QB Matt Ryan, OT Sam Baker, LB Curtis Lofton, CB Chevis Jackson, WR Harry Douglas, S Thomas Decoud, LB Robert James, LB Kroy Biermann, RB Thomas Brown, CB Wilfrey Fontenot, and TE Keith Zinger
Despite the Falcons fans being dismayed on draft day, I think they made a handful of decent selections. Although the fan base wanted line help in Round 1, the public perception of the Falcons needed direction and QB Matt Ryan is the guy to direct the nest. Matty Ice as they call him should provide Bucs fans a pulse worth watching on the Falcons offense outside of new RB Michael Turner. OT Sam Baker was considered a Top 15 Pick at one point, he should help a hoge poge line. Three linebackers drafted seems a bit excessive, but you know those pesky Falcons. S Thomas Decoud is an absolute stud and I'm envious of that selection... This is a solid coupe for the Falcons to start building with...
RB Jonathan Stewart, OT Jeff Otah, CB Charles Godfrey, LB Dan Conner, TE Gary Barnidge, DL Nick Hayden, LB Hilee Taylor, OL Geoff Schwartz, and OG Mackenzy Bernadeau
What is it with John Fox and drafting Running backs? Gruden loves QB's in Tampa and Fox loves RB's in Carolina. It's seems as if a two-back system is the only way to go in this league, so move over DeAngelo Williams. The Bucs were rumored to be interested in OT Jeff Otah, its a good thing Carolina scooped him up or is it... LB Dan Conner was a projected 1st Round Draft Pick in several Mock Drafts, clearly a good value pick. Hopefully he remains on the field more than Dan Morgan. I said it over the weekend and I'll say it again, I love how Carolina took a Carolina player. Not just because Hilee plays in-state, but because local players are just easier to route for, having witnessed their abilities first hand. Again solid selections
DT Sedrick Ellis, CB Tracy Porter, DT DeMario Pressley, OT Carl Nicks, K Taylor Mehlhaff, and WR Adrian Arrington
Like the Bucs, the Saints didnt have many Draft Picks to work with. I was kind of surprised they didnt look to draft any runningbacks in a deep class of runners. Deuce nearly got cut this off-season and Reggie Bush has been far from what he was anticipated to be. The Saints first two picks solidified their draft. Sedrick Ellis is going to wreak havoc on our interior line, he's just a quick able bodied assassin. CB Tracy Porter is probably the most underrated and overlooked corner of the entire draft. He will help Saints fans forget Jason David. Pressley will either pan out or he won't, there seems to be no in-between with the guy. I don't like the Adrian Arrington pick and that fan base probably wont either...
All in all, the NFC South did a bang up job at the NFL Draft last weekend. I love it, as it just adds to the competition and makes those rivalry games that much more interesting. Hopefully Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan can keep those competitive NFC South rivalries going. If I had to rank the NFC South in terms of draft grades I would go: Panthers, Saints, Bucs, and Falcons....