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:
Houston Texans: The Texans lost to the Eagles, and now that the Lions beat Green Bay, Houston has taken over ownership of the No. 1 pick. A few weeks ago, the Texans got their first win of the year thanks to their defense having its way with Trevor Lawrence. With their Week 1 tie against the Colts, Houston would fall behind any two-win teams after another win. Unless Davis Mills finishes the year well, 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.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers were dropped to 2-7 on the season after getting blown out by the Bengals. Carolina is paying the price for having Matt Rhule run the franchise for the past few years. Owner David Tepper does not know football, and his hiring of Rhule out of Baylor was misguided from the start. Hopefully for Panthers fans, Tepper stays out of football decisions, such as the next head coach and draft picks. General manager Scott Fitterer should be trusted to make those decisions over Tepper.
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders have been embarrassed in back-to-back weeks. After getting shut out by the Saints, Las Vegas was shut out in the second half at Jacksonville, which saw the team fall to 2-6 on the season with another blown lead. Owner Mark Davis made a regrettable decision to let go of Jon Gruden and then Rich Bisaccia. If the Raiders land the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, they can either start a rebuild and look to trade early 30s veterans like Derek Carr and Davante Adams.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have struggled this year and are clearly in rebuilding mode. If Pittsburgh lands a top-two pick, the franchise should look to trade down with a quarterback-needy team. Pittsburgh has a lot of needs and could use the extra draft picks.
Detroit Lions: Detroit shut down Aaron Rodgers, with rookie safety Kerby Joseph intercepting Aaron Rodgers twice and Aidan Hutchinson snagging an interception of his own. The drawback of the win is the Lions no longer hold the No. 1 pick for the 2023 NFL Draft. Detroit wisely traded away T.J. Hockenson as he is overrated and not worthy of a big second contract. That has the Lions loaded up with two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
If Detroit lands the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft or a high first-rounder, they could look to upgrade over Jared Goff by taking Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. They can hold onto Goff and let the rookie sit behind him for a year, or they can let Goff go without a salary-cap penalty. Detroit could also look to trade away Goff as he could be worth a second-day pick because he is a better player than other quarterbacks, like Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan, who were recently traded for second-day picks. Aside from quarterback, Detroit badly needs some cornerback upgrades to go with Jeff Okudah.
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.
Los Angeles Chargers: Amari Burney, LB, Florida 
The Chargers got a win in Atlanta, but Los Angeles was gashed on the ground, allowing the Falcons to rack up 201 yards on the ground. The run defense has been a problem for the Chargers for years. They could use more talent at defensive tackle and linebacker.
Burney has shown impressive pass-coverage skills this year, including covering Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in man, snatching two interceptions, and showing blitzing ability. In 2022, Burney has 51 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two passes defended. Burney shows the speed to fly around the field and make clutch tackles in space. He could be a nice upgrade at linebacker for the Chargers on the second-day of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Detroit Lions: Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State 
The Detroit defense played really well against the Packers, holding them to nine points. Aidan Hutchinson hauled in his first interception, and rookie safety Kerby Joseph dominated Green Bay with two picks before getting injured. Aaron Rodgers still had too much time to throw on many plays. Hutchinson is a good pass rusher, and Josh Paschal has potential on the interior, but Detroit needs another edge rusher to team with Hutchinson.
McDonald has 23 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pass batted thus far this season. He totaled 36 tackles, 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and three passes batted in 2021. McDonald recorded 10.5 sacks and 33 tackles in 2020 after recording six sacks in 2019.
Team sources rave about McDonald’s pass-rush ability, and his natural skills at getting after the quarterback. He is fast and athletic, allowing him to shoot past blockers and put steady heat on the signal-caller. NFL teams, however, say McDonald (6-4, 245) is terrible versus the run and even bad opponents can destroy him in the ground game. Hence, he might be more of a designated pass rusher as a pro. McDonald could be a good value for the Lions at the top of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft and form an excellent tandem with Hutchinson.
Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma 
Cincinnati destroyed Carolina and saw Joe Mixon playing like Al Bundy with four touchdowns in the game. The Bengals have had issues protecting Joe Burrow this year. While they were better against the Panthers, Brian Burns added to his sack total on Sunday. Here’s a skilled pass protector who could help Burrow in 2023.
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. Harrison is a skilled pass protector and he could help improve the protection for Burrow. He would be a solid addition as an early-round pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State 
After falling behind 17-0 and 20-7, the Jaguars came storming back behind Trevor Lawrence playing well, Travis Etienne running the ball, and their defense pitching a second-half shutout. Despite the 27-20 win over the Raiders, the Jaguars really struggled to cover Davante Adams, who snatched 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville’s defense needs a No. 1 corner.
Overall, Porter has kept blanket coverage this season while recording 25 tackles and seven passes broken up thus far. He rotated in as freshman in 2020 and had a quality debut. In 2021, Porter collected 51 tackles, one interception, four passes broken up and one forced fumble. The son of legendary Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, Joey Porter Jr., has an NFL pedigree. The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder possesses excellent size and the upside to become an impactful player. Porter has freakishly long arms that team sources say make him look like one of those blue guys from “Avatar.” He would be an excellent addition with Jacksonville’s first-round pick during the 2023 NFL Draft.
New York Jets: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU 
The Jets pulled off a shocking win over the Bills thanks to an excellent defensive performance. Zach Wilson did not give the game away, but New York struggled through the air. Garrett Wilson (8-92) had a solid game, but no other Jets receiver had even four catches or 17 yards through the air. Denzel Mims and Elijah Moore want to be traded, so the Jets could consider adding more receiver talent.
NFL team sources like Boutte overall. They think he is more smooth than explosive or twitchy, but they also feel he is a lazy route runner who lacks detail. They liked his hands in 2020 and 2021 tape, but Boutte has had issues with drops in 2022. They like his ball-adjustment ability and feel he is more of a vertical receiver than short to intermediate. They say he has serious quickness and juice, and overall reminds them of a smaller, less powerful D.J. Moore.
Boutte (6-0, 190) has not produced a huge season in college football, but that didn’t stop NFL advance scouts from giving him a high preseason projection. In 2020, he took 45 catches for 735 yards and five touchdowns. He then recorded 38 receptions for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2022, he has 27 receptions for 288 yards and a touchdown. In New York, Boutte could be a nice No. 2 receiver to go with Garrett Wilson.
Seattle Seahawks: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson 
The Seattle defense played an excellent game limiting Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins. Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker cruised over the Arizona defense to put the Seahawks in firm control of the NFC West thanks to Rams losing in Tampa Bay. The Seattle defensive line harassed Murray, but Bruce Irvin is a short-term addition, and the team could use one more end to cycle with Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Murphy has the skill set to dominate at the next level and could be a riser through the 2023 NFL Draft process. Not only is he putting together a season of excellent tape, but Murphy is a freak athlete in possession of a crazy combination of size, speed, athleticism and strength. He should work out well and impress in the eye ball test. Murphy has the skill set to do whatever he wants on the football field as he can burn tackles with speed, use his strength to set the edge in the ground game, dominate tight ends, and simply take over games.
In 2022, Murphy has 30 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended. He was excellent as a freshman defensive end for Clemson in 2020, recording 51 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a pass broken up. In 2021, he totaled 37 tackles and seven sacks. He would be a great addition for the Seahawks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 
The Bucs pulled off a shocking last-second win over the Rams when Tom Brady found rookie tight end Cade Otton for the game-winning score. Tampa Bay’s offense struggled for the majority of the day, but it came alive with 10 points in the fourth quarter to shock Los Angeles. Tampa Bay’s receivers struggled, but eventually they made enough catches to help Brady. In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers could use a third receiver to go with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
In 2022, Tillman has 28 receptions for 336 yards and a touchdown. 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 ans 12 touchdowns. He is a big receiver with quickness and is dangerous after the catch. Tillman could contribute immediately for Tampa Bay.
