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| Draft Report Card Formula Rate each draft selection on a scale from one to ten, considering the selection spot, value, and team need. Rate the usage of draft picks for each team's need on a scale from one to ten. Decide the average from the picks and calculate the totals to find the overall Draft Report score. We grade each pick the same from the first round to the seventh. |
NFC South Draft Report Card
5/15/2008
Final Draft Report Card Scores
1. New Orleans Saints - 7.1 out of 10
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 6.6 out of 10
3. Carolina Panthers - 5.7 out of 10
4. Atlanta Falcons - 5.1 out of 10
1. New Orleans Saints (7.1 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 7 - DT Sedrick Ellis (USC) - Score: 8
Round 2, Pick 9 - CB Tracy Porter (Indiana) - Score: 7
Round 5, Pick 9 - DT DeMario Pressley (N.C. State) - Score: 6
Round 5, Pick 29 - OT Carl Nicks (Nebraska) - Score: 6
Round 6, Pick 12 - K Taylor Mehlhaff (Wisconsin) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 30 - WR Adrian Arrington (Michigan) - Score: 7
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 9
Notes
The Saints entered the draft needing a pair of defensive tackles. They grabbed Sedrick Ellis, our
top DT for some time and DeMario Pressley. Pressley, believe it or not, was at one point con-
sidered to be a guaranteed first day pick. He had a down senior year for a talent-starved Wolfpack
program. Ellis will be on of the guys from this class that will dominate as a rookie, stuffing the
run as we think he has better potential than current Titans' DT Albert Haynesworth.
The Saints spent a ton of money in free agency addressing their secondary but needed depth
and they got cover-man abilities in Porter. He will be a nickel back to start the season but may
end up starting over CB Mike McKenzie in a year or two.
Former Cornhusker Carl Nicks had a string of run-in's with the law, which is why his stock fell, but Nicks is a premium value pick in the fifth round. If he can keep
the cuffs off of his wrists, he will be starting in the NFL for a long time.
New Orleans needed consistency at placekicker and may have found the 2008 Nick Folk with Mehlhaff. Adrian Arrington in the seventh round is a steal because
he slid due to his measurables not being up to par. Arrington is still a gamer and may contribute consistently down the road.
5/15/2008
Final Draft Report Card Scores
1. New Orleans Saints - 7.1 out of 10
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 6.6 out of 10
3. Carolina Panthers - 5.7 out of 10
4. Atlanta Falcons - 5.1 out of 10
1. New Orleans Saints (7.1 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 7 - DT Sedrick Ellis (USC) - Score: 8
Round 2, Pick 9 - CB Tracy Porter (Indiana) - Score: 7
Round 5, Pick 9 - DT DeMario Pressley (N.C. State) - Score: 6
Round 5, Pick 29 - OT Carl Nicks (Nebraska) - Score: 6
Round 6, Pick 12 - K Taylor Mehlhaff (Wisconsin) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 30 - WR Adrian Arrington (Michigan) - Score: 7
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 9
Notes
The Saints entered the draft needing a pair of defensive tackles. They grabbed Sedrick Ellis, our
top DT for some time and DeMario Pressley. Pressley, believe it or not, was at one point con-
sidered to be a guaranteed first day pick. He had a down senior year for a talent-starved Wolfpack
program. Ellis will be on of the guys from this class that will dominate as a rookie, stuffing the
run as we think he has better potential than current Titans' DT Albert Haynesworth.
The Saints spent a ton of money in free agency addressing their secondary but needed depth
and they got cover-man abilities in Porter. He will be a nickel back to start the season but may
end up starting over CB Mike McKenzie in a year or two.
Former Cornhusker Carl Nicks had a string of run-in's with the law, which is why his stock fell, but Nicks is a premium value pick in the fifth round. If he can keep
the cuffs off of his wrists, he will be starting in the NFL for a long time.
New Orleans needed consistency at placekicker and may have found the 2008 Nick Folk with Mehlhaff. Adrian Arrington in the seventh round is a steal because
he slid due to his measurables not being up to par. Arrington is still a gamer and may contribute consistently down the road.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6.6 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 20 - CB Aqib Talib (Kansas) - Score: 7
Round 2, Pick 27 - WR Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State) - Score: 6
Round 3, Pick 20 - OG Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers) - Score: 5
Round 4, Pick 16 - DT Dre Moore (Maryland) - Score: 7
Round 5, Pick 25 - QB Josh Johnson (San Diego) - Score: 8
Round 6, Pick 9 - OLB Geno Hayes (Florida State) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 31 - RB Cory Boyd (South Carolina) - Score: 5
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 8
Notes
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the playoffs last year but still needed a lot of things through the draft.
They addressed their most obvious need in the first round with troubled CB Aqib Talib. With Mike Jenkins on the board, this is a bit of a reach but Talib has great
playmaking skills and could make offensive coordinators plan around this defense a little more in 2008.
In the second round, the Buccaneers reached big time with Dexter Jackson. We gave him a 6 because of his return abilities but he is nothing more than a
WR-project down the road. Besides, their first round pick can return kicks and punts too. Down in the seventh, the Bucs took Cory Boyd. Boyd runs a little too
upright and can be sluggish at times.
OG Jeremy Zuttah in the third is a reach by our standards. A lot of people were amped up by Zuttah after his pro day workouts but we're not.
