The Falcons used their first two picks to upgrade a weakness, their defense
How did your team do in the NFL draft? FantasyPros expert Brian Riedmiller has the review on all 32 NFL teams, complete with winners, losers, and draft grades. All teams are graded on an A through F scale, where “C” is average. So what are the grades? Read on to find out!
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Grading the NFC South
- Winners – Atlanta Falcons
- Losers – Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
Immediate Needs – ILB / OLB
Long-Term Needs – SS / OG / DT
Depth Possibilities – DE
I’m just as excited for Atlanta about their second-round pick Deion Jones, a hybrid linebacker from LSU, as I am for their first-round pick Keanu Neal. With Neal, he’s good at both hitting and covering, though I would be concerned with his penchant for hard hitting being as big of a hindrance as it is an asset. Although tight end has been a weak point since Tony Gonzalez retired, I’m up in the air if a guy like Austin Hooper is a good enough athlete to be a difference maker at the position. Now, couple this with the fact that they didn’t do anything to address their defensive line at all, and I’m not ready to say that they get an immediate “A” for a handful of good picks.
FantasyPros Draft Grade: B
Carolina Panthers
Immediate Needs – DE
Long-Term Needs – OT / SS /CB
Depth Possibilities – RB / DT / TE
Carolina started their draft of only five picks out with a solid selection of Vernon Butler, defensive tackle from Louisiana Tech. Butler is a large body, which will give them some necessary depth on the defensive line, allowing them to continue to get pressure with less guys. In the middle rounds, the Panthers stuck with their defense, drafting three defensive backs in an attempt to fill the void left by losing Josh Norman while also needing safety help. However, even their general manager admitted the cardinal sin of drafting; going for need rather than best available. Although they got some decent value in fifth-round pick Zach Sanchez from Oklahoma, second-round pick James Bradberry lacks some of the necessary skills that you would need out of a second rounder to replace Norman sooner than later.
FantasyPros Draft Grade: C-
New Orleans Saints
Immediate Needs – DT / OG / DE
Long-Term Needs – OLB
Depth Possibilities – WR / FS / K
The drafting of Sheldon Rankins, a true defensive tackle from Louisville, fills a glaring need in the Saints’ porous defense that was historically bad last season. Rankins, a true first round talent, will be able to get to the quarterback in a hurry and give the Saints what they need up front. Behind him, they added a first-round talent in safety Vonn Bell at the end of the second round. Bell is fast with good hands but also has good ball skills and could be moved around as a safety or corner as needed. They ended the day with only five players, but three of the four came within the first two rounds, adding Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas in round two. Thomas gives the Saints the large target they need to replace Marques Colston. Although they couldn’t fill all their needs with a few picks, they failed to address their depth concerns at guard and linebacker. In true Saints’ fashion, they added a skill player in the final round over more of a need, an offensive lineman. Overall, the Saints got great value in some of their picks, but they couldn’t quite address all their needs.
FantasyPros Draft Grade: C+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Immediate Needs – DE / SS / CB
Long-Term Needs – DT / WR / OG
Depth Possibilities – OLB / OT
The pick of Vernon Hargreaves in the first round gives Tampa Bay what they lacked last season – a force in the secondary. Just because they got one playmaker in the first round doesn’t mean they couldn’t add more secondary help in Ryan Smith from North Carolina Central in round four, who will give them depth a few years down the road. I don’t approve of the selection of kicker Roberto Aguayo in round two, and even in round six a fullback in Dan Vitale from Northwestern seems like a position for my grandfather’s football and not mine. Still, from a high-level perspective, their early-round picks scream “safe” and “playmaker,” and their late-round picks scream “upside.” At the end of the day, I would be happy if my team drafted as well as the Bucs drafted, putting aside the small disagreements with a pick here or there.
FantasyPros Draft Grade: B-
Here are Brian’s draft grades for other divisions:
Brian Riedmiller is a fantasy correspondent for FantasyPros.com. He has been playing fantasy football for over a decade and is an avid Eagles fan. You can catch him on Twitter under the handle @FantasyCouncil.
