For two of the last three seasons, the NFC representative in the Super Bowl came from the NFC South. It might have something to do with two of the best five quarterbacks in the NFL residing in the division. Cam Newton isn’t too shabby either.
How important was this draft for a division that put three teams in the playoffs last year? Let’s take a look and find out.
Atlanta Falcons
The haul: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 26), Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado (Round 2, Pick 58), Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida (Round 3, Pick 90), Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss (Round 4, Pick 126), Russell Gage, WR, LSU (Round 6, Pick 194), Foye Oluokun, LB, Yale (Round 6, Pick 200)
Grade: B+
There was a definite murmur on the NFL Draft floor when the Falcons turned in their card for Calvin Ridley. It was a rich get richer scenario and one that will have Matt Ryan going even higher in your fantasy football draft this August. Oliver had a first round grade from me and plenty of other scouts, so grabbing him in the second was a steal.
Atlanta didn’t have a ton of picks to use, but the late selection that interests me is Ito Smith, the running back out of Southern Miss. This will likely be Tevin Coleman’s final year with the team, if they don’t trade him in the preseason, and Smith will be a solid replacement for the one-two backfield punch the Falcons’ offense needs to run.
Carolina Panthers
The haul: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland (Round 1, Pick 24), Donte Jackson, CB, LSU (Round 2, Pick 55), Rashaan Gaulden, Safety, Tennessee (Round 3, Pick 85), Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana (Round 4, Pick 101), Marquis Haynes, OLB, Ole Miss (Round 4, Pick 136), Jermaine Carter, ILB, Maryland (Round 5, Pick 161), Andre Smith, ILB, North Carolina (Round 7, Pick 234), Kendrick Norton, DT, Miami (Round 7, Pick 242)
Grade: B-
Moore flew up draft boards in the final couple of weeks of the draft process. While I didn’t see it, he’d hardly be the first wideout I’d missed on. The Panthers have been desperate for corners ever since they let Josh Norman walk and added a starter in Jackson and a potential starter in Gaulden, if they move him from safety. Marquis Haynes brings a pass rushing threat and value from the fourth round. He averaged eight sacks a season at Ole Miss.
New Orleans Saints
The haul: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio (Round 1, Pick 14), Tre’Quan Smith, WR, Central Florida (Round 3, Pick 91), Rick Leonard, OT, Florida State (Round 4, Pick 127), Natrell Jamerson, Safety, Wisconsin (Round 5, Pick 164), Kamrin Moore, CB, Boston College (Round 6, Pick 189), Boston Scott, RB, Louisiana Tech (Round 6, Pick 201), Will Clapp, Center, LSU (Round 7, Pick 245)
Grade: D-
I’m not sure what Sean Payton’s plan was with this draft, but it was a bad one. Not only did the Saints pick what could be a project in Davenport in the first round, they traded next year’s first round pick in order to do it. Getting Clapp, a guy who could potentially start on the O-line in a year or two, is the only thing that keeps this grade from being an F.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The haul: Vita Vea, DT, Washington (Round 1, Pick 12), Ronald Jones, RB, USC (Round 2, Pick 38), M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina (Round 2, Pick 53), Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn (Round 2, Pick 63), Alex Cappa, OG, Humboldt State (Round 3, Pick 94), Jordan Whitehead, Safety, Pittsburgh (Round 4, Pick 117), Justin Watson, WR, Pennsylvania (Round 5, Pick 144), Jack Cichy, ILB, Wisconsin (Round 6, Pick 202)
Grade: A
The Buccaneers have a loaded roster and not a single coach on the staff who knows what to do with it. Now they’ve just added more potential stars for Dirk Koetter to waste. Tampa Bay picked starting caliber players with its first and all three of its second round picks. Cichy won’t start because the Bucs are already stacked at linebacker, but he will definitely be a value pick in the sixth.
