NFC South: 2011 Division Preview

Atlanta Falcons

Since the latest division realignment, no team has ever repeated as NFC South Champion.  Yet despite that fact, both Adam and I predict the unprecedented.  We both call for the Atlanta Falcons to repeat and claim a hotly contested NFC South crown.

After finishing an NFC-best 13-3 in 2010, the Falcons did not want to mess with formula too much this offseason.  Atlanta made some headlining moves but not sweeping changes like the formerly 11-5 Eagles.  Chief among them was trading away two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to move up in the draft and select Julio Jones.  Though the Falcons are a talented offensive team, they lack big play threats and gain their yards methodically.  Tales out of camp proclaim Jones as the real deal, perhaps just the player Atlanta needs to put them over the top.

Jones becomes a member football’s most balanced offense.  Last year the Falcons’ leading rusher, Michael Turner, ran for 1371 yards while the leading receiver, Roddy White, accumulated 1389.  The judicious Matt Ryan comes off his best year as a pro and looks to make up for an early playoff exit.

Ryan and his offensive mates were let down last year by an overmatched secondary versus the Packers.  The Falcons did not sign anyone directly to the secondary this offseason, but they did acquire one of the most talented pass rushers available, Ray Edwards.  On the other side of John Abraham, Edwards should continue to be blocked by just one man like he grew accustomed to in Minnesota, playing with Jared Allen and the Williams boys.  Improving the pass rush and pressuring quarterbacks should at least partially ease the burden on the secondary.

Biggest Strengths: The Big Three of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White being joined by Julio Jones.

Biggest Weaknesses: Secondary.  If getting torched by Aaron Rodgers for 366 yards and three touchdowns with an 86.1 completion percentage on your home turf isn’t a wakeup call, I don’t know what is.  You can bet the Saints watched that tape.

Eric’s Prediction: 10-6, First in NFC South

Adam’s Prediction: 12-4, First in NFC South

New Orleans Saints

Though their regular season was no disappointment, the defending Super Bowl Champion losing a playoff game to a 7-9 team is an absolute embarrassment.  The New Orleans Saints must rebound with a vengeance to put that loss behind them.

I expect nothing less out of the incomparable Drew Brees.  In the perfect match of scheme to players, no one could better execute Sean Payton’s offense and spread the ball around than Brees.  Brees makes it look easy, throwing to receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, and the young, athletic tight end Jimmy Graham.

With Brees getting all the pub, an extremely underrated piece to the Saints’ 2010 Championship puzzle was their running game.  Last season injuries decimated New Orleans’ running backs, but this year they’ve retooled and are ready to run.  After already making one selection in the first round, New Orleans traded up to make a second first-round pick, with which they took Alabama running back Mark Ingram.  His physicality will be a welcome change of pace from the quick Pierre Thomas.  Also in the backfield, New Orleans traded away Reggie Bush this offseason but replaced with him with the same type of player, signing free agent Darren Sproles.

To better combat the bruising Falcons, the Saints made themselves much tougher up front by bringing in two monster defensive tackles: Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers.  Beastly Sedrick Ellis joins those two to form the best defensive tackle rotation in the NFL.  Life should be easier on the edge for the veterans Will Smith and Alex Brown and the Saints’ first first-round pick, rookie Cameron Jordan.

This season Jonathan Vilma should rack up well over 100 tackles since (A) Ellis, Franklin, and Rogers will adeptly occupy blockers in front of him, and (B) the Saints don’t have any other surefire tacklers in the linebacking corps.

My pick for the Saints’ top defensive player, Malcolm Jenkins—who did not play in the playoff loss to the Seahawks—and Tracy Porter make up one half of a very good secondary.  Between last year’s first-round pick, Patrick Robinson, and a few other veterans, the Saints should be able to field a solid second half.

Biggest Strengths: Drew Brees and his toys.

Biggest Weaknesses: Other than Jonathan Vilma, the linebackers don’t blow you away.