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.
Las Vegas Raiders: At 2-6, Las Vegas has been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this year, and sources have told WalterFootball.com that the Raiders owner Mark Davis has regretted pushing out Jon Gruden, letting interim head coach Rich Bisaccia go, and hiring Josh McDaniels as head coach. Bisaccia should have been Coach of the Year for last season as the Raiders rallied down the stretch to make the playoffs despite losing emerging wide receiver Henry Ruggs, having Darren Waller injured for the majority of the second half of the year, and running back Josh Jacobs being banged up. This season, the Raiders have struggled, and they look poised to be picking in the top half of the first round in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Davis had reason to fire general manger Mike Mayock, who blew a lot of first-round picks, including Clelin Ferrell, Johnathan Abram and Damon Arnette. Las Vegas has a lot of needs on the roster.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Raiders taking Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter is a massive corner with rare length to go along with instincts and physicality. Rock Ya-Sin is entering free agency, but even if he’s re-signed, the Raiders need an upgrade across from him.
Las Vegas also needs help on the defensive line. Chandler Jones has been a bust as a high-priced free agency addition. The Raiders also lack talent on the inside of the defensive line, so they would have plug-and-play upgrades if they were to draft Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy.
Offensively, the Raiders could also use help on the offensive line. In the first round, they could consider Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski as a plug-and-play upgrade at right tackle or guard. Running back could be a need if Josh Jacobs leaves in free agency, but Las Vegas could target help on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the defense is more talented starved, as the Las Vegas offense has some really good players including Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Derek Carr.
It will be an interesting offseason in Las Vegas because the franchise has a lot of needs and limited resources to fill them. Davis has made a lot of bad decisions running the franchise. Raiders fans have to hope that McDaniel and new general manager Davie Ziegler can make some shrewd moves to take advantage of having Adams (30), Waller (31) and Carr (32) still playing at a high level. Looking at the ages of those three next year, the winning window will not be open for long with that group, so the margin of error is small for the Raiders to right the ship before another franchise rebuild is started.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles completed their perfect first half of the 2022 season with a road win over a struggling Texans team. Philadelphia has been the best team in the NFL this season, combining a potent offense and a suffocating defense. To make matters worse for the rest of the NFC, the Eagles have two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to a trade with the Saints.
The Eagles do not have many screaming needs, so they could give consideration to going with the best player available. In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Eagles taking Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy, who would be a great addition for them. Murphy has a huge skill set and could be a dominant force next to Jordan Davis. Brandon Graham and Robert Quinn are both aging defensive ends who are nearing the end of their careers. Murphy could combine with Josh Sweat to give the Eagles some long-term defensive ends.
Philadelphia also could consider Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter to pair with Jordan Davis. Carter and Davis were teammates a year ago, and they could form a dominant duo with the Eagles.
With their second first-round pick, I have the Eagles taking Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones. Veteran James Bradberry has played really well for them this year, but Bradberry will be a free agent after this season and could be in store for a big contract. If Bradberry leaves, his departure will open up a hole across from Darius Slay. Jones is a big corner with athleticism, strength and physicality, similar to Bradberry. Aside from Jones, Philadelphia could consider other cornerback options like Utah’s Clark Phillips and Alabama’s Brian Branch.
The Eagles also could consider a running back in the early rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft because Miles Sanders is entering free agency. In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, there are two stud backs in Texas’ Bijan Robinson and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs. Robinson is a bigger, tougher runner, but Gibbs is extremely explosive and slippery. Both of them are tremendous receivers as well. In the second round, there will be good options like Ole Miss’ Zach Evans, Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh and UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet.
Philadelphia is in great shape to continue to add talent to one of the best rosters in the NFL. I was skeptical of Jalen Hurts panning out as a pro, but I was wrong about that, as Hurts has turned into an excellent starter. With Hurts playing at a high level, the Eagles could bring home another Super Bowl championship in the next few years.
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