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]
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Race for the No. 1 Pick:
Detroit Lions: Detroit was dropped on the road by the Broncos, although the Lions were decimated, with their best offensive players being ruled out.
A week ago, the Lions got their first win of the season by dropping the Vikings to avoid a winless season. Detroit maintains the No. 1 pick with the loss. While the Lions are 1-11-1, they had some bad breaks and lost 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.
Holmes and Campbell will have a tough decision to make regarding taking Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett to replace Goff, or look to land Goff’s replacement in the 2023 NFL Draft. Clearly, Goff is not the long-term starter. If the Lions don’t take a quarterback, edge rusher could be the top consideration with Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux or Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson being the top candidates.
Houston Texans: The Seahawks dropped the Texans, and Houston could easily lose out from here. The Texans two wins this year, with their most recent being a shocking upset of the Titans. That win left the Lions with a comfortable lead for the No. 1 pick. 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.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have two wins and a chance of landing the No. 1-overall pick for the second year in a row. 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.
Denver Broncos: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida 
The Broncos cruised over the Lions at home, blowing them out by 28 points. At times, Detroit had success throwing the ball on the Denver secondary, and that was without the Lions having their best players on offense. Adding a cornerback to go with Patrick Surtain would make sense for the Broncos because Kyle Fuller is not a long-term starter.
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 selection for one of Denver’s second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers: Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama 
The 49ers won an overtime thriller on the road in Cincinnati, and it was a huge win to help strengthen San Francisco’s hold on a wild-card spot. Cincinnati was able to tie the game late with a touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase and put up the first points in overtime when Joe Burrow connected with his receivers. In the offseason, San Francisco needs to add some cornerback help, and the team could have some quality options available in the second round.
Armour-Davis is a big cornerback who has a good skill set. In 2021, he has three interceptions, 30 tackles and four passes defended. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder could improve as he gains experience. Armour-Davis won the starting cornerback spot opposite Josh Jobe as the replacement for Patrick Surtain. Armour-Davis has been a solid cover corner this season, showing some size, ball skills, athleticism and quickness. He would be a solid second-round pick for the 49ers.
Tennessee Titans: Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky 
The Jaguars are a mess under Urban Meyer, and the Titans just shut them out 20-0. Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions against the Titans and made the job easy for the Tennessee offense. The Titans have had major issues in pass protection this season, so even with Lawrence’s help, Ryan Tannehill was sacked four times by the Jaguars. Tennessee is paying the price for general manager Jon Robinson taking bust Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The franchise badly needs more offensive line talent.
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 would be an excellent second-round pick for Tennessee.
Atlanta Falcons: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State 
The Falcons grabbed an eight point win in Carolina to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Both offenses had some struggles, and the Atlanta passing attack has really missed Calvin Ridley. Russell Gage was the Falcons’ leading receiver despite having only four catches for 64 yards. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Falcons should look to grab a receiving weapon to pair with Kyle Pitts.
Dotson provided some huge plays to lead Penn State to the road upset over Wisconsin to open 2021, but it would have been a prolific game if Dotson had a competent quarterback to work with. He was wide open for would-be touchdowns of over 80 yards, 70 yards and 60 yards, but terrible passes by Sean Clifford blew those opportunities. Dotson’s stat line of five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown does not tell the story of how phenomenal he was. He made string of acrobatic leaping grabs to help beat Auburn as well. In 2021, Dotson has 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Team sources say they compare Dotson to Elijah Moore as a late first-round or second-round talent. “I see Jahan similar to Elijah Moore,” said an AFC director of college scouting. “He’s not quite as short-area explosive or as long-speed fast as Jaylen Waddle, but Jahan is a good player.” Dotson would be a great addition to the Atlanta offense with one of their second-round picks.
Kansas City Chiefs: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State 
The Chiefs cruised over the reeling Raiders, with the Kansas City defense suffocating the Las Vegas offensive line. The Chiefs’ offense went through a bit of a funk this season, but they seem to have come out of it in time to get rolling for the postseason. In the offseason, it would make sense to add an offensive tackle to go with Patrick Mahomes. The Raiders put some hits and heat on Mahomes, and obviously that protection issue was part of Kansas City losing the Super Bowl last year.
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. Late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Cross could be an excellent value to land a bookend tackle for Kansas City to pair with Orlando Brown.
New Orleans Saints: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State 
The Saints defense led their team to the road win in New Jersey, dropping the Jets to 3-10 on the season. Zach Wilson completed less than half of his passes, and New Orleans completely shut down the Jets rushing offense, holding them to 78 yards. Alvin Kamara (27-120-1) was superb in his return to the field, but once again New Orleans’ lack of wide receiver talent was evident with tight end Nick Vannett (3-44) ending up as the team’s leading receiver. Adding wide receiver talent is necessary even if Michael Thomas returns to the team next year.
Wilson has continued to show his game-breaking speed and electrifying playmaking ability this season. He runs smooth routes, showing suddenness in-and-out of his breaks to consistently generate separation. Along with being fast playmaker, Wilson has good body control to adjust to the ball and is phenomenal after the catch. A lot of scouts feel Wilson is smoother and more explosive than Chris Olave for the next level.
In 2021, Wilson has 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 193-pounder was a big-play weapon for Ohio State in 2020. The sophomore had 43 receptions for 687 yards and six touchdowns. After only four games, Wilson surpassed his freshman year production (30-432-5), and he seemed to become Justin Fields’ most trusted receiver during the 2020 season.
