LASTEST ESPN mock from Kiper.

[primetime]

Why then wouldnt the Ravens draft a Guard to play guard. I will believe they will draft Konz when I see it.

Easy. There are no guards that project at 29. If they really value Konz, they have to pick him and if they pick him, he's not sitting, so where does he play? LG makes perfect sense. He plays on the interior, gets to be next to a well respected, veteran center in Birk. He gets to listen to Birk make line calls and learn the position.

Think back to 1996 when they drafted Ogden. Tony Jones was already the starting LT but about to be a FA. JO played LG for the '96, then moved outside to LT in '97.

It's not unprecedented for the Ravens to do this and if in fact they do pick Konz, I would pretty much guarantee that he would have the inside track to start at LG. Guard is a position of need for 2012 and because 1st round picks virtually always play right away, it makes perfect sense.

All that said, I'll reiterate my above post and say that I don't believe we take Konz.

[JohnnyK27]

Easy. There are no guards that project at 29. If they really value Konz, they have to pick him and if they pick him, he's not sitting, so where does he play? LG makes perfect sense. He plays on the interior, gets to be next to a well respected, veteran center in Birk. He gets to listen to Birk make line calls and learn the position.

Think back to 1996 when they drafted Ogden. Tony Jones was already the starting LT but about to be a FA. JO played LG for the '96, then moved outside to LT in '97.

It's not unprecedented for the Ravens to do this and if in fact they do pick Konz, I would pretty much guarantee that he would have the inside track to start at LG. Guard is a position of need for 2012 and because 1st round picks virtually always play right away, it makes perfect sense.

All that said, I'll reiterate my above post and say that I don't believe we take Konz.

Yeah But the Ravens have a reputation for drafting the BPA. It is mentioned here over & over again. S Harrison Smith, OT Mike Adams are both easily there at our pick and

Here's McShay's options scenario of Guards that will be for the Ravens. These guys both Rank comparable to Konz (90) ... They could drop back and not give 1st round money to a Center.

Guard is a need area, and Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler (86) fits the Ravens' tough attitude. Northwestern State's Amini Silatolu (87) is a more talented player, but there are questions about his ability to absorb an NFL system and play immediately.

According to ESPN Insider Konz is the 32nd ranked player in the draft. As you know there will always be the a few players that go early (reach picks) that will drop other guys down. I think the Ravens will either not draft Konz or drop back and still get him just basedon their philosophy.

McShay seems convinced the Ravens will not pick Konz ....I'm pasting his Ravens scenario for those who dont have Insider.....

Baltimore Ravens

Record: 12-4 | Top needs: G, OLB, LOT, DE, ILB, RB
Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Scenario 1: The Ravens would likely prefer to trade up or back to get better value. In this class moving back five or six spots and adding an extra pick is the better option because the board is thin at their need positions at this point and the Ravens have not historically been a team that reaches for players.
Scenario 2: Smith has the skill to contribute right away, and he would provide a backup plan in the event Ed Reed's durability issues surface again.
Scenario 3: Guard is a need area, and Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler fits the Ravens' tough attitude. Northwestern State's Amini Silatolu is a more talented player, but there are questions about his ability to absorb an NFL system and play immediately.
Scenario 4: Add help at linebacker. There is no inside linebacker worth this pick, but McClellin is the kind of versatile front-seven defender Baltimore can't get enough of.
Scenario 5: Left tackle is also a need, and Adams has the tools to come off the board in this range, but he might not have the grind-it-out-mentality the Ravens look for.

I just think the Ravens have created too many holes to draft a C in the 1st round. I dont see them trading up.

[ccbird]

Unless there are like 5 or 6 guys the Ravens love at their pick, Konz will be drafted if he is there.

Right, IMO, and of course this is nothing more than a gut feeling, is they have a 1st round grade on Konz and he fits a position of need as interior lineman. I just don;t think they'll trade back if he is available and no other player they really like falls to 29. Now, as flash says if there are a lot of interior lineman they have graded in the high to mid 2nd round area and they feel they an drop back 10-15 spots and still pick one up a trade back is an option. I just see that as unlikely.

If I had to bet, and this might change in the days leading up to the draft, I would bet on our 1st round pick being one of

Konz, one of the Alabama guys( Barron, Upshaw, Hightower, ),Mike Adams, Glenn, Martin.


