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:
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tennessee dropped the Jaguars to 0-5. New head coach Urban Meyer has received a rude welcome to the NFL, and clearly Jacksonville is a young team with a lot of holes on the roster. The team has been mismanaged for years, and that was given further illustration when the organization only got a third-round pick for C.J. Henderson who was the 9th-overall pick just a year ago. That is a terrible return on a top investment for the franchise, and shortly after that, the Meyer controversy hit. It remains to be seen if Meyer can win over a NFL locker room, but right now, it feels like the Jaguars made a mistake in hiring Meyer to lead the franchise.
Given the state of the Jacksonville roster along with a controversial coach who may not have credibility in the locker room, the team will probably be the top candidate to earn the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. If Jacksonville lands the top pick, it would make sense to trade down and load up on picks to help the rebuilding process.
Detroit Lions: Detroit lost to the Vikings on a long field goal on the final play of the game after almost pulling off a fourth quarterback in Minnesota. A few weeks ago, Baltimore needed a NFL record 66-yard field goal on the final play of the game to get the win in Detroit. The 0-5 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 the Lions have 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: 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 a long-term franchise quarterback is the priority for Houston.
New York Jets: The Jets were dropped by the Falcons in the United Kingdom as Zach Wilson struggled again. It will be interesting to see if the Jets made the right decision to dump Sam Darnold and start over with Wilson. They could have had Kyle Pitts to help Darnold, but alas, general manager Joe Douglas decided to deal Darnold and take Wilson. If the Jets were to land the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, they probably would look to trade down and load up on picks to help their rebuilding process.
New York Giants: The Giants lost to Dallas to fall to 1-4. It looks like it could be a long-year for New York . However, I’m not confident the Giants will be bad enough to land the No. 1 pick. If they were to land the No. 1 pick, it would mean that Daniel Jones probably has not panned out and they would look to replace him with a new quarterback.
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.
New Orleans Saints: Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma 
The New Orleans defense picked off Taylor Heinicke twice, and Jameis Winston threw four touchdown passes to lead New Orleans to a road win in Washington. The Saints have young talent at defensive end to go with Cam Jordan, but they could use an interior pass rusher after losing Sheldon Rankins last offseason. Winfrey would be a nice addition to improve the New Orleans defense.
Winfrey has recorded 16 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2021. He has a ton of upside to continue to improve becaise he is a fast and athletic interior rusher. Winfrey (6-3, 298) came on strong for Oklahoma late in the 2020 season. The junior college product has a really good skill set and has shown versatility by playing a variety of techniques for the Sooners in 2021. For the NFL, he would fit best as a three-technique pass rusher in a 4-3 defense, and that would make him a fit for New Orleans.
Tennessee Titans: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia 
The Titans ran over the Jaguars with Derrick Henry, who rolled the weak Jacksonville defense. Tennessee, however, struggled on defense once again, with James Robinson totaling for 149 yards on 18 carries while the Jaguars racked up almost 200 yards rushing. Along with improving their run defense, the Titans need more pass-rushing production. Walker would be a good addition because he is a tough run defender and capable pass rusher.
Scouts are buzzing about Walker, and he is shooting up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft. The junior is off to an impressive start in 2021, including a big performance against Clemson in the season opener. Thus far, he has 14 tackles and two sacks, but he has played better than those numbers indicate. Team sources say Walker is big, athletic, and has speed. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. They feel he is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside. Walker could be a superb addition to go with Jeffery Simmons.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri 
The Steelers got back into the win column even though they really struggled to stop Courtland Sutton and some of the Denver receivers, despite Denverw being without Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. Pittsburgh will probably have to devote its first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to quarterback or offensive line help, but on Day 2, the franchise could target more talent at cornerback.
