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 Dolphins and are getting closer to clinching the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Houston got its only win of the year when its defense simply destroyed Trevor Lawrence. With their Week 1 tie against the Colts, the Texans would need to win two games to lose the No. 1 pick. With Davis Mills being benched, Houston clearly needs 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.
Chicago Bears: The Bears lost to the Jets in New York, but they were without starting quarterback Justin Fields and the Jets were rejuvenated from the benching of Zach Wilson. Fields has really been playing well over the past six weeks, so Chicago could easily win a few games down the stretch and end up picking in the back half of the top 10 during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Colts will take on the Steelers tonight on Monday Night Football. Last week, Pittsburgh fell to 3-7 with a home loss to the Bengals. The Steelers have struggled this year and are clearly in rebuilding mode. If they land a top-two pick, the Steelers should look to trade down with a quarterback-needy team. Pittsburgh has a lot of needs and could use the extra draft picks.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are 6-5, but they are in the race for the No. 1 pick thanks to their selection from the Broncos. Denver is 3-8 with six games remaining. If Seattle ends up with a high first-rounder, the organization could look to find a long-term upgrade over Geno Smith. If the Seahawks want to stick with Smith, they could add a difference maker for their defense or look to trade down.
Detroit Lions: Detroit is on pace to have a high first-round pick thanks to the Rams falling to 3-8 because the Lions hold Los Angeles’ first-round pick from the Matthew Stafford trade. Detroit almost got win on Thanksgiving versus the Bills, but fell to 4-7 ending the franchise’s three-game win streak.
The Lions wisely traded away T.J. Hockenson, who is overrated and not worthy of a big second contract. That has Detroit loaded up with two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
If the Lions land the top pick or a high first-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft, they could look to upgrade over Jared Goff by taking Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Detroit could also hold onto Goff and let the rookie sit behind him for a year, or the organization could let Goff go without a salary-cap penalty. The Lions could also look to trade Goff, who could be worth a second-day pick because he is a better player than other quarterbacks like Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan who were traded for second-day picks coming into this season. Aside from quarterback, Detroit badly needs some cornerback upgrades to go with Jeff Okudah.
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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: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon 
The Raiders pulled off a comeback win in Seattle behind Josh Jacobs (33-229-2 rushing, 6-74 receiving) setting a franchise record for yards from scrimmage. The Las Vegas defense got some clutch sacks out of Maxx Crosby, but the Raiders struggled in pass coverage against Geno Smith and D.K. Metcalf. All year, the Las Vegas secondary has been vulnerable, and the team badly needs a No. 1 cornerback.
Team sources have been impressed with Gonzalez (6-2, 201), starting from his 2021 tape and into how he has played in 2022. The junior is a big corner who is fast, athletic, and able to run the route to prevent separation. Entering 2022, Gonzalez did not have an interception, so NFL evaluators wanted to see him show more ball skills, and he has shown improvement in that regard this year. This season, he has 51 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes broken up.
Gonzalez could be a riser who ends up being the top cornerback prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Raiders would be fortunate to land Gonzalez in the first round next April.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 
The Jaguars stole a late win thanks to Trevor Lawrence leading a miraculous comeback that included a two-point conversion with just a few seasons on the clock to beat the Ravens 28-27. Zay Jones put up 145 yard on 11 catches, but the rest of Jacksonville’s receivers struggled. Over the offseason, the Jaguars need to get more playmakers and receiving weapons to make Lawrence’s job easier.
So far in 2022, Johnston has 49 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns. He flashed in 2021, catching 33 passes for 612 yards and six touchdowns. Sources from around the NFL are high on his skill set. “He’s 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and can win on all three levels. He puts up 20 yards per catch, runs great routes, is super smart, an alpha, and the hardest worker on the team,” an area scout told WalterFootball.com. He has the skill set of No. 1 wide receiver with mismatch potential. Johnston would be a plug-and-play upgrade for Jacksonville.
Cleveland Browns: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College 
The Browns pulled off a surprising upset, with Tom Brady losing to his former backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett to drop Tampa Bay to 5-6 on the season. Amari Cooper (7-94) played well, and David Njoku had a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown to force overtime, but no other Cleveland receiver had even 30 yards receiving. The Browns need more receiving weapons for Deshaun Watson.
In 2022, Flowers notched 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He totaled 44 catches for 746 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 while playing most of the year without his starting quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder was impressive in 2020, breaking out for the Eagles. He flashed some in 2019, but was significantly improved as a sophomore.
Flowers does not have much size, but he possesses game-breaking speed and is a threat to produce a big play on any reception. His deep speed would be a good fit for Watson and across the field from Cooper.
Cincinnati Bengals: Steve Avila, G/C, TCU The Bengals pulled off a big win over the Titans despite being without Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon. While Samaje Perine played well, Cincinnati had a hard time creating running lanes and only averaged 3.9 yards per carry as a team. The Bengals could use more offensive line talent to open running holes and protect Joe Burrow.
Avila (6-4, 330) is a guard/center who has also logged some starts at right tackle and right guard during his collegiate career. He is big and strong, but fields a terrible body, according to team sources. Avila needs to get in better shape for the NFL, but he is a difference maker as a run blocker who also has the potential to be a steady pass protector. Under a pro team’s program, Avila could drop weight to be better conditioned. He could be a nice second-round pick for Cincinnati who could compete quickly.
New York Jets: Amari Burney, LB, Florida 
The Jets offense came alive thanks to rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson dominating the Bears, although benching Zach Wilson for Mike White certainly played a part. The game would have been completely different if Justin Fields were healthy, but even without him, Chicago ran for almost 130 yards, with David Montgomery picking up 79 yards on 14 carries. The Jets could use more linebacker talent for the middle of their defense.