Eric’s Prediction: 10-6, Second in NFC South

Adam’s Prediction: 12-4, Second in NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A year ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a team that beat everyone on their schedule they should have beaten but no one perhaps they shouldn’t have.  It’ll take winning a few of those games in the latter category if they want to take the NFC South Title.  (Their only win against an above-.500 team last year came Week 17 against the Saints, who rested many of their starters.)

The future is bright in Tampa though.  The Buccaneers are a very young team with a rising star quarterback, Josh Freeman.  In just his second year in the league, Freeman posted a 96 passer rating, throwing 25 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions.  He was also the second-leading rusher among NFL quarterbacks with 364 yards on the ground.  At 6’6”, 250 pounds and with top-5 arm strength, the kid is already awesome and has unlimited potential to boot.  Based on Freeman’s smarts, work ethic, and the situation he currently finds himself in, it’s no stretch to believe Freeman completely fulfills his potential this season.

As for weapons at Freeman’s disposal, Mike Williams had a great rookie season last year, and another 2010 rookie, Arrelious Benn, continues to ascend on the opposite side.  Sammie Stroughter and Michael Spurlock solidly round out the receiving corps.  Over the middle, the Bucs have one of the league’s top tight ends in Kellen Winslow Jr., who despite a reputation for being injury-prone, has played in all sixteen games both of his seasons as a Buccaneer.

Davin Joseph, Jeff Faine, and Donald Penn constitute a sound unit along the offensive line.  They protected well and provided ample running room last year for rookie LeGarrette Blount.  If Blount can repeat his success, the Tampa Bay offense can be very good.

In each of the past two years, Tampa Bay spent their first two draft picks on defensive linemen.  Last year they acquired Gerald McCoy and Brian Price and this year nabbed Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers.  McCoy and Price certainly did not set the world on fire in 2010, so let’s hope those two can progress and the Bucs do a little better with their choices of Clayborn and Bowers this season.

Behind that line of high draft picks though, there’s not much discernable talent on defense.  The team’s leading tackler, Barrett Ruud, departed via free agency; cornerback Ronde Barber is 300 years old; and on the other side of Barber is the talented but complete head case Aqib Talib.

Biggest Strengths: Raheem Morris rallying this young team around Josh Freeman.

Biggest Weaknesses: Inexperience across the board and an overall lack of defensive talent.

Eric’s Prediction: 9-7, Third in NFC South

Adam’s Prediction: 11-5, Third in NFC South

Carolina Panthers

Lights.  CAM-era.  Action.  (Adam said I had to write that.)

By drafting Cam Newton with the first overall pick, the Carolina Panthers certainly look like they are Newton’s team.  Newton has played well enough in the preseason for that to be the case as well.  What the future holds for Jimmy Clausen, Hill 364’s top quarterback prospect from a year ago, remains to be seen.

The Panthers will surround their rookie signal caller with a modest amount of established players.  One cannot argue with the smash and dash of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  It is up to the Panthers to utilize both runners to the best of their abilities.  Carolina is still searching for the heir apparent to Steve Smith, but for now, Steve Smith will have to do.  Athletic tight end Greg Olsen did not fit in Mike Martz’s offense, so Chicago traded him to Carolina, where he will be a valued safety net for a rookie quarterback learning the NFL ropes.

Defensively, Charles Johnson parlayed an 11.5-sack season out from underneath Julius Peppers’ shadow into a big payday.  We’ll see if he produces at the same clip now that he flies a little less under the radar and teams prepare for him.  I happen to think Jon Beason is a bit overrated as he’s by far the best player on a bad defense, but I will admit that on the Panthers he’s a tackling machine that lays the wood.

Biggest Strengths: Carolina’s offensive line featuring Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah is one of the best in football, and they love blowing open holes for the talented DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Biggest Weaknesses: A recognizable defense, they don’t have it.  If the rookie Cam Newton doesn’t start, their other two options are Jimmy Clausen and Derek Anderson, and neither of those guys instill any confidence whatsoever.