Zaven Collins wasn’t the only Tulsa defender who jumped out in 2020, as Evans had a big season for Tulsa with 29 tackles and three passes broken up while showing blanket coverage. Evans also collected eight breakups over his previous seasons, and he could help himself by producing some interceptions as a senior. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Evans has good size, speed and athleticism. He transferred to Missouri for the 2021 season. In 2021, Evans has 14 tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles and two passes broken up. Evans would be a solid value pick for Pittsburgh on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama 
The Bucs have had issues at cornerback this season, and that led to them signing declining veteran Richard Sherman. Even if Carlton Davis is signed to an extension, Tampa Bay could use more cornerback talent to go with him. Late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jobe would be a nice fit for the Bucs thanks to his excellent skill set, although Jobe needs to develop his consistency.
Jobe has played well for Alabama so far in 2021, recording 12 tackles and two pass breakups. He has a good skill set and just has to grow more consistent. He collected 55 tackles, two sacks, 11 passes defended and two forced fumbles in 2020. In 2019, he notched 22 tackles, two passes broken up and an interception, but he looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential. Jobe (6-1, 189) is a big corner who can run and is athletic. Scouts say Jobe has everything you want physically, but they don’t like his inconsistency in coverage. Like Patrick Surtain II, Jobe was a rare freshman defensive back to see the field under Nick Saban. Jobe would be a nice talent for Todd Bowles to work with.
Minnesota Vikings: Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State 
The Vikings barely beat the Lions with a last-second field goal after Detroit took a late lead. Minnesota ramped up the pass rush on the Lions’ injury-ravaged offensive line, but at times, the Lions made some big plays through the air and had open receivers. Patrick Peterson is not a long-term corner for Detroit, while Jeff Gladney and Mike Hughes were busts as first-round picks. Hence, Minnesota needs more long-term cornerback talent.
Castro-Fields has played well in coverage this season, recording 13 tackles and two passes defended thus far. He had a couple of rough plays against Auburn from eye-discipline issues, but those are correctable. His best season came in 2019 when he had 52 tackles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up. Castro-Fields only played in three games in 2020 before going out for the season with an injury.
Castro-Fields (6-0, 197) has good size and the speed to run well in pre-draft workouts, so he could be a riser during the process leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft. Showing health and durability will important for him as a senior, but he has an excellent skill set to be an early-rounder. Castro-Fields is big, fast, capable of running the route to prevent separation, and has some ball skills. He does everything well and is a well-rounded cover corner. He would be a good fit in Minnesota.
Atlanta Falcons: Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State 
The Falcons went to London, and despite being without Calvin Ridley, they were able to drop the Jets, thanks to leaning on Kyle Pitts. The Atlanta defense exploited a struggling Zach Wilson and a Jets offense that struggled to accomplish anything through the air or on the ground. This season the Falcons’ defense has been inconsistent, and they could use more pass-rush talent from the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2021, Johnson has 44 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two passes batted. He has made big plays in both run defense and the pass rush for Florida State. Johnson’s high motor has enabled him to be all over the field for the Seminoles. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has good size and speed off the edge. With his strong play as a senior, Johnson is a rising prospect who is putting himself in early-round consideration. He would be a nice fit for Atlanta across from Dante Fowler.
Los Angeles Rams: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida 
The Rams got a tough road win in Seattle on Thursday night thanks to their offense havinf their way with the Seahawks’ vulnerable secondary. The Seahawks cut the deficit in the second half and jumped out to a lead thanks to touchdowns by D.K. Metcalf. While Los Angeles has an ace corner in Jalen Ramsey, the team could use more cornerback talent around him.
Elam has eight tackles, three passes broken up and an interception in 2021. Taking on Alabama, Elam was phenomenal, blanketing and shutting down future NFL receivers. He also played well in 2020, recording 39 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. The 6-foot-1, 187-pounder was fantastic as a freshman, flashing serious ball skills even though he had a part-time role. Elam has good height and length with enough quickness to become a potential starter. He could be a plug-and-play cornerback upgrade for the Rams as a No. 2 cornerback across from Ramsey. Elam would be an excellent value for Los Angeles in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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.
