Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons gave up two first round picks, a second, and a fourth to move up and select Alabama receiver Julio Jones. Julio, you better be Jerry Rice my man. That is a ton to give up, but I’m evaluating the players Atlanta added in this particular draft and not what they may have cost themselves in the long run.
I worry about the pressure on Jones, knowing how much this franchise gave up just for him, but then I realize just what type of player he is. Jones projects as a Pro Bowl talent at receiver. If he can stay healthy, he comes into a team that should be a perfect fit for him: opposite All-Pro Roddy White, hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez carves out space in the middle, young star Matt Ryan delivers passes, and perhaps the league’s best trio of running backs in Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, and Jerious Norwood top it off. In other words, Jones was the icing on the cake of an offense ready to explode.
In the third round Atlanta took inside linebacker Akeem Dent, who has the range to also play outside. He’s a solid player that could start eventually.
Next, in the fifth round Atlanta selected the jitterbug Jacquizz Rogers; I really like that pick value wise. Rogers can run between the tackles despite his 5’7” frame, and he has the perfect quickness, shiftiness, and lateral agility to be a slot receiver and kick returner. Jones and Rodgers make this Falcons team much more explosive on offense.
Other than Jones, Dent, and Rodgers, the Falcons didn’t get much. I guess you could say they didn’t have huge needs, but they rounded out their draft taking a sixth round kicker, and two seventh rounders on the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. This team needed help in the pass rush department and in the secondary. They didn’t get it.
The Falcons’ defense was decent last year, but as we saw in the 48-21 playoff torching to the Packers, it was a unit that needed improvement. Dent is a nice player, but he does nothing dramatic to improve the Falcon defense. They needed multiple high picks to make their defense tangibly better, and they didn’t make them. On the bright side, the addition of Jones and Rodgers may have created the most talented offense in the league. Perhaps Atlanta figures they aren’t far from winning a Super Bowl, and by loading up on offense, they can afford a so-so defense. They got great talent but didn’t fill nearly enough needs.
Grade: C
Carolina Panthers
With the number one overall pick you have to draft a potential franchise changer. Picking first in the draft means shelling out a huge amount of money, so getting a hugely talented player that can drastically alter the fortunes of your franchise is imperative. Normally that means taking a quarterback because that position impacts the game of football more than any other. However you feel about Cam Newton, he was the right pick.
Newton was the biggest athletic talent in the draft. He’s not Vince Young; he’s a better athlete, smarter person, tougher mentally, and better passer. He’s not Tim Tebow; Newton has much better throwing mechanics, physical stature, and running ability. What Newton is is a guy that endured a white hot spotlight amidst a college football scandal and still went 14-0 in college football’s toughest conference. He’s cocky, but that’s what I want from my franchise quarterback. Newton could bust—that’s always a possibility—but if he works as hard as he can on the mental and technical aspects of the game, he can be a superstar.
All that said, in picking Newton the Panthers still have a ton of needs to address and must decide what to do with last year’s second round pick Jimmy Clausen. I’ve long been a Clausen proponent, but clearly the Panthers don’t believe in him.
After Newton the Panthers had no second round pick but two third rounders and grabbed two defensive tackles, addressing a big need. Terrell McClain is an All-Big East player from South Florida that is stout, and has quick feet. The Panthers’ next third round pick, Sione Fua from Stanford, is strong, plays with a low base, and is excellent against the run. The Panthers may not have gotten two star defensive tackles, but they certainly got players who will see the field early and be part of a rotation inside.
Next, in the fourth round the Panthers continued to build their defense by selecting Brandon Hogan, a corner from West Virginia. He may have been a reach, but certainly corner was a need area. He’s small but smart, quick, and smooth, perhaps an ideal nickel cover man.
Carolina reached for Hawaii’s jack of all trades, Kealoha Pilares, in the fifth round. Many thought he might go undrafted, so going in the fifth was a surprise. Still, if he pans out, he’s a versatile player that can play slot receiver, take handoffs, and perhaps return kicks.
In the sixth round the Panthers added another defender in linebacker Lawrence Wilson. Though undersized and lacking great athleticism, Wilson is smart, can tackle, and covers extremely well.
This draft is all about Cam Newton. If he pans out, it’s a huge success; if he busts, it’s an all-time failure. I liked that they drafted four defensive players that can make the team and contribute in the later rounds, but I didn’t like that they failed to add any dynamic offensive talent to assist Newton. I like Newton so the grade won’t be horrible, but I think they played it too safe in the rest of the draft.
Grade: C
New Orleans Saints
It’s always hard not to get carried away with a team’s draft anytime they have two first round picks. You know both players well, have seen them play, and expect them to be starters, perhaps even big-time players.
Cameron Jordan, the defensive end from California, fits a need for the Saints, and getting him at pick 24 was probably a steal. He was a top-15 or -20 talent who brings pass rush, versatility, and run stuffing ability to an improving defensive line. Jordan will now join young stud Sedrick Ellis, behemoth Shaun Rogers, and pass rush specialist Will Smith to form an imposing defensive front.
When the Saints won the Super Bowl, a really underrated part of their success was their rushing attack. They should get back to that formula with the 28th overall pick Mark Ingram. Solid, balanced, and strong, Ingram has good burst through the hole and excellent vision. He could start immediately.
Martez Wilson (LB, Illinois) was a really nice addition in the third round. He’s a tremendous athlete and fits the fast and furious front seven Gregg Williams and the Saints appear to be developing. Flanking Jonathan Vilma, Wilson has the speed to run with any tight end, rush the passer, and track down running backs.
Louisville corner Johnny Patrick may have been a slight reach in the third round, but he joins Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, and last year’s top pick Patrick Robinson to form a really deep cornerback group. Johnny Patrick is a smart corner who is skilled enough to contribute right away and add good depth to an already talented secondary.
After Johnny Patrick the Saints didn’t pick again until the seventh round, but I think they made huge strides with their first four picks.
Cameron Jordan can be a star, and will likely start right away. Martez Wilson also has a great shot to start, and certainly upgrades the Saints’ linebacking corps. Johnny Patrick simply adds depth to what is becoming a very good secondary. These three defensive picks may vault the Saints toward having a truly elite defense.
New Orleans needs almost nothing on offense with Drew Brees, a great offensive line, and an array of talented receivers. One thing missing was a true feature back, and I believe they got that in spades by selecting Ingram. The Saints got better everywhere they needed to, and added at least two, maybe four, starting- to star-level players.
Grade: A-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just pause and think for a minute about the talent the NFC South added to their division in this draft. Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Jacquizz Rogers, Cam Newton, and now the Bucs add Adrian Clayborn, Da’Quan Bowers, and Mason Foster.
Clayborn is going to be good no matter what; I just don’t know if he’ll be great.
Bowers was the steal of the draft in the mid-second round after many thought he could be the first overall pick. There is concern about his knee, but what player in the NFL won’t have injury issues at some point?
Foster was a tremendous value in the third round. Scouts love his range, versatility, and playmaking ability, maybe the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the draft.
Luke Stocker is a big bruising tight end from Tennessee that will bring soft hands and physical blocking to an up-and-coming Bucs offense. Stocker was a good value in the fourth round.
Ahmad Black was nothing but productive as a safety at Florida. He might not have the combine numbers, but he’s a darn good football player that could start down the line.
Clayborn, Bowers, Foster, Stocker, and Black are all capable of starting, and the first three mentioned could be stars. The Bucs’ offensive line and skills positions are already young and filled with good players, so the defense was really the area of need, and they addressed it beautifully.
Grade: A
--from Adam
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