Eric’s Prediction: 1-15, Fourth in NFC South

Adam’s Prediction: 4-12, Fourth in NFC South

--from @jeuneski

NFL Draft Grades 2011: NFC South

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

Division Breakdown: NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

I love the Falcons' offensive personnel.  Matt Ryan will be a Pro Bowler this year, and with the cast of Michael Turner, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez, this offense could be truly dynamic.  I also love the Falcons signing Dunta Robinson, a top corner in his prime.  First round linebacker Sean Witherspoon is a dynamic athlete that should start from day one.  Defensively, the Falcons need second year man Peria Jerry to step up, and they need to get something from former first rounder Jamaal Anderson.  John Abraham is a great pass rusher but must stay healthy.  Curtis Lofton is totally solid at middle linebacker.  Outside of Dunta Robinson, the secondary is worrisome, but if they can generate pass rush everything should work out.  This is a team with a very high ceiling, and I like them to take the division.

New Orleans Saints

Repeating as champs, or much less making the playoffs consecutively is incredibly difficult in the NFL.  Drew Brees and his arsenal of Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Jeremy Shockey, and Devery Henderson are as explosive as it gets, and the offensive line is better than most.  I think the defense slid by a bit last year, getting by on taking chances and employing an overly aggressive scheme.  This year I think teams will catch up with Gregg Williams and the Saints will be in more shootouts than they would like.  Sedrick Ellis, Jonathan Vilma, and Tracy Porter give the Saints talent at each level of the defense, but there is not enough quality or depth for this team to reach the Super Bowl again.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers get major props from me for getting Jimmy Clausen in the second round.  The guy can play, his touchdown-to-interception ratio on a pass-happy Notre Dame team was 29-4 last year.  He has the arm, the pedigree, and has played in an NFL system.  I think he will start some games this year.  If he does he will be aided by the best running back duo in football, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  Steve Smith just broke his arm, and is getting older, but should be ready for the season and is still a dynamic wideout.  The offensive line is big and talented.  Ryan Kalil is one of the league's better centers and ditto for Jeff Otah and Jordan Gross at the tackle positions.  Still, the offense will struggle with its inexperienced quarterbacks without great receiving weapons.  The defense has lost a lot of talent with the defection of Julius Peppers and the season-ending injury to linebacker Thomas Davis.  Jon Beason is a stud at linebacker but he is the only real playmaker on the front seven.  The corners are solid with Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall.  This is a team that needs some more playmakers and to replenish the defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I like Josh Freeman and think if nothing else he will be a solid QB in this league.  Cadillac Williams had a nice bounce back last year but is incredibly injury prone.  Ernest Graham is a serviceable backup.  This team has almost nothing at receiver after Antonio Bryant left for the Bengals.  Kellen Winslow is their best talent but is injury prone and not the athlete he once was.  The offensive line is solid with underrated Donald Penn at left tackle, Jeff Faine playing well at center, and Davin Joseph as one of the league's best guards.  The defense got a boost with the arrival of top picks, defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.  Both are top talents, although they will have their growing pains adjusting to the NFL game.  The linebacking core is subpar.  The secondary is so-so but young corner Aqib Talib is very good.  This is a team that is a long ways from contention.

Final Standings

Atlanta Falcons 11-5

New Orleans Saints 10-6

Carolina Panthers 6-10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12

Draftaganza! - NFC South

This is the seventh in a series of eight posts from Adam analyzing the 2010 NFL Draft and what it means for each franchise.

This is a division characterized by a dichotomy between haves and have-nots.  The Falcons and Saints have as much talent as any teams in football, at least offensively.  The Buccaneers and Panthers are both rebuilding, but the Panthers might be in an even tougher spot because they are still under the impression that they can compete, whereas the reality is that they will soon have to rip this team apart and start from scratch.  The Bucs have already acknowledged that this is the case and have begun a full-fledged rebuilding effort.  Who knows how the Saints will respond to the role of defending champs?   I don't buy that they have been partying too much.  What I do buy is that it is incredibly difficult to stay on top in this league year after year.  The Saints' offense should be potent once again with Drew Brees leading a diverse and explosive cast of characters, and receiving great protection up front.  However, I think the Saints got by last year with a bit of a gimmicky defense led by a very good coordinator in Gregg Williams.  I love the Falcons' offense with Matt Ryan—a top 3-5 quarterback in this league for the next ten years, Michael Turner as a true feature back, Roddy White as a Pro Bowl wide out, and Tony Gonzalez, who is old but still as productive as any tight end in the game.  The Falcons added the best cornerback on the free agent market in Dunta Robinson to a defense that really needed some help.  I think just due to the difficulty of replicating success in this league I give the Falcons the edge to take this division.  I also like Michael Turner to have a bit of a bounce back year and for Matt Ryan to reach a truly elite level.

