WalterFootball.com - Detailed NFL Mock Drafts, Player Prospect Rankings, and One of the Largest Mock Draft Databases on the Web

Monday Morning Draft - Week 20

Here is the 20th edition of the Monday Morning Draft - 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: draftcampbell@gmail.com
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.

Let's Play Matchmaker:

This section will look at some of the top talent in college football and match those prospects up with the losing teams from the conference championships.

Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Baltimore was abused by New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork in the AFC Championship Game. Center Matt Birk has had an excellent career, but the Ravens need a young center to control the middle of the offensive line. If Baltimore can't re-sign Ben Grubbs, adding a young center is even more critical.

Konz is the best center in the draft and looks like a sure-fire first-round pick. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Konz is a powerful run blocker who was a massive force in opening up holes for running back Montee Ball. Konz did a fabulous job in pass protection for quarterback Russell Wilson. With his size and strength, Konz has no problems anchoring against bull rushes. He is athletic and mobile to get to linebackers on the second level of the defense and pull around the edge. The Ravens might need to trade up in the first round to land Konz.

San Francisco 49ers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The 49ers' defense played well, but San Francisco couldn't produce enough points to support its defense. The 49ers' offense didn't have one of its receivers total three receptions in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco could use a wide receiver capable of producing some big plays downfield and take advantage of safeties focusing on tight end Vernon Davis and running back Frank Gore. Wright totaled 127 receptions for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdown in 2011. The speedy wide out consistently raced through coverage to get open in the deep part of the field for the Bears. While Wright (5-10, 190) is smaller, he would be a good fit in the 49ers' receiving corps.

Let's Play Coaching Matchmaker:

This section will look at some of the available head coaching and coordinator positions and who could be a good fit for a given position.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jon Hoke
Assuming the Buccaneers hire Chip Kelly to be their head coach and run the offense, the team will still need an experienced NFL coach to lead its defense. Hoke has done a solid job leading the Chicago Bears' secondary ,and he would be a good fit in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have drafted four defensive linemen with first and second-round picks in the past two drafts who fit a Tampa 2-style defense. Hoke has worked in that system in Chicago for the past three seasons. Previously, he was the defensive backs coach with the Houston Texans (2002-2008) and defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach of the Florida Gators (1999-2001). The Bears would not let Hoke interview for the Vikings defensive coordinator position, but Minnesota is a division rival. Tampa Bay's owners, the Glazers, let Lovie Smith leave Tampa Bay to be the defensive coordinator in St. Louis after serving as the Buccaneers linebackers coach under Tony Dungy. So Smith could return the favor by letting Hoke have a shot at running the Tampa Bay defense.

Miami Dolphins: Todd Bowles
Miami would be smart to retain Bowles as its defensive coordinator. Bowles is extremely popular in the locker room, and he could help the players buy into their new head coach Joe Philbin. The Dolphins responded to Bowles when he was made the head coach to finish out the season. Bowles is a young, promising coach who has already earned the respect of his veterans. He is one of the top young assistants in the league, so retaining him to lead the defense would be a good idea for Philbin.

Kansas City Chiefs: Hue Jackson
Kansas City needs to find an offensive coordinator who can handle a murky quarterback situation. The Chiefs will have veteran Matt Cassel returning next season, and, allegedly, would like to re-sign Kyle Orton. In Oakland, the Raiders improved with Jackson from where they were previously. Jason Campbell and Carson Palmer weren't All-Pro quarterbacks by any means, but Oakland had more success under Jackson than before he arrived. Jackson knows the division's defenses well from coaching the Raiders, so that would give him a schematic head-start over other coordinator candidates. He will be highly motivated to get Kansas City's offense humming after getting fired by Oakland.

Oakland Raiders: Winston Moss
The Raiders are an organization that could use a good working relationship between the front office and the coaching staff. With Reggie McKenzie leaving Green Bay to take over as Oakland's general manager, it makes sense for him to bring in a head coach with whom he has a background. Moss has been the Packers linebackers coach and assistant head coach since 2006. Since he played for the Raiders, he more than likely understands some of Oakland's franchise identity. Moss and McKenzie saw how Green Bay grew into a Super Bowl champion, and they could implement that blue print for the Raiders.

Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Gray
Gray is a hot coordinator candidate who is very popular with his players. Over 14 years, he has served as a defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Gray also has Pro Bowl pedigree, having made four during the nine NFL seasons he played. Gray could take over the Colts' defense and hire an experienced offensive coach to work with future first-round pick Andrew Luck. That pattern worked for Indianapolis with head coach Tony Dungy, offensive coordinator Tom Moore and quarterback Peyton Manning.

