2010 NFL Draft: NFC South Team Grades

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: C-

Players: 1^st Sean Weatherspoon- LB- Missouri, 3^rd Corey Peters- DT- Kentucky, 3^rd Mike Johnson- OG- Alabama, 4^th Joseph Hawley- OG- UNLV, 5^th Dominique Franks- CB- Oklahoma, 5^th Kerry Meier- WR- Kansas, 5^th Shann Schillinger- S- Montana

Thoughts: This isn’t the flashyiest of drafts but the Falcons addressed needs and added depth.  Sean Weatherspoon should start from day 1 and is an immediate upgrade.   He is a tackling machine that brings athleticism to the linebacking core.  Corey adds beef to the defensive line rotation and Mike Johnson has depth and insurance against injury.  Dominique Franks was a good value pick in round 5 and has a chance to fight for the nickel back position.  I was surprised to see Kerry Meier pick before teammate Dezmon Briscoe.  The class gets a lower grade because it lacks a true difference maker other than Weatherspoon.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: C+

Players: 1^st Patrick Robinson- CB- Florida State, 2^nd Charles Brown- OT- USC, 3^rd Jimmy Graham- TE- Miami, 4^th Al Woods- DT- LSU, 5^th Matt Tennant- C- Boston College, 7^th Sean Canfield- QB- Oregon State

Thoughts: The Saints got some good overall value with several of their picks.  Patrick Robinson gives the Saints options in their defensive secondary.  Also they need talent there if they want to continue their aggressive blitzing defense.  Adding a fringe 1^st rounder in the 2^nd with Charles Brown gives the pick value.  He also gives provides depth and adds insurance against injury.  I think Matt Tennant can develop into a starting center for the Saints, down the road.  I also like the Sean Canfield pick because the Saints needed a young developmental quarterback.

Carolina Panthers

Grade: D-

Players: 2^nd Jimmy Clausen- QB- Notre Dame, 3^rd Brandon LaFell- WR- LSU, 3^rd Armanti Edwards- WR- App. St., 4^th Eric Norwood- LB- South Carolina, 6^th Greg Hardy- DE- Ole Miss, 6^th David Gettis- WR- Baylor, 6^th Jordon Pugh- CB- Texas A&M, 6^th Tony Pike- QB- Cincinnati, 7^th RJ Stanford- CB- Utah, 7^th Robert McClain- CB- Connecticut

Thoughts: I really didn’t like the Panther’s draft.  While getting Jimmy Clausen at pick #48 is good value I think this team had other needs it should have addressed.  Matt Moore showed some promise at the end of last season and I think they could have held out until the 5^th or 6^th round and got someone like Dan LeFevour.  Brandon LaFell is by far the best pick for Carolina and he should come in and have an immediate impact.  There is no way Armanti Edwards is worth a 3^rd round pick this year and the 2^nd rounder they gave up next season.  While Edwards has speed he is going to take awhile to adjust to receiver in the NFL.  I am not sure where Eric Norwood fits in this defense, he is best suited for a rush 3-4 linebacker.  Taking Tony Pike in the 6^th round would have been fine had they not used their 2^nd round pick on Jimmy Clausen.  I am sure many will argue this low grade; however, I think the Panthers failed to address their key needs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: A

Players: 1^st Gerald McCoy- DT- Oklahoma, 2^nd Brian Price- DT- UCLA, 2^nd Arrelious Benn- WR- Illinois, 3^rd Myron Lewis- CB- Vanderbilt, 4^th Mike Williams- WR- Syracuse, 6^th Brent Bowden- P- Virginia Tech, 7^th Cody Grimm- S- Virginia Tech, 7^th Dekoda Watson- LB- Florida State, 7^th Erik Lorig- DE- Stanford

Thoughts: This was a great draft for the Bucs.  They got at least 5 potential starters in keep positions.  Gerald McCoy is going to be a beast and give offensives nightmares.  Getting Brian Price in the 2^nd round is good value and adds another potential playmaker along the defensive front.  Arrelious Benn will be a better pro and has the ability to develop into a top notch receiver.  Myron Lewis is an underrated corner that should be able to fit for the nickel spot.  If Mike Williams can stay focused he can be an explosive addition to this offense.  I think the Bucs added two potential special team standouts in Cody Grimm and Dekoda Watson don’t undervalue these types of players.  Overall this was a really good draft that provides playmakers on both sides of the ball.