 Atlanta Falcons

1.19 Weatherspoon, Sean, LB, Missouri

3.19 Peters, Corey, DT, Kentucky

3.34 Johnson, Mike, OG, Alabama

4.19 Hawley, Joe, OG, UNLV

5.4 Franks, Dominique, CB, Oklahoma

5.34 Meier, Kerry, WR, Kansas

6.2 Schillinger, Shann, S, Montana

 

To me, the Falcons added two very good defensive players this offseason: Dunta Robinson via free agency and Sean Weatherspoon via the draft.  Any time you bring in two guys that will start immediately and have Pro Bowl potential, you have made you team and your unit, in this case defense, exponentially better.  I think Matt Ryan in his third year settles in and firmly takes command of the offense and the array of weapons (Turner, Jerious Norwood, White, Gonzalez) that surround him.  Combine this with a defense that is young and improving by adding serious talent, and I think we have our division favorite.  What this team needs—looking at last season—is simply for the offense to gel and the defense to add talent.  I think both of these elements will come together this year for the Falcons and with health, this team should be hosting a playoff game.  Mike Johnson is just a very solid offensive guard, and I always like SEC linemen because playing in the SEC is like playing in the minor leagues in baseball.  It is a higher level of competition than any other conference in the NCAA and really prepares guys for the NFL level of physicality.  Corey Peters is very talented defensive tackle who contributed immediately as a freshman in college, although his production since then was sporadic.  If he pans out and Peria Jerry can develop, the Falcons should have a nice tackle tandem to anchor their defensive front.

Carolina Panthers

2.16 Clausen, Jimmy, QB, Notre Dame
3.14 LaFell, Brandon, WR, LSU
3.25 Edwards, Armanti, QB, Appalacian St.
4.26 Norwood, Eric, LB, South Carolina
6.6 Hardy, Greg, DE, Mississippi
6.29 Gettis, David, WR, Baylor
6.33 Pugh, Jordan, DB, Texas A&M
6.35 Pike, Tony, QB, Cincinnati
7.16 Stanford, R.J., DB, Utah
7.42 McClain, Robert, DB, Connecticut

This is a team in decline even if they don't know it, or worse, refuse to admit it.  However, I give them huge ups for getting one of the best players in the draft, Jimmy Clausen, in the mid-second round.  Not only was Clausen one of the best players in the draft, but he is a quarterback, a position of inherently great value.  There are plenty of Clausen detractors out there, but I like the guy.  First, he played in the definition of a "pro style" offense as he was coached by a former great NFL offensive coordinator in Charlie Weis.  Second, he was supposed to be great coming out of high school and he did not disappoint.  It took him a few years, but last year he was tremendous.  Any time a guy gets hyped a ton and lives up to it, I tend to believe, first, that he can handle pressure, and second, where there's smoke there's fire, meaning if he was thought to be great and he played great, then he probably is great.  Sure, last year at Notre Dame he did not win a ton of games, but the offense scored a ton of points, and it's not the quarterback's job to stop the opposing team's offense.  He did his job, put points on the board, and he did it very well.  Here's another thing to consider: Notre Dame was trailing in nearly every game they played last year leading to a high pass attempt total, and yet his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 29-4, just FOUR interceptions all year in a typically pass-heavy, comeback mode offense.  In addition, he has a big time arm.  So let's review: Clausen played in and is well-versed in an NFL system, had a great pedigree coming to the Irisht, matched his pedigree with terrific production, and has all the physical tools needed to succeed.  His one drawback seems to be that people think he's cocky.  For me, that is an asset at the most pressure-packed position in sports.  He has everything you could ask for; he is smart, talented, productive, and acclimated to the NFL system.  He was a steal in the second round and would have been a steal anywhere outside of the first five picks.  Brandon LaFell will be a nice, productive receiver, but never a star.  He is solidly built, has good hands and good balance, but he will not be a guy that defenses lose sleep over.  Armanti Edwards is a flyer pick who will try to find another position in the NFL.  My guess is you won't know his name in three years.  Eric Norwood could start for this team at linebacker this year.  Tony Pike is a good value and could serve as trade bait down the road.  Clausen makes this draft, but his value may not be seen instantly because this is a team on the way down.  I do think Clausen will start at least some games this year, if not all of them, and will be aided by a very good running back tandem in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  Steve Smith is still a Pro Bowler, but is declining, and the defense lost its most talented player in Julius Peppers.

