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: Detroit almost upset the Bears, but a field goal on the last play of the game gave Chicago the win. The Lions have avoided a 0-17 season thanks to forcing a tie in Pittsburgh, and that tie keeps them holding onto the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Detroit played the Rams tough on the road earlier in the season, before Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter. While the Lions are 0-10-1, they have had some bad breaks and alsolost to some crazy long field goals – Baltimore, Minnesota.
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 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 Jets dropped the Texans, and Houston could easily lose out the rest of its games. The Texans recently notched their second win of the season by shockingly upsetting the Titans. That win left the Detroit Lions with a comfortable lead for the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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 has to be the priority for Houston.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have two wins and an outside chance of landing the No. 1-overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. If Jacksonville were to land the top spot, it would make sense to trade down and add a bounty of picks to help build around Trevor Lawrence.
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: Zamir White, RB, Georgia 
The Dolphins rolled the Panthers in Miami thanks to a dominating performance from the defense. Jaylen Waddle also had a huge day, and Tua Tagovailoa played well. While Myles Gaskin picked up two rushing touchdowns, he totaled less than 50 yards on 16 carries. Clearly, Gaskin is more of a No. 2 back for the NFL and Miami could use a feature back for its offense.
White has split carries in the crowded – as usual – Georgia backfield, but he has impressed in his limited opportunities. Teams sources say they are grading White on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft and think he could be a starter in the NFL. The 6-foot, 215-pounder has a good combination of size and speed. Additionally, he will enter the NFL with fresh legs due to the Georgia backfield platoon. In 2021, White has averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 691 yards and 10 touchdowns. He would be a quality second-round pick for Miami.
Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia The Falcons cruised over the Jaguars, but Atlanta’s run defense had some struggles with James Robinson, who totaled 86 yards on 17 carries. Atlanta could use more size and physicality on the inside of the defensive line. Adding big presence on the inside could also help the Falcons’ edge rushers.
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound Davis is a mountain of a man with unique speed and athleticism. Team sources compare him to Albert Haynesworth and John Henderson as a run stuffer that can help collapse the pocket in the pass rush.
Davis had an excellent game against Clemson to open 2021. He was a beast at the point of attack and led the Bulldogs’ tremendous run defense against the Tigers. Davis notched three tackles and a sack, but the numbers don’t illustrate how big of a force he was for Georgia. He has 24 tackles and two sacks thus far in 2021. In the mid portion of the first round, Davis could be a solid pick for the Falcons.
New York Giants: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State 
The Giants’ defense dominated Philadelphia exposing the passing limitations of Jalen Hurts. Even with the help of Hurts’ three interceptions, New York struggled to anything on offense because Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley were held in check. Barkley is signed for the 2022 season, but after all his injuries, he does not look like the same player that he was as a rookie in 2018. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Giants could add some running back talent on Day 2 to have a starter in place if Barkley does not stay healthy and produce a massive 2022 season.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hall is a physical runner who has been a huge point producer for Iowa State this year. To put a cap on the regular season, Hall torched TCU for 242 yards and three touchdowns on only 18 carries. This year, Hall has averaged 5.8 yards per carry for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns. On top of being a tough runner, Hall has been a productive receiver out of the backfield as well, turning 36 catches into 302 yards and three scores. Hall was impressive in 2020 as well, averaging 5.6 yards per carry for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also had 23 catches for 180 yards and two scores that season.
Hall has impressed team sources, and they think he could provide some nice value as a mid-round pick. He would make a lot of sense for the Giants early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
New York Jets: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama 
The Jets’ defense was phenomenal in the second half against Houston, leading their team to their first road win of the season. Zach Wilson struggled in the first half before playing better in the final two quarters, but the Jets do not have a consistent rushing attack to help their young quarterback. Even with Michael Carter, New York could use a power back to go with Carter and set up more favorable down-and-distance situations.
Robinson is having a breakout 2021 season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has 29 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns. 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. High in the second round, Robinson could be an excellent pick who provides the Jets with a big bang for their buck.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Jobe, CB, Florida 
The Bills lost Tre’Davious White to a torn ACL, which was a huge blow to the their defense. Last April, Buffalo was targeting Eric Stokes in the first round before he was snatched away by Green Bay. The Bills could use more cornerback talent to go with White, and now with White coming off a serious injury, they could use more cornerback talent to help their defense.
Thus far in 2021, Jobe has notched 31 tackles, four passes broken up and two interceptions. He has played well for Alabama, but he really struggled with Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, who burned him multiple times for huge plays and touchdowns. Jobe collected 55 tackles, two sacks, 11 passes defended and two forced fumbles in 2020. Like Patrick Surtain II, Jobe was a rare freshman defensive back to see the field under Nick Saban and recorded 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. Those issues could be coached up by Sean McDermott and his staff to be develop Jobe into a solid starter.