I would be surprised if they took Stephen Hill or Harrison Smith. Two guys I see them linked to somewhat now. My gut tells me they would really love to get either Barron or Hightower and it wouldn't surprise me to see them move up slightly to get one of them. I've said all along that I could see them moving ahead of Pittsburgh to draft Hightower.

[JohnnyK27]

What about this guy .... Nice replacement for JJ with upside....Ranks a 90 by scouts inc which is equal to Konz.

Nebraska LB Lavonte David (90)
David (6-0, 233) was a little heavier than anticipated at the NFL combine, but his 4.65-second 40-yard dash is very good for a linebacker prospect. That backs up the impressive range we see on film, which combines with his instincts and easy movements to make David a sideline-to-sideline run defender. And while he's a bit undersized, David shows good point-of-attack skills. He absorbs contact well and is able to sift through traffic to get to the ball. He's also a very reliable tackler and will keep his head up even when leaving his feet.

What separates him from most other outside linebackers is his versatility in coverage. David has good range in underneath zone and is also able to match up well in man-to-man, even showing the ability to slide out and cover slot receivers on occasion. That's an important trait given the recent increase in spread sets in the NFL and the emphasis on utilizing athletic tight ends.

David looks like a perfect fit as a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, the kind of player who can contribute immediately in subpackages and on special teams, and can perhaps compete for a starting job. He's simply one of the best pure football players in the entire class.

David will certainly be off the board very early in the second round, and don't be surprised if a team with a linebacker need (New York Giants?) takes him late in the first round.

Or

Chandler Jones who actually ranks Higher

Syracuse DE Chandler Jones (Grade: 92)
There's plenty to like about Jones, from his impressive frame (6-foot-5, 266 pounds) and length (35?-inch arms) to his versatility and quick hands.

[Baldimore, hon]

I can't see the Ravens taking Konz in the 1st round.

If you look at how Ozzie has acquired Centers in the past, they're either mid to late round picks, undrafted FAs or bargain priced FA. I don't see Ozzie breaking the pattern here; particularly with Birk being retained, I think we wait until the middle rounds to grab a C.

The one caveat is if the Ravens think Konz could play LG this season and maybe next of Birk sticks around.

I think there's a good chance that Ozzie trades out of the 1st round to pick up more picks but if he holds onto the pick, I'd love to see us grab Stephen Hill.

The more I read about Stephen Hill, I'm more intrigued. He's exactly the type of WR this offense needs. Especially given that you have to grossly overpay on the free agent market for a WR that fits that #1 type profile, we're going to have to find a go to guy in the draft.

If we want to get over the hump, be better in the red zone and get the offense to the next level, we need the prototype big, physical WR, that can go get the ball in traffic and out jump double coverage in the end zone. Hill represents our best opportunity to add a #1. Plus, he can ease into the offense without a ton of pressure because of who we already have on the roster.

While, I love Stephen Hill and have been saying we should draft him for a while now, the things you say that we need aren't necessarily what he provides. If you are looking more for what you said, then I think we're better off trading back and getting a guy like Alshon Jeffery, who has shown the toughness of going up and getting a ball in traffic and has great hands. Hill is a big target and has the potential to do all the things that you say, but it's unclear if he can actually do those things because he wasn't really asked to in college. He can get deep on ANYONE, though. And he does have pretty decent hands and is a decent route runner for not having to run the entire route tree during college. I could easily see him developing (and fairly quickly) into a similar guy to AJ Green, who can do all the things that you say. But, he hasn't proven the ability to do those things just yet. A lot of people are saying that he's just a workout warrior, who won't be good, but his tape is phenomenal. His QB was holding him back, big time.

Regarding Konz, I just don't see it. Cordy Glenn is a guy we take if he's there for us (though, I think it's almost certain he won't be). Courtney Upshaw is another guy like that. Barron and Hightower are also both players I could see us drafting. If none of those 5 guys is there, then I see us trading back. There aren't many guys who look like they'll be picked around where we will be drafting that actually are worth taking. Konz is a guy who is going to be a decent center, but he's not worth the 29th pick. If we take him, it will be after a trade down and we are in the top of the 2nd round.

