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 played the Cowboys tough before a string of turnovers led to Dallas pulling away. The Lions looked vastly improved to open the season, and their offense has played well overall while the defense has really struggled. If Detroit lands the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft or a high first-rounder, the team could look to upgrade over Jared Goff by taking Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. The franchise can hold onto Goff and let the rookie sit behind him for a year, or it can let Goff go without a salary cap penalty. The Lions could also look to trade Goff.
Houston Texans: The Texans outplayed the Raiders for a half, but Houston’s terrible defense ran out of gas, allowing Las Vegas to come away with its second win of the season. Last week, the Texans got their first win of the year, thanks to their defense having its way with Trevor Lawrence. Unless Davis Mills turns things around, Houston will need a true franchise quarterback to replace Deshaun Watson. It would make sense for the Texans to target Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa 
The Raiders enjoyed a dominant performance from running back Josh Jacobs while having their way with the Houston defense. While Las Vegas offense played well, the defense had issues defending Dameon Pierce, and Davis Mills threw ball well until late in the game. Las Vegas could use more linebacker talent to help deal with the ground attack.
Team sources like Campbell and think he will go in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. They call him a taller version of Chad Muma. The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Campbell has good size, strength, and enough athleticism to be a three-down starter. In 2022, he has 71 tackles, one pass batted and a superb interception of C.J. Stroud. In 2021, Campbell amassed 140 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, two interceptions and five passes defended. Campbell would be a nice addition to the middle of the Las Vegas defense.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M 
The Chiefs started to revamp their cornerbacks in the offseason with the selection of Trent McDuffie in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Kansas City could still more cornerback talent to go with him, and adding another corner late in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft could give the team a dynamic tandem who will really help the defense shut down comeback attempts.
Jones has 19 tackles and pass broken up in 2022. He really flashed in previous seasons to, including in 2021, when he recorded 35 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defended. Team sources think Jones has a lot of potential as a cover corner for the NFL. He has really impressive movement skills, including speed and athleticism. Along with a good skill set, Jones displays solid instincts and is a willing tackler. However, Jones has some raw elements to his game, such as grabbing and holding at times and giving up balls he shouldn’t occasionally. Thus, Jones could use some development, but he has a great skill set to work with.
Dallas Cowboys: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma 
The Cowboys eventually pulled away from the Lions because of the latter’s turnovers, but the Dallas offense had some struggles against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Aidan Hutchinson notched two sacks, and Dak Prescott took some hard hits from the Detroit front. Dallas needs to improve its offensive line.
Over the previous two seasons, Harrison (6-5, 309) was impressive as the left tackle for the Sooners. He has quality size with good athleticism and quickness, but lacks physicality and is a finesse blocker. Harrison broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and held down the left tackle spot as a sophomore. Thanks to his good skill set, Harrison could rise into being a sought-after early-rounder. Harrison is a skilled pass protector and he could help improve the protection for Prescott as an early-round pick.
Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State 
The Panthers pulled off one of the most shocking wins of the season by defeating Tampa Bay 21-3. Following the firing of Matt Rhule and the trading away of both Christian McCaffrey and Robby Anderson in the past weeks, it looked like Carolina was going to pack in the season. But the Panthers do have good defensive talent and the Tampa Bay offense has struggled all year. Carolina needs a franchise quarterback, and the organization still should be in position to land a top quarterback prospect next spring in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In 2022, Stroud has completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,023 yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is a highly talented dual-threat quarterback who could end up as a first-round prospect – and perhaps at the top of Round 1. He won Ohio State’s starting quarterback position following Justin Fields’ departure to the NFL. In 2021, Stroud completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was a dominant passer, showing good accuracy and the ability to push the ball vertically. Stroud could quickly become an upgrade for the Panthers.
New York Giants: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 
The Giants pulled off another comeback win, this time in Jacksonville. New York saw Daniel Jones throw for 200 yards and run for anther 100, plus had Saquon Barkley go over 100 again. The Giants receivers, however, struggled with none of them recording even 60 yards through the air. New York will get Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson back, but the team could use a big receiver to pair with those speedy playmakers.
Tillman has 17 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown in 2022, and he has also missed some time with injuries. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was a tough receiver in 2021 for the Volunteers, showing good size and playmaking ability. During his breakout season, Tillman caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has the upside to develop and could be a good value pick as a big mismatch receiver. Tillman could be a nice early-round addition for the Giants in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State The Ravens narrowly beat the Browns at home and had a few breaks go their way to get the win. Once again, the Baltimore receivers struggled, with none of them hitting five catches or exceeding more than 42 yards.
Smith-Njigba has four catches for 36 yards in 2022. Against Notre Dame, Smith-Njigba left the game early due to injury and then missed Week 2. Smith-Njigba had a fantastic 2021 season despite being the third receiver behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. In 2021, Smith-Njigba caught 94 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns, including an amazing Rose Bowl performance to lead the comeback win over Utah. The 6-foot, 197-pounder has serious speed, athleticism, and playmaking ability to go along with decent size. He would be a plug-and-play upgrade for the Ravens.