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 71 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and four 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 Jets on the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky 
The Panthers grabbed their fourth win of the season by their defense dominantly shutting down Russell Wilson and the Denver offense. Sam Darnold was efficient enough to support the Carolina defense, but clearly the team needs a long-term starter. With their fourth win, the Panthers will probably not be picking high enough to land C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, the team could look to land Levis as its future starter.
The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis has a cannon for an arm and easy velocity to push the ball downfield. He thrived running the Kentucky offense during 2021. Levis completed 66 percent of his passes that season for 2,826 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also had nine rushing touchdowns. In 2022, Levis has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while being held back by a weak offensive line. He is very tough, smart and gritty, and he could be a top target for Carolina in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida The Bills won on a last-second field goal in Detroit on Thanksgiving, but they were fortunate to get the win because the Lions had outplayed them for a lot of the game. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs came up huge in the clutch and willed Buffalo to the win. Allen was not quite his normal self due to playing through injury, and the running game was not consistent enough to pick up the slack. The Bills could use a road grader to help their ground game and improve the protection for Allen.
Torrence has blocked well for the Gators in 2022 and has especially been a beast in the ground game. The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder is a load who generates movement as run blocker with surprising athleticism and quickness in pass protection. Torrence was a 3-year starter at La.-Lafayette, but after the 2021, he transferred to Florida to continue his playing career under the same head coach, Billy Napier. Torrence could be a solid second-round pick for Buffalo who would be an asset to blast open holes for James Cook and Devin Singletary.
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.
Dallas Cowboys : Entering the final stretch of 2022, the Cowboys look poised to be one of the top contenders to go to the Super Bowl from the NFC. Dallas has a tremendous defense, a running game, and a quarterback capable of making big plays in the clutch. The Cowboys have young talent on both sides of the ball, so they are in a championship window for years to come. Another good draft might put the franchise over the top.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Cowboys taking Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Ezekiel Elliott could be in his final year with the Cowboys, while Tony Pollard is also entering free agency. It would be surprising if Dallas had the money and committed it to re-sign both of them. The Cowboys might bring back one veteran and then draft another back to go with him. Gibbs could be a steal for Dallas late in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft because he is similar to Alvin Kamara in possessing dynamic receiving ability as well dangerous running skill. Dallas won’t be picking high enough to land Texas running back Bijan Robinson, but Gibbs would be a highly impactful use of a first-round choice. Aside from Gibbs, Dallas could consider second-day options like UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet, Ole Miss’ Zach Evans and Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh.
Offensively, the Cowboys could consider more help at wide receiver. Amari Cooper was traded away, and they could consider adding another playmaker to go with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. Late in the first round, Dallas could have options like USC’s Jordan Addison or Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman. Tillman would give them a big outside receiver, while Addison is smaller and more of a speed threat. Given what Dallas has in Lamb, it could make more sense to take a fast wideout like Addison.
On the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft, it could make sense for the Cowboys to add more to their offensive line with talent on the inside. Some good interior offensive linemen who could be quality values for Dallas in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft include Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson, TCU’s Steve Avila and Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence. Any of those three could be plug-and-play contributors at left guard, while Patterson and Avila also possess the flexibility to play center.
The Cowboys are built to be among the top contenders in the NFC for many years to come. Dallas has not had a core this talented since the Troy Aikman years. If the Cowboys add more help to their offense to complement their tremendous defense, they could finally seriously challenge again for a Super Bowl for the first time since the Aikman days.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have cruised through the NFC North this year with ease. The Packers have been a huge disappointment and have played poorly, while the Bears and Lions are improving but still young teams in rebuilding mode. While the North has not been challenging this year, that could change as soon as next year because the Packers could be capable of rebounding to being very good, while Detroit and Chicago are clearly improving thanks to good, young talent. Thus, the Vikings need to draft well to stay on top of the NFC North. Without a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Minnesota really needs to hit on its first-rounder.
The Vikings will be without their second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft due to dealing away those selections for tight end T.J. Hockenson. I think Minnesota made a mistake in the Hockenson trade. Hockenson is very overrated and is a little above average, but he is not a special tight end in the mold of Travis Kelce, George Kittle or Darren Waller. While Hockenson has the reputation of being a good blocker, that was not the case in Detroit, where he was average as a blocker at best.
One of the drawbacks of Hockenson being overrated is he is nearing a contract extension and wants to be one of the higher-paid tight ends in the league even though his play does not warrant that kind of pay day. The fact that the Lions were willing to deal him within the division says they have no concerns playing against Hockenson or him significantly helping a NFC North rival.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Vikings taking Kansas State edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah. He is a quick, athletic, strong, and high-effort defender who would be a good scheme fit for Minnesota. Other first-round options for the Vikings could include the likes of Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey and USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu. There have been rumors of veteran Danielle Hunter leaving Minnesota, but even if he returns, the team could use a young pass rusher to pair with him.
The Vikings have one of the best young receivers in the NFL in Justin Jefferson. However, they could look to the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft to find a replacement candidate for the aging and declining Adam Thielen. Some wideouts who could make sense include Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson, Wake Forest’s A.T. Perry, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt. Any one of those receivers could be nice additions on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Minnesota has to build up an elite roster to compete for a championship with Kirk Cousins. While Cousins is a competent NFL starter, he is not an elite quarterback like Tom Brady or Pat Mahomes. The Vikings have to get a good player with their 2023 first-round pick to help them compete in the NFC.
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