Fitz 01-25-2012 03:22 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.86 (total posts: 1)

Todd Bowles is almost 50

Brandon 01-16-2012 10:30 am xxx.xxx.xxx.243 (total posts: 1)

Love Mike Zimmer and the Bucs. Glad someone is talking about the two together

denver 01-16-2012 07:32 am xxx.xxx.xxx0.83 (total posts: 1)

100% agree with the need of a dt...! it was not just in this game - then the o-line doubles dumervil and miller or just takes them out, there no other guy to put pressure on them... ..one more pass rusher would be great...

John L. 01-09-2012 09:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.24 (total posts: 1)

@Vince

If NFL teams haven't learned by now the idiocy of drafting a RB high, they never will.

Tyler 01-09-2012 05:48 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.111 (total posts: 2)

I keep hearing that this is the first draft that the Lions can realistically consider targeting a need over sheer talent and that scares me. Mayhew is proven that he can build up a team by drafting the Fairleys of the world, but the one high pick he's used on need versus talent is Jahvid Best. That pick clearly isn't working out. Personally I hope the continue to address need via free agency and talent via the draft.

Vince 01-09-2012 05:32 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.99 (total posts: 2)

Does anyone else think the Bengals won't be able to land Trent Richardson? I feel like he'll be gone by the seventeenth pick.

Matt 01-09-2012 02:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.37 (total posts: 1)

I'm a Ravens fan, so I'd love for the steelers to waste a pick on a linebacker, but why would they chose a OLB when Harrison is still playing lights out and they still have Woodley? They would need a corner more than anything...by all means take a LB though lol

Tyler 01-03-2012 03:45 am xxx.xxx.xxx.111 (total posts: 2)

151

Andrew Luck did not look like an elite quarterback tonight. Yeah, the guy completes passes, but he seemed like a Jeff Garcia-esque dink and dunker against OK State. If I'm the Colts and I'm thinking about replacing Peyton Manning, I'd want a Matthew Stafford level talent.

I think he's a guy that is masked by a stellar run game and defense. No way I'd draft him 1st overall. Trade the pick, Colts.

Matt 01-02-2012 08:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx2.43 (total posts: 1)

187

I agree 100% with Ram Guy. They need a WR very badly in STL. I never got why Left Tackle became such a huge priority anyway. Look at the past few LTs taken in the top 5. Joe Thomas, Jake Long, Jason Smith, Trent Williams, Levi Brown. Some are great. Some are OK. Some are busts. But they all have one thing in common... the teams that drafted them still suck.

Ram Guy 01-02-2012 04:07 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.90 (total posts: 1)

No way the Rams stay pat and draft Kalil. If they had a lower pick, they certainly wouldn't give up picks to move up and draft Kalil, so no way in hell do they reject picks to stay at #2 and draft him...especially now that they've cleaned house and Brandon Lloyd won't be there next season since McDaniels won't be. WR is now priority 1 and 2 for the Rams.

Redskins WR 01-02-2012 12:17 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.188 (total posts: 1)

Nobody around the Redskins has said anything about drafting a WR. With the excellent WR FA class, they'll do something like Robert Meachem, Mario Manningham or something of that ilk. With the massive C/G and CB needs, in addition to QB, there's no reason to think WR would get taken when those other positions are much stronger/round specific in this draft.

AJ 01-02-2012 12:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.130 (total posts: 1)

Redskins aren't sending their 6th-round pick to New Orleans this year. Jammal Brown needed to play 90% of snaps in 2010. He only played 86%.

http://www.hogshaven.com/2011/5/16/2173459/redskins-narrowly-avoid-losing-2012-6th-round-pick-for-jammal-brown

Matt 01-02-2012 07:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx.252 (total posts: 1)

The Rams neeeeed to pick Kalil. Bradford will thrive with decent protection.

Lol 12-26-2011 04:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx.157 (total posts: 1)

209

131

Vikings can't get the first pick, so it's impossible, not a "long shot" based on strength of schedule. Statistically eliminated.

Carl 12-21-2011 09:23 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.93 (total posts: 2)

As far as Ponder goes if the Vikings were smart as soon as F/A begins go sign Carl Nicks of New Orleans then draft Kalil in the 1st R of the 2012 Nfl Draft and if he's not there trade down and some more draft pick and then later in the 1st R draft Reiff from Iowa or Martin from Stanford. I think from the mocks i have seen so far i would take Reiff.

Pages: 12 3 4

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24

2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 22

Charlie's 2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

2012 NBA Mock Draft - May 19

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 7

Monday Morning Draft - Week 20

Leave a comment