Arizona Cardinals: Clark Phillips, CB, Utah 
The Cardinals won a shootout over New Orleans, with Andy Dalton’s interceptions making a huge difference in helping Arizona to get a much-needed win. The Cardinals struggled to cover Chris Olave, and if it weren’t for the turnovers, the outcome could easily have gone against them. In the 2023 offseason, it would make sense for Arizona to add more cornerback talent to pair with Byron Murphy.
So far in 2022, Phillips has 16 tackles, five interceptions and two passes defended. He played well against Florida to open the year. In 2021, he collected 61 tackles, two interceptions and 13 passes defended. Phillips is a talented cover corner who can run the route and prevent separation. The big question with Phillips will be size because he is listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds. It would help Phillips to add a little weight, and if he measures in shorter, he might be regarded as a slot corner only. Phillips could form a nice cover tandem with Murphy to improve the coverage in Arizona.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans: Many were expecting the Titans to take a step back this season, but they have been the best team in the AFC South. Head coach Mike Vrabel has done a superb job, with Tennessee being well positioned to compete for the division title or a wild-card spot. The AFC is a very challenging conference, containing juggernauts like the Bills and Chiefs that are being poised to be elite for many years to come. The Titans will need to continue to build up their roster to have a shot at a Super Bowl while they have an elite player in Derrick Henry capable of carrying them in the postseason.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Titans taking Notre Dame edge rusher Isaiah Foskey because they could use more rush off the edge. After getting Harold Landry signed long term, he went out for the season, so next year he will be coming off a serious injury. Veteran Bud Dupree has been a moderate disappointment this season, and the Titans could use an upgrade over him. The dead money in Dupree’s contract drops from about $30 million this year to $10 million next year. If that is too much to tolerate, Dupree could return with Landry and the team could have a draft pick form a rotational trio with them. Spreading out the load would help ease Landry’s return, and then a year later, the team could move on from Dupree.
Tennessee won’t be picking high enough to take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson or Clemson’s Myles Murphy in the 2023 NFL Draft. Aside from those two, there could be other good options like Florida State’s Jared Verse, Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah or Foskey.
On the other side of the ball, the Titans could use more help on the offensive line. While Taylor Lewan should return in 2023, they could use more talent around him. Adding a versatile interior blocker like Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson or Ohio State’s Paris Johnson would make sense as players who could help at guard, center or tackle. It could make sense for Tennessee to look at second-day talent for the offensive line with prospects like Ole Miss’ Nick Broeker, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence and TCU guard/center Steve Avila.
The Titans need to move quickly while they have an elite runner in Derrick Henry. Eventually, age and wear-and-tear will slow down Henry, but right now, he is capable of dominating in the postseason to beat elite teams. Adding a few more pieces to the defensive and offensive lines could be the best route to helping the Titans improve for 2023.
New Orleans Saints: Traditionally, it is very difficult for a franchise to replace a Hall of Fame player, and that is especially the case with a quarterback. The Broncos went through the experience of a big drop-off in talent at the position with John Elway and Peyton Manning before giving up the farm for Russell Wilson. The Patriots were a Super Bowl dynasty with Tom Brady, and now are hoping to be a playoff contender. The Packers were the anomaly going from one Hall of Fame in Brett Favre to another one in Aaron Rodgers, but the Saints have not been that fortunate in replacing Drew Brees. Jameis Winston has struggled to stay healthy and be consistent, while Andy Dalton and Taysom Hill clearly are not long-term starters at quarterback. Without their first-round pick, it could be difficult for the Saints to find a starting quarterback. The 2023 NFL Draft, however, offers some intriguing options who could be second-round picks at the position.
There could be a group of second-day quarterbacks who could be intriguing fits for the Saints in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. BYU quarterback Jaren Hall has a style of play that is similar to Russell Wilson’s. Hall is an accurate passer and a dangerous runner, but he is a bit undersized and can be a little streaky. Arkansas’ K.J. Jefferson has a quality arm that threatens defenses downfield and along the sideline. He is a big physical, runner who adds a mobile threat. However, Jefferson has to develop in terms of field vision, reading coverage, and working through his progressions. Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke has a good arm, size, accurate, and is instinctive. The drawback with him is a real lack of athleticism. The Saints won’t get a flawless quarterback prospect picking the second round, but all three of these signal-callers have starting potential.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Saints taking Notre Dame safety Brandon Joseph. Veteran Tyrann Mathieu is not a long-term starter, and New Orleans could use some safety help.
The Saints also could consider a young linebacker to eventually replace aging veteran Demario Davis. In the second round, some options they could consider include Oregon’s Noah Sewell, Texas’ Demarvion Overshownn and Iowa’s Jack Campbell.
New Orleans has a lot of pieces in place to be one of the top teams in the NFC. The team has playmakers on offense, a good offensive line, and some talent on defense. Fixing the quarterback position could make a massive difference that propels the Saints into being one of the elite teams of the NFL.
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