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.
Blow For Bridgewater/Lay Down for the Clown:
There will be a lot of turnover as the season progresses in the positioning of which team will land the No. 1-overall pick to have the first shot at Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater or South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Here are the top contenders following the Week 8 action.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars are just as bad in the United Kingdom as they are in the States. The 49ers blew them out 42-10, and Jacksonville is now halfway to going 0-16. The question is if the new Jaguars regime will survive if the squad goes winless this season.
Jacksonville general manager David Caldwell gave the team’s fan base reason to doubt him when he stuck with Blaine Gabbert as his quarterback, saying Gabbert needed better coaching and always thought he was a 3-year developmental project. Nobody else is shocked that Gabbert still sucks. Apparently, the analytics from Shad Khan’s son were useless. Caldwell didn’t bring in another quarterback option, and the Jaguars look destined for a miserable season. They traded away Eugene Monroe, so despite drafting Luke Joeckel, they still have a big hole at offensive tackle.
Jacksonville has to move on from Gabbert, and the organization would definitely take a quarterback if it lands the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. However with Joeckel on the blind side, general manager David Caldwell might draft another Texas A&M right tackle with a top-two pick for the second straight year. Hello, Jake Matthews!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay lost 31-13 to the Panthers on Thursday night. The Buccaneers are 0-7 and I don’t think Mike Glennon will propel the team to a lot of wins this season. Tampa Bay looks poised to land a high pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
If Glennon doesn’t play well, the Buccaneers could draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay almost certainly will have a new regime that doesn’t have any loyalty to Glennon. Head coach Greg Schiano is 1-12 in his last 13 games and is 7-16 overall. General manager Mark Dominik is 24-47 running the team and is approaching Matt Millen territory. Either Schiano or Dominik, or both, could be fired at any time and it would be a surprise to no one.
The Bucs seem to be settled into a culture of losing as they are on track to finish in last place for the fourth time in the five years since firing Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen. A quarterback is the most likely target for Tampa Bay’s first-round pick.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings were topped by the Packers. Minnesota season got off to an 0-3 start before beating the Steelers “at home” – in London – in Week 4. At 1-6 with weak quarterback play, the Vikings look poised to be picking in the top five of the 2014 NFL Draft.
If Josh Freeman plays well enough to be re-signed, Minnesota could go after Clowney as a replacement for impending free agent Jared Allen. If Freeman doesn’t play well, the Vikings will have to target a franchise quarterback and hope that the talented redshirt sophomores of Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and UCLA’s Brett Hundley enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
New York Giants: The Giants improved to 2-6 after winning their second-straight game. After topping Minnesota, New York was able to go to Philadelphia six days later and beat the Eagles 15-7.
If the Giants end up with a pick at the top of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, they would go with Clowney or maybe an offensive tackle like Matthews. It would be a tough decision for general manager Jerry Reese.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons hopes of going on a run took a serious hit with a loss to the Cardinals. Atlanta had a lot of change in the offseason and the team has greatly missed John Abraham this year. The injury to Julio Jones was the final straw as the Falcons are too far behind the eight ball in the deep NFC.
Atlanta could use a pass-rusher, and it make a lot of sense for the Falcons to go after Clowney or UCLA’s Anthony Barr. Either of those players would be a huge acquisition for the Falcons. They need a defensive franchise player.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh seemed to be circling the wagons after winning two straight, but came up short in an attempted comeback in Oakland. The Steelers have had problems controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball this season. That was an issue, once again, in the loss to the Raiders.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line had been better of late until playing Oakland. If the Steelers could get an elite left tackle, it could make a big difference for their offensive line. Mike Adams could compete at right tackle. Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan would make a lot of sense for Pittsburgh.
Houston Texans: The Texans were off this week as they try to figure out how to snap their five-game losing streak. If Houston can get quarterback, it could make a huge difference for the franchise. Texans general manager Rick Smith has to hope that the redshirt sophomores enter the 2014 NFL Draft. It would also make sense for the Texans to trade down to target a quarterback like Clemson’s Tajh Boyd.
If a signal-caller isn’t available, Houston could look to get a pass-rusher to go on the other side from Whitney Mercilus. The Texans also could consider a wide receiver if a special talent is available; Andre Johnson won’t play forever.
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.
Kansas City Chiefs: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson 
The Chiefs improved to 8-0 on the season with the win over the Browns. Kansas City’s excellent defense and efficient quarterback play has been a recipe for winning this season. However, the Chiefs’ wide receivers continue to be a weakness. Against Cleveland, Dexter McCluster (7-67) and Jamaal Charles (5-46) were Kansas City’s leading receivers. Dwayne Bowe (1-7) was a non-factor. The Chiefs could use a more reliable receiver to move the chains for Alex Smith.
