back to the Bucs, but clearly Washington needs a long-term starting quarterback. Heinicke is a better fit as a backup in the NFL.
In 2021, Corral has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,774 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has 10 rushing touchdowns and 523 yards on the ground as well. Most of his production came against weak opponents. In 2020, Corral completed 71 percent of his passes for 3,337 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. It was a big improvement from 2019, when he completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,362 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
Corral has show good development under Lane Kiffin and is starting to realize the potential that made him a top recruit. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Corral has arm talent, is a dangerous runner, shows toughness and leadership ability, and possesses upside to continue to improve. Corral would be a good fit in Scott Turner’s offense, and he could make a lot of sense for Washington’s first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Dallas Cowboys: Nick Petit-Frere, LT, Ohio State 
Dallas rolled Atlanta even though the Cowboys rushing offense was not that effective. A few years ago, Dallas had one of the best offensive lines in the league, but injuries, retirement, and free agency have chipped away talent from the blocking front. Tyron Smith is aging, and the Cowboys could use their first-round pick for a long-term protector for Dak Prescott.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Petit-Frere won the starting right tackle job for the 2020 season and played really well. He was superb in pass protection, barely allowing any pressures all season. There were projections of the Tampa, Florida product being moved to left tackle for 2021 with senior Thayer Munford kicking inside to guard, and that is what has happened. Petit-Frere has played well thus far in 2021. He is a good athlete with quickness, athleticism and a strong build. After starting out his career at guard or right tackle, Petit-Frere could then replace Smith.
Tennessee Titans: Darian Kinnard, RT, Kentucky 
The Titans squeaked out a close win over the Saints, and Tennessee keeps finding ways to win. Marcus Davenport notched two sacks, and the Titans’ rushing attack is not the same without Derrick Henry. This offseason, it would make sense for Tennessee to find a right tackle upgrade after Isaiah Wilson was a bust. Kinnard would be a nasty run blocker and upgrade the team’s pass protection.
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Kinnard is a strong blocker with surprising quickness and athleticism. In 2021, Kinnard looks like he has trimmed weight and is moving better in space. Kinnard was an excellent contributor for the Wildcats in 2020. He is a massive beast at the point of attack who is a tough run blocker and plays with a mean streak. Kinnard was a tough run blocker in 2019, helping Lynn Bowden to a lot of success when running behind Kinnard and the right side of the offensive line. For the NFL, Kinnard’s best fit might come as a right tackle in a power-man scheme. He also could move inside to right guard as a pro. Kinnard would be a good value for the Titans late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross, LT, Mississippi State 
The Panthers rolled Arizona in the desert, but the Cardinals were without Kyler Murray for the second straight game. Carolina looked like a different team compared to recent weeks, and a big reason for that was Carolina not allowing a sack thanks to the offensive line playing much better. With J.J. Watt out, the Panthers went up against a weaker Arizona front. Carolina struggle offensively when taking on a good rush, so improving the pass protection and run blocking is critical in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Cross looks like a future starting left tackle in the NFL and has impressed team evaluators this season. Cross has excellent feet, athleticism, and the quickness to play on the edge. For the next level, sources say Cross needs to get stronger and bigger for taking on pro linemen, but that is not abnormal. They feel after a little developmental time, Cross could be a good pro left tackle. He could be a good first-round pick for the Panthers, provided they don’t use it on a quarterback.
Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame 
The Eagles rolled the Broncos on the road despite Jalen Hurts having an underwhelming performance as a passer. Philadelphia controlled the ball on the ground, putting up over 200 yards rushing. Denver had some success running the ball and passing to its tight ends. With one of their first-round picks, Hamilton would be a great fit for the Eagles. He could help them defend tight ends with his man-coverage skills and also is tremendous against the run.
The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Hamilton is a dynamic playmaker and difference maker. He has phenomenal size, speed, and athleticism to go along with instincts and intelligence. With his size and tackling ability, Hamilton is a highly impactful run defender who flies downhill and is capable of being the eighth man in the box. Hamilton’s speed and range allows to him to play as a free safety who locks down the deep part of the field. He also has man-coverage ability on tight ends. The only thing Hamilton does not look exceptional at is man coverage on slot receivers, but Hamilton has the skill set and upside to be one of the best safeties in the NFL.