Minnesota Vikings: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati 
The Vikings got out to a huge lead before Pittsburgh ripped off 28 points in the second half to make it a one-score win for Minnesota. Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdowns passes and almost pulled off a remarkable comeback. Minnesota has had cornerback issues this year, and those were evident in the Lions’ comeback win over the Vikings in Week 13. Mike Hughes and Jeff Gladney were busts, while Patrick Peterson won’t play forever. The Vikings need more young talent at corner.
Gardner (6-3, 200) is a tall cornerback who has good length to battle outside receivers in the NFL. To go along with his size, sources say Gardner is fast and has ball skills, but he is a little raw. Over the past three seasons, Gardner has been a productive and steady cover corner. In 2019, he collected 31 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended. In 2020, he had 28 stops, three interceptions and nine passes broken up. Thus far in 2021, Gardner has 35 stops, three interceptions and four passes batted. He could be a No. 1 corner for Mike Zimmer’s defense.
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.
Cleveland Browns: The Browns have had a disappointing season, and there is a lot of criticism for quarterback Baker Mayfield occupying a lot of headlines. Quarterbacks often get too much blame, and too much praise, but this will be a critical offseason to give Mayfield more support for his make-or-break fifth season in the NFL.
Mayfield will be in the last year of his contract in 2022, and it does not make sense to reward him with a mega long-term extension. It would make more sense to let him play out his contract, and Cleveland can always franchise tag Mayfield if necessary. To help Mayfield in 2022, the Browns have to improve their wide receivers. Odell Beckham Jr. did not work out for Cleveland, and adding more receiving playmakers is a necessity for the team. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Browns taking Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who could be a plug-and-play upgrade for them. He is an explosive playmaker with run-after-the-catch ability and the speed to get open. Wilson would be a great fit in the Cleveland offense and is used to playing in Ohio’s climatic conditions.
Other first-round wide receivers to consider include Kentucky’s Wan’Dale Robinson, USC’s Drake London, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Alabama’s Jameson Williams. London and Burks are big possessional receivers, while Wilson, Robinson and Williams are speed-mismatch threats. On Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft, there could be good value picks in the form of Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Maryland’s Dontay Demus and Boston College’s Zay Flowers.
Aside from wide receiver, Cleveland could use more talent along the defensive line. Jadeveon Clowney has played well for the Browns, but he is entering free agency. If Clowney is not re-signed, that will open up a large hole across from Myles Garrett. The Browns could consider first-round defensive ends like Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson or Purdue’s George Karlaftis if they fall within range. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Browns taking Houston’s Logan Hall in the second round. Other options for Day 2 who could be worth considering include Florida’s Zachary Carter, Ole Miss’ Sam Williams and Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald. Some defensive tackles to consider on the second day of the 2022 NFL Draft include Alabama’s Phidarian Mathis and Georgia’s DeVonte Wyatt.
In a perfect world, it could make sense for the organization to re-sign Clowney, take a wide receiver in the first round, and then add more depth across the roster on Days 2 and 3. The Browns could consider doubling up at wide receiver because there will be some good receivers available on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft. This is a huge offseason for Cleveland and Mayfield; adding more receiver talent could provide the Browns with a clear-cut answer on whether they should stick with Mayfield or start over at the quarterback position.
Pittsburgh Steelers: It looks like the Steelers could be headed to their first losing season under head coach Mike Tomlin. They seem to have stuck with Ben Roethlisberger for too long and have a vulnerable offensive line incapable of opening consistent running lanes for Najee Harris. This is likely the final season of Roethlisberger, so finding his replacement has to be the No. 1 priority for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers won’t be picking high enough in the 2022 NFL Draft to land Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett, so the Steeelers will have to give consideration to other options like Ole Miss’ Matt Corral or Liberty’s Malik Willis. As the leadup to the 2022 NFL Draft progressess, it will become more clear if Corral or Willis will come within range of Pittsburgh’s first-round pick. The franchise also could consider second-day prospects like North Carolina’s Sam Howell or Nevada’s Carson Strong. Pittsburgh could explore trading two or three first-round picks for a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers. It would be out of character, however, for the Steelers to give up huge resources in a trade. The franchise has never been the kind to make a play like that, but now might be the time to do it because the roster features a talented, veteran defense ready to help make a playoff run.
If the Steelers don’t take a quarterback in the first round, upgrading the offensive line should be the next priority. In my latest mock 2022 NFL Draft, I have the Steelers taking Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum as they have missed Maurkice Pouncey this year. Rookie third-round pick Kendrick Green has struggled, but Pittsburgh could move him to guard. Linderbaum could be a plug-and-play upgrade for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh’s offensive tackles and guards also need more talent. Right guard Trai Turner is a veteran journeyman at this point of his career, and rookie Dan Moore Jr. could be a better fit as a right tackle in the long term. In the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers could have some good offensive tackle options available to them in the form of N.C. State’s Ikem Ekonwu, Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and Ohio State’s Nick Petit-Frere.
Defensively, the Steelers could stand to add some youth at a few positions, but those are insignificant compared to the hole at quarterback and the lack of talent on the offensive line.
This is a huge draft for head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert. They have to get the quarterback decision right to take advantage of a playoff-caliber defense before it ages out and players are lost to attrition. If Tomlin and Colbert get the quarterback position right and improve the offensive line, Steelers could jump right back into Super Bowl contention.
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