Kansas City could consider a receiver like Jordan Matthews. The organization could potentially trade down from the first round or up into the second round to get him. In 2013, Matthews has 66 receptions for 890 yards with five touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 206-pounder is extremely polished with his route-running and works the short to intermediate part of the field really well. He could be a nice fit in Andy Reid’s offense. Matthews has the most receiving yards in SEC history.
New York Giants: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina 
New York had four sacks against the Eagles, but two of them came on blitzes from the secondary. If the Giants keep winning, they aren’t going to get a shot at Clowney, but he would be a great fit in their defense. He could make Jason Pierre-Paul’s job a lot easier, and offenses would be hard-pressed to double-team both of them.
The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Clowney could be a dominant force and remind Giants fans of the good old days with Lawrence Taylor. In 2013, Clowney has 24 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks, but he has caused a lot of changes in game plans and still has showcased a ton of ability to be a devastating pass-rusher. If New York stops winning, landing Clowney would be possible.
Arizona Cardinals: Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State 
Even though the Cardinals took care of business against the Falcons, Arizona allowed the Falcons interior defensive linemen to record three sacks. The Cardinals have missed rookie guard Jonathan Cooper, but they need to continue to build up their offensive line.
If Arizona could add Jackson in the second round of next May’s draft, that would be a good addition. Having Jackson at right guard would give the team a road-grader to charge straight ahead with the athletic Cooper doing what he does best in pulling from left guard. Those two could be an excellent tandem to open up holes for Andre Ellington. Jackson (6-4, 340) has been one of the best interior linemen over the SEC the past few years. He could be a nice value pick.
Denver Broncos: Zack Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame 
The Broncos’ offense can have stretches where they’re unstoppable, but they can have issues when pressure is getting to Peyton Manning. With the all injuries that have hit Denver’s line, it would make sense for the team to add some more talent to protect him. The Broncos could land a nice value in Martin on the second day of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-4, 308-pounder would be perfect for Denver. He could end up being a starter at guard or right tackle, but also could move to left tackle if Ryan Clady is injured again. Martin has been a reliable pass-protector and a quality run-blocker during his career. If the Broncos could land him in the second round, he could be a valuable addition.
Detroit Lions: Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina 
The Lions pulled out a last minute win over Dallas thanks to record-setting performances by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Detroit’s defense didn’t play poorly, but Tony Romo did have three touchdown passes. The Lions were unable to sack Romo, and it would make sense for Detroit to add another pass-rusher on the second day of the 2014 NFL Draft to go on the other side from Ezekiel Ansah.
Detroit’s defensive line has some great athletes and Martin would fit right in. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder is fast and has some natural strength. He just hasn’t played up to his talent level all the time. Martin has 4.5 sacks with 47 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss in 2013. He would be a scheme fit who could flourish playing on the same line as Ansah and Ndamukong Suh.
Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M 
Even though the Raiders took care of business against the Steelers, Terrelle Pryor didn’t have a good game passing the ball. Oakland could help its young quarterback this offseason by getting him a big receiver who also has the ability to make some plays downfield. Evans would be perfect.
Evans has been the best receiver in college football this year; he has been absolutely dominant. Evans has 48 receptions for 1,101 yards (22.9 average) with 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder has great size, leaping ability and body control. All year, he has used those skills to make long receptions downfield over defensive backs. Evans looks like a No. 1 receiver for the NFL in the mold of a Vincent Jackson.
Carolina Panthers: Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee 
The Panthers are legitimate playoff contenders this season thanks to more consistent play out of Cam Newton and the return of a contributing running game. However in the long run, Carolina needs a tackle to protect Newton as Jordan Gross is aging and won’t play forever. The Panthers have to address offensive tackle, wide receiver and the secondary in the offseason. Getting Richardson in the first round would be a good start.
Richardson has proven to be an excellent pass-blocker the past two seasons of SEC play. He hasn’t been perfect, but he is extremely reliable as a blind-side protector. Overall, Richardson did very well in two matchups against Jadeveon Clowney. It would be good if Richardson got more consistent in his run blocking, but he looks like he could be a dependable left tackle in the NFL and could play quickly. Richardson would be a nice value pick in the mid- to late first round.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2014 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots: New England got a much needed win over Miami, and the Patriots look like they will once again make the playoffs. However, New England has some flaws and still doesn’t look like a team that can navigate the AFC playoffs and get back to the Super Bowl. The Patriots could end up losing another opportunity in their championship window with Tom Brady. Still, Brady is playing well enough to win another Lombardi, so if New England can reload, the franchise could see Brady cap his Hall of Fame career with a fourth ring.