New England Patriots: Prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, Patriots owner Bob Kraft talked about how his team had not been drafting well in recent years and they needed to draft better. Kraft stated that he had said as much to Bill Belichick, and looking at recent drafts it easy to see why. For years, Belichick has blown some draft picks, and those poor results went under the radar because Tom Brady was so good, he could cover up the mistaken evaluations by Belichick. In order for the Patriots to get back into Super Bowl contention with Mac Jones, they are going to need to improve both sides of the ball significantly, including by drafting better starting in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The top need on New England’s roster over the past few years has been wide receiver, and the team clearly needs more playmakers. Jakobi Meyers is a No. 2 or 3 receiver. The same is true of Nelson Agholor, who the Patriots overpaid in free agency last spring. The Patriots need a difference-making No. 1 receiver who can make plays for Jones. In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the franchise could consider the likes of Clemson’s Justyn Ross, Ohio State’s Chris Olave, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson. None of those receivers may grade out as a top-10 pick, however, and that is where the Patriots are slated to pick. Dotson and some of that group could be early second-rounders who could help New England.
If there isn’t a receiver worthy of their first-round pick, the Patriots could consider help on defense. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Patriots taking Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis. New England could use a disruptor in the middle of the line and an interior pass rusher. Davis could give the Patriots an inside defensive-line presence they haven’t had since Vince Wilfork manned the middle. Aside from Davis, they could consider an interior pass rusher like Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey, provided he ends up grading out as a top-20 pick, but after taking Christian Barmore last year, it would make more sense for the Patriots to take a nose tackle like Davis.
The defensive backs are positions of need that New England should consider in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Stephon Gilmore was traded away, and J.C. Jackson is entering free agency. Some first-round cornerbacks of the Pariots to consider include LSU’s Derek Stingely, Penn State’s Tariq Castro-Fields and Washington’s Trent McDuffie. New England could consider a playmaking safety like Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton high in the first round as well. Hamilton and Kyle Dugger could be a dynamic long-term tandem.
The 2022 NFL Draft is going to have a huge impact on whether New England starts closing the gap with yjr AFC playoff teams or remains a team that lacks talent and struggles to compete. The Patriots could have a high first-round pick for the first time in decades, and they need to start drafting well immediately.
Seattle Seahawks: After their loss to the Rams thanks to an injury to Russell Wilson and a struggling defense, this could end up being a lost season for Seattle. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, they don’t have their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which is going to the Jets thanks to the Jamal Adams trade. Assuming Wilson stays with the franchise, Seattle will always be a playoff contender and a team capable of going deep in the postseason thanks to its franchise quarterback. Adding talent to the defense has to be the top priority though.
There are some significant holes on the Seahawks’ roster heading into 2022, but the biggest need could be at cornerback. The 2022 NFL Draft is a strong draft for cornerback talentm and Seattle could have some good values available in the second round. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Seahawks taking Texas A&M cornerback Myles Jones. He is a big cornerback who is a good fit for the Seahawks’ scheme and has the size, speed, and ability to play press man. There should be other good cornerback options in the second round including Florida’s Kaiir Elam, Alabama’s Jalyn Armour-Davis, Auburn’s Roger McCreary, Missouri’s Akayleb Evans and Virginia Tech’s Jermaine Waller .
Aside from cornerback, Seattle could consider more defensive end talent. Three years into his career, L.J. Collier has three sacks, and he is really just a tough defender. Carlos Dunlap is also nearing the end of his career, so getting a young pass rusher is a necessity. A lack of pass rush exposes the secondary even more, so doing a better job of getting after the quarterback would help the Seahawks’ vulnerable cornerbacks. In the second round, Seattle could consider players like Florida’s Zach Carter and Virginia Tech’s Amaré Barno. There also is a group of ends who are in the first round of my mock but may end up becoming more of second-day prospects when all is said and done. That group could include Purdue’s George Karlaftis, LSU’s Ali Gaye and USC’s Drake Jackson.
Other positions that could warrant consideration from Seattle include offensive line help and tight end. If the Seahawks don’t improve their defense, however, they are going to have a hard time winning games against division rivals like the Rams and Cardinals. The 49ers could take a leap forward provided Trey Lance develops. Seattle’s 2022 NFL Draft has to be focused on improving the talent of the defense. If the Seahawks can achieve a quick improvement to their defense, Wilson could have make in the postseason in a hurry.
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