In 2021, Hamilton has totaled 31 tackles, three interceptions and three passes defended. He has missed multiple games since suffering a knee injury suffered while tackling USC’s Drake London. Hamilton totaled 56 tackles, an interception and six passes broken up in 2020. He put together an excellent freshman season for Notre Dame, showing good ball skills with four interceptions and six passes broken up to go along with 41 tackles. Hamilton and Darius Slay could form one of the top cornerback-safety tandems in the NFL.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2020 NFL Draft.
Green Bay Packers: From the minute the Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they started the clock on the departure of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The expectation is that Rodgers will be traded this offseason and Love will take over in Green Bay come the 2022 season. Even though Rodgers is old, the Packers should get a big return in a trade of one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Green Bay’s priority of the 2022 offseason has to be helping Love by improving his weapons and adding more big-play talent to the supporting cast.
Superstar wide receiver Davante Adams is entering free agency, but even if he is re-signed, the Packers need more talent around him. Randall Cobb is a declining veteran, and the team’s other receivers are more backup quality. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Packers taking Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, who would be a plug-and-play upgrade for them. Williams is an explosive playmaker with speed to burn, as he will take the top off of defenses and is a threat to score on any reception. Williams would make a ton of sense in the first round for Green Bay.
Other first-round receiver options for the Packers would include Ohio State’s Chris Olave, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson and Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson. Olave is a well-rounded receiver who is a dangerous route-runner, scoring threat, and asset to get open for his quarterback. Dotson is a small speed receiver who is a deep threat with strong hands and a gritty style of play. Wilson is a fast receiver with game-breaking speed and good route-running. Arkansas’ Treylon Burks would be a great addition, but he will probably be off the board by the time the Packers are on the clock.
On Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft, Green Bay could double up at receiver and address other positions that help Love like tight end. Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer may not make it to the Packers’ second-round pick, so he might have to get late first-round consideration. Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar could be a tight end to target in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Packers could consider help at linebacker, especially if they were to trade down and out of the first round for multiple second-round selections. There could be some quality options for Green Bay in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, including LSU’s Damone Clark, Texas’ Demarvion Overshown, Alabama’s Christian Harris and Clemson’s James Skalski. It wouldn’t hurt the Packers to continue to add depth along the offensive line and in the secondary during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst has attached his career to Jordan Love panning out as a franchise quarterback to replace Rodgers. To help Love improve next season, adding more talent around him has to be the priority in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings will be a fascinating team to watch this offseason. The pressure to succeed is starting to build on head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman. Minnesota came close to going to the Super Bowl in the 2017 season, but since then the team has struggled. Much of the roster aged out, and now the Vikings have some serious needs to address in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have Minnesota taking Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who would help bolster the interior of the team’s defensive line. Spielman has a track record of success in taking edge rushers in the mid-rounds while using higher round picks on tackles. Davis is massive defender who would plug up rushing lanes and collapse the pocket to keep quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket. In the NFC North, Davis would be a real asset for defending against Aaron Jones, D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery. Aside from Davis, there could be some other interior tackles to consider in the first round like Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey or Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal.
Adding more young defensive end talent is worthy of consideration because the 2022 NFL Draft is strong for pass rushers. Among the options there are Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson, Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Purdue’s George Karlaftis and Georgia’s Travon Walker. The Vikings won’t be picking high enough for Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, but adding a young pass rusher is appealing for the long-term future.
Cornerback is another position of need because Spielman and Zimmer have blown a lot of picks on corners. Considering the Vikings used first-round picks on Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes and Jeff Gladney over the last six years, the position should not be a need. All three of them, however, are gone, with Hughes and Gladney being serious busts. Gladney was a predictable bust who other teams had graded much lower. Regardless, Minnesota needs cornerback help.
LSU’s Derek Stingley deserves a lot of consideration in the top 10, and depending on where the Vikings are picking in the 2022 NFL Draft, he could be a great understudy for Patrick Peterson. Beyond Stingley, other corners Minnesota could consider in Round 1 include Penn State’s Tariq Castro-Fields, Washington’s Trent McDuffie, Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner, Alabama’s Josh Jobe and Florida’s Kaiir Elam. There also should be solid cornerback options available in the second round, so the Vikings could wait for Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Vikings are under the gun to upgrade their roster quickly. Zimmer and Spielman have hitched their future to quarterback Kirk Cousins. While Cousins is a quality starter, he is not an elite quarterback, like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Pat Mahomes, capable of putting the team on on their back to carry them to a championship. Thus, Minnesota must put an elite roster around him to hope that the organization can win a Super Bowl with a Joe Flacco- or Eli Manning-caliber quarterback. The clock is ticking, and the Vikings must hit on their 2022 NFL Draft picks.
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