Las Vegas Raiders: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida The Raiders got a huge road win in Dallas on Thanksgiving thanks to Derek Carr leading leading his offense over the Cowboys defense. Las Vegas offensive coordinator Greg Olson called a great game, spreading the ball around to rack up a lot of yards and points in the overtime thriller. The Raiders defense, however, couldn’t hold leads and clearly needs more secondary talent. General manager Mike Mayock had a first-round pick in Damon Arnette go bust, and Casey Hayward is not a long-term starter at this point of his career. Additionally, Hayward is hitting free agency after the season. Thus, the Raiders have to address cornerback in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2021, Elam has 27 tackles, three passes broken up and an interception. He 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 quickness. He could stand to fill out his frame, but considering he is only a true junior, he the time to do it. With his skill set and upside, he could be a very good pro. Elam could be a quality pick for Las Vegas in the back half of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Chicago Bears: Chasen Hines, G, LSU 
The Bears barely won in Detroit, and it took a lot of questionable calls by the officials to help Chicago. Offensively, the Bears struggled against a vulnerable Lions defense, and clearly Chicago needs to improve the offensive line to protect Justin Fields.
Hines (6-3, 349) is a heavy interior blocker who is a large load at the point of attack. He was a bright spot alongside Ed Ingram in 2020 and 2021, impressing team evaluators. For the NFL, it would help Hines to lose some weight and improve his ability to handle speed rushers, but he is a strong blocker at the point of attack with upside. Some sources believe Hines could have second-day potential for the 2022 NFL Draft. He could be a plug-and-play starter for Chicago.
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 Orleans Saints: The Saints season went down the toilet when Jameis Winston went out for the season. New Orleans’ backup quarterbacks are not capable of leading the team to the playoffs, and at this point, it would help the organization to lose out to improve its draft positioning. The franchise should shut down the injured Alvin Kamara, which would also protect him from a late injury that could linger into the 2022 season. New Orleans has a good defense with talent on offense, so a quick turnaround next year from this lost season is entirely possible.
The first big decision for the Saints will be what to do at quarterback. They could seek to re-sign Winston and stick with him as their starting quarterback, or they also could look to the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, with prospects like Liberty’s Malik Willis, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett. Of that group, Corral might be the best scheme fit for Sean Payton, but Payton has seemed more inclined to work with a veteran. It would not be surprising if New Orleans sticks with Winston as the starter in 2022.
If the Saints go with Winston, one of the top needs on the roster will be getting some receiving weapons. Michael Thomas missed the 2022 season, and it could be hard to rely on him next year. Even if Thomas comes back healthy, the Saints need more receiving weapons around him. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Saints taking Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who would be a great addition for them. Wilson is a playmaker who is a threat to score on any reception as he is extremely fast, tremendous after the catch, and a smooth route runner to create separation. Aside from Wilson, the Saints could consider other wide receivers like Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Penn State’s Jahan Dotson.
Defensively, the Saints could use sone young talent on the inside of their line. Sheldon Rankins left in free agency, and New Orleans could use a disruptor on the inside. In the first round, the Saints could consider Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis, who could eat up blocks to free up their edge rushers and linebackers. Other early-round candidates who could provide New Orleans with some interior pass rush include Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey and Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal.
If the Saints have Winston back next fall, they could bounce back and be a serious contender in the NFC. They also could consider trading a bounty of draft picks for a veteran quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson. This will be a fascinating offseason in New Orleans because the team could be on the cusp of being a dangerous contender despite the lost 2021 season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: With their talented veteran team, the Bucs are on track to win the NFC South and make a play at repeating as Super Bowl Champions. As long as Tom Brady is foiling Father Time, Tampa Bay will be in the mix for the Super Bowl; the organization just needs to add talent around him. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bucs could address a few needs, but they also have the luxury of also considering to select the best player available.
In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Buccaneers taking Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe, and that would make sense for Tampa Bay. Veteran Carlton Davis is hitting free agency, but even if he’s re-signed, the Bucs could use more talent around him. Jobe has an excellent skill set with size, speed and athleticism. He struggles with inconsistency in coverage, however, and he doesn’t play the ball well downfield. Those were similar issues for Trevon Diggs at Alabama. Picking late any first round, you don’t get flawless prospects, but Jobe has the skill set of a high first-rounder and Todd Bowles could coach him up for the NFL. Aside from Jobe, the Bucs could consider the likes of Florida’s Kaiir Elam, Auburn’s Roger McCreary, Alabama’s Jalyn Armour-Davis or Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr.
Offensively, the top need on the Tampa Bay roster could be running back – depending on how free agency unfolds. Leonard Fournette and Robert Jones are hitting the open market. If Fournette leaves, Tampa Bay will have a big hole to fill. Late in the first round, the organization could consider the likes of Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr., who would be an excellent weapon as a three-down starter. In the second round, Tampa Bay could target running back prospects like Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller and Georgia’s Zamir White.
If the Buccaneers lose both Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown in free agency, wide receiver would be a top position to consider. Late in the first round, speedster wideouts like Penn State’s Jahan Dotson or Ohio State’s Chris Olave could be top targets. Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, Alabama’s Jameson Williams and Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson could all be off the board, but if any of them fell to Tampa Bay, one of them would be an excellent value if either Godwin or Brown is gone.
The Bucs have other minor needs to consider like defensive tackle, where Ndamukong Such can’t play forever. Tight end could be a need if they lose some veterans.
As long as Brady continues to play at a high level, the Buccaneers will be Super Bowl contenders. If they fall short this year, they could reload and be right back to championship caliber in 2022.
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