[flashjordnk]

Konz, one of the Alabama guys( Barron, Upshaw, Hightower, ),Mike Adams, Glenn, Martin.

I'd be ecstatic with Glenn. I see him as that small group of guys that Ravens might trade up for, as opposed to trade back. I feel a trade this round.

This isn't like last year where there is a guy like Jimmie Smith who fits a need, fits the skill, and fits the value for the spot. Given that, I just don't see a guy, unless someone starts to fall and then I think we'll attempt to make a move quickly.

Other than that it's business as usual, we'll stay strong to our board and if that means falling back to get the right value, I think we do that.

[Floater]

If the Ravens want to trade down, hope that Weeden is still on the board and start calling teams that need a QB.

[JohnnyK27]

If the Ravens want to trade down, hope that Weeden is still on the board and start calling teams that need a QB.

I hard a hard time believing that they wont make a selection. They have too many holes created by the salary cap not todraft a 1st round talent.

[flashjordnk]

I hard a hard time believing that they wont make a selection. They have too many holes created by the salary cap not todraft a 1st round talent.

As Ozzie always says it's about talent for value on the board. If they don't think Konz is legitimately a 1st round value they won't take him there. They'll trade back, load something else up and get fair value or above value for their pick.

The Ravens have too many holes, to not get fair pick value for whoever they take. That's a whole lot more important to me. Even if we don't solve our LG problems in the draft but we add some safety depth, some LB depth, maybe find a pass rusher, I'll be happy. I trust this team to do the right thing for value and if that means getting an extra 5th and drafting another Parnell McPhee so be it.

[JohnnyK27]

As Ozzie always says it's about talent for value on the board. If they don't think Konz is legitimately a 1st round value they won't take him there. They'll trade back, load something else up and get fair value or above value for their pick.

The Ravens have too many holes, to not get fair pick value for whoever they take. That's a whole lot more important to me. Even if we don't solve our LG problems in the draft but we add some safety depth, some LB depth, maybe find a pass rusher, I'll be happy. I trust this team to do the right thing for value and if that means getting an extra 5th and drafting another Parnell McPhee so be it.

I agree with you that they will get value ...I think someone will fall to them. If Pitt takes a OL then Hightower could be the guy. But I've mentioned 2-3 guys in my previous posts that are as good or better than Konz.

[paulcoates]

Sources tell Sporting News' Russ Lande that NFL teams are not nearly as high on Iowa OT Riley Reiff as the media, and that Reiff could fall "toward the bottom of the first round" or even into the second.

It would be a fall similar to Reiff's former Iowa teammate Bryan Bulaga, who was widely projected as a top-ten or even top-five pick before the Packers stole him at No. 23. (Bulaga is now one of the league's premier right tackles.) Per Lande, NFL teams question Reiff's athleticism, and it's no secret he has relatively short arms. We're still not so sure he'd get by Arizona at No. 13.

Source: Sporting News Apr 18 - 1:24 PM

[clapdiddy]

If we're moving up in the draft, I hope we're targeting Cordy Glenn. I see him as a fit at LG this season and LT in 2013. I've seen him playing both on highlights, and looks really good at either position.

[Hooded Viper]

If we make a trade it will be to move back for more picks and a player like Konz. Hell I would love this scenario, Konz and then a WR like Reuban, Jeffrey, Quick or Givens.

[JohnnyK27]

If we make a trade it will be to move back for more picks and a player like Konz. Hell I would love this scenario, Konz and then a WR like Reuban, Jeffrey, Quick or Givens.

I'm not as high on Konz as you are. I'd be surprised if they can trade back more than a few spots and still get him. But the value difference would likely be a 5th rounder or later unless they hop deep into the 2nd round which would be foolish imo. I think someone more intriguing will fall to them.

[paulcoates]

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that Ohio State OT Mike Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine.These leaks happen every year. While they sometimes don't torpedo draft stock, it's another red flag for Adams -- a player who already struggles on game tape. We wouldn't expect him to be drafted in the first round. Per La Canfora, Adams has been "upfront" with teams about the drug test, and he has already completed a counseling program. Look for Adams to be a mid-second-round pick.

Apr 19 - 11:41 AMSource: Jason La Canfora on Twitter