New Orleans Saints

1.32 Robinson, Patrick, CB, Florida State
2.32 Brown, Charles, OT, Southern Cal
3.31 Graham, Jimmy, TE, Miami
4.25 Woods, Al, DT, LSU
5.27 Tennant, Matt, C, Boston College
7.32 Canfield, Sean, QB, Oregon State
 

New Orleans did not put together a particularly awe-inspiring draft.  Patrick Robinson is a nice athlete but he is one of those wild guesses at an especially difficult to project position like corner.  Charles Brown should be a good fit because his strength is pass protection, and he is mobile and athletic.  Yet, he slid down draft boards steadily throughout the draft process.  The rest of the picks seem like throwaways or flyer picks.  This is a team that did not need a huge boost because they are the defending champs, but realize, that for every champ every year the stars align and to repeat takes serious additions and improvements.  I don't think the Saints made them.  Brees will be great again and the offense will score, but I think the defense will slide and they simply won't be quite as lucky this year.  I see this team going 10-6 and scaring the daylights out of whoever they meet in the playoffs, but ultimately unable to repeat last year's results.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1.3 McCoy, Gerald, DT, Oklahoma
2.3 Price, Brian, DT, UCLA
2.7 Benn, Arrelious, WR, Illinois
3.3 Lewis, Myron, CB, Vanderbilt
4.3 Williams, Mike, WR, Syracuse
6.3 Bowden, Brent, P, Virginia Tech
7.3 Grimm, Cody, LB, Virginia Tech
7.10 Watson, Dekoda, LB, Florida State
7.46 Lorig, Erik, DE, Stanford

Scouts love McCoy, and I am not a defensive tackle exert, but I will say that McCoy has much bigger bust potential than Ndamukong Suh.  McCoy is vastly talented but he is a guy that relies so much on quickness and athleticism; those things can leave quickly with one serious knee injury easy to come by on the defensive line.  He is reasonably strong, but not elite for his position.  For a defensive tackle he has a very good nose for the ball and fits well in the Tampa system, but I am not sure that he will be an outright star.  Brian Price could have been a top-25 pick so the Bucs get good value with him, and I always like when teams spend multiple picks on one unit (in this case the defensive line) because it almost always ensures you will get at least one guy that pans out and can improve your team, if not two.  The best case for the Bucs is that both these guys reach their potential and they have an absolutely tenacious middle of their defense.  Arrelious Benn had enough talent to go in the top fifteen picks, but was hampered by playing on a bad college team with a bad passer, namely Juice Williams.  The Bucs may not be ready to maximize Benn's talent right away, but overall I like Josh Freeman and think that he will develop into an effective passer.  Mike Williams from Syracuse is another guy with first-round potential, and if he can keep his head straight, he could form a very nice, young duo with Benn to complement Kellen Winslow.  Myron Lewis is another good value at a place of need for the Bucs, although pretty much every position is a place of need for this team.  I like the talent they added in the draft, but we may not see it manifested on the field for a while.  This team is raw but has some nice, young talent and just needs a few more good drafts and steady management to get back into contention.