The first issue for the Patriots to address is improving the weapons for Tom Brady. The team is sorely missing Aaron Hernandez. New England needs an athletic tight end who can be used in a variety of ways. A perfect replacement would be North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron. He would be a great complement to Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots would have to use their first-round pick to get Ebron. If Ebron is gone, Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins would be a good Plan B.
Allowing Wes Welker to leave has backfired as the injury-prone Danny Amendola has been a huge drop off. New England has some young receivers, but adding another wouldn’t be a bad idea. If the organization is looking for a Welker- or Amendola-type wide out, Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis could be a fit on the second day of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Patriots need to re-sign Aqib Talib, as he has been a tremendous addition to their defense. They also have struggled to evaluate and draft cornerbacks. If Talib leaves in free agency, the team will have to consider a cornerback early.
Another option for the second day would be defensive tackle. It is amazing that the Texans and Buccaneers cut rookie Chris Jones, as he has 4.5 sacks for New England since being signed. However, Jones is a pass-rush specialist and Vince Wilfork is aging while coming off a serious knee injury. A player New England could consider for Day 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft would be Tennessee defensive tackle Daniel McCullers. He is a massive plugger who would occupy blockers to help keep the Patriots’ linebackers free.
In the late rounds, New England could also use some offensive line help and could draw on a strong quarterback class with an understudy to Brady. Perhaps the Patriots could get a quality second-day pick for backup Ryan Mallett.
If New England can make some astute moves to reload some weapons for Brady, it seems very possible that he could close out his career with a Super Bowl championship a la John Elway.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Once again, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become the laughingstock of the NFL. The Bucs have consistently produced losses on Sundays and last place finishes in the NFC South under general manager Mark Dominik. To make matters worse, they have a hated head coach in Greg Schiano. As stated above, Schiano is 1-12 in his last 13 games and is 7-16 overall, while Dominik is 24-47 running the team. Tampa Bay is well on its way to finishing in last place for the fourth time in five years under Dominik. The Bucs’ owners, the Glazers, need to clean house and bring in a general manager and head coach who know what they’re doing and what it takes to win in the NFL.
Dominik and Schiano were both novices who were unprepared to do their jobs at the NFL level. The Glazers have botched their hires since firing Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen. Each time the owners tried to hire up-and-coming candidates, but clearly had bad judgement with those predictions. Since the Glazers have struggled to identify those kind of candidates, the family should go with some proven winners at coach and general manager. Bill Polian or Jerry Angelo would make sense as general manager candidates. Bringing Lovie Smith in to be the head coach would work if he can bring with him an offensive coordinator who is in it for the long haul and not looking for Tampa Bay to be a stepping-stone to a head coaching job. A Tom Moore or Monte Kiffin type offensive coordinator candidate is what Smith or any defensive head coach would need.
Tampa Bay’s roster has a lot of needs. Dominik spent early-round picks on quarterback and defensive ends/linemen, yet those are the biggest needs on the team. The Buccaneers have to get a franchise quarterback. Mike Glennon could be a quality backup, but he isn’t going to be good enough to go head to head with and beat Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton. A quarterback who can compete with those stars is what Tampa Bay has to have in order to be a consistent playoff contender. If the Bucs are in position to draft Teddy Bridgewater or Marcus Mariota, a signal-caller has to be the pick.
Defensively, Tampa Bay doesn’t have an edge rush. Simeon Rice was the last of Buc to have double-digit sacks and that happened in 2005. If there isn’t a franchise quarterback available at Tampa Bay’s pick, the organization should look to land Jadeveon Clowney, Anthony Barr or the top pass-rusher available. If the Buccaneers know they will land a quarterback by picking first or second, they also could consider going the free agent route by signing a young veteran like the Bengals’ Michael Johnson to upgrade the pass rush.
Other than those needs, the team has big holes at tight end and slot receiver. Tampa Bay also could use a nickel cornerback and some competition for Johnthan Banks as the No. 2 corner. The Bucs need depth throughout the roster, especially at wide receiver, the offensive line and defensive line. In a year or two, Tampa Bay will also want to consider a replacement for Donald Penn, but the franchise has more pressing needs at quarterback and pass-rusher.
However, the most important aspects to rebuilding the Bucs are finding a competent general manager and head coach to take the franchise in a winning direction. The current losing culture in Tampa Bay is reminiscent of the dismal stretch from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
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