DT Dre Moore was a good value pick as he could contribute immediately and Geno Hayes can play at OLB or ILB.
QB Josh Johnson was a great pick as he is suited to be a west coast offense QB.
3. Carolina Panthers (5.7 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 13 - RB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) - Score: 3
Round 1, Pick 19 - OT Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) - Score: 5
Round 3, Pick 4 - CB Charles Godfrey (Iowa) - Score: 8
Round 3, Pick 11 - MLB Dan Connor (Penn State) - Score: 8
Round 5, Pick 6 - TE Gary Barnidge (Louisville) - Score: 4
Round 6, Pick 15 - DT Nick Hayden (Wisconsin) - Score: 6
Round 7, Pick 14 - DE Hilee Taylor (North Carolina) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 34 - OT Geoff Schwartz (Oregon) - Score: 6
Round 7, Pick 43 - OG Mackenzy Bernadeau (Bentley College) - Score: 2
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 8
Notes
The Carolina Panthers received an 8 because they did address their team needs whole heartedly (minus S) but didn't do it with the appropriate picks.
We were wowed to hear Jonathan Stewart's name at 13. The Panthers just got rid of an injury prone RB and replaced him with one coming off of surgery. Then,
the Panthers give up everything (well, almost) to draft OT Jeff Otah, a guy with great upside but he is a bit of a project. Geoff Schwartz in the seventh round was a
steal for Carolina as he could even play guard and the Bernadeau selection is just a throw-away, camp body pick.
The Panthers made two great moves by securing Godfrey and Connor. Both of those were early second round picks by our estimation.
TE Gary Barnidge will not do much to test Jeff King's spot as the No. 1 TE on the depth chart but he does have reliable hands.
DT Nick Hayden is a brick house on the interior but he has shady footwork and he doesn't use his hands well.
Hilee Taylor was a steal in the seventh round. He will be grouped up with Charles Johnson and former Tar Heel himself Julius Peppers. Remember Taylor's
name because he could become the next Brett Keisel -- A seventh round steal at defensive end.
4. Atlanta Falcons (5.1 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 3 - QB Matt Ryan (Boston College) - Score: 6
Round 1, Pick 21 - OT Sam Baker (USC) - Score: 4
Round 2, Pick 6 - ILB Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma) - Score: 7
Round 3, Pick 5 - CB Chevis Jackson (LSU) - Score: 5
Round 3, Pick 21 - WR Harry Douglas (Louisville) - Score: 3
Round 3, Pick 35 - S Thomas DeCoud (California) - Score: 5
Round 5, Pick 3 - OLB Robert James (Arizona State) - Score: 8
Round 5, Pick 19 - OLB Kroy Bierrman (Montana) - Score: 6
Round 6, Pick 6 - RB Thomas Brown (Georgia) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 5 - CB Wilrey Fontenot (Arizona) - Score: 3
Round 7, Pick 25 - TE Keith Zinger (Duke) - Score: 4
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 4
Notes
The Atlanta Falcons needed defensive line help, immediately, and with HC Mike Smith coming from
Jacksonville, one would think they would have grabbed some help as the only legitimate defensive
lineman they have is last year's first round pick DE Jamaal Anderson.
QB Matt Ryan is a great pick but with Sedrick Ellis and Glenn Dorsey on the board, they should have gone
in another direction.
Sam Baker was a reach this year, although in 2007, this may have been considered a value pick. He may ultimately end up as a right tackle. Where is the blind
side protection?
They did give an added boost to the linebacker corps with Lofton and James. Bierrman will be a special team's guy.
CBs Jackson and Fontenot are nothing special and S Thomas DeCoud is an overrated third round prospect, one guy that we were never too keen on.
Harry Douglas is too small and couldn't fill Roscoe Parrish's cleats while Keith Zinger will be lucky to last with the team through July.
Thomas Brown is a solid addition that will compete with Jerious Norwood.
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 20 - CB Aqib Talib (Kansas) - Score: 7
Round 2, Pick 27 - WR Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State) - Score: 6
Round 3, Pick 20 - OG Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers) - Score: 5
Round 4, Pick 16 - DT Dre Moore (Maryland) - Score: 7
Round 5, Pick 25 - QB Josh Johnson (San Diego) - Score: 8
Round 6, Pick 9 - OLB Geno Hayes (Florida State) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 31 - RB Cory Boyd (South Carolina) - Score: 5
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 8
Notes
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the playoffs last year but still needed a lot of things through the draft.
They addressed their most obvious need in the first round with troubled CB Aqib Talib. With Mike Jenkins on the board, this is a bit of a reach but Talib has great
playmaking skills and could make offensive coordinators plan around this defense a little more in 2008.
In the second round, the Buccaneers reached big time with Dexter Jackson. We gave him a 6 because of his return abilities but he is nothing more than a
WR-project down the road. Besides, their first round pick can return kicks and punts too. Down in the seventh, the Bucs took Cory Boyd. Boyd runs a little too
upright and can be sluggish at times.
OG Jeremy Zuttah in the third is a reach by our standards. A lot of people were amped up by Zuttah after his pro day workouts but we're not.
DT Dre Moore was a good value pick as he could contribute immediately and Geno Hayes can play at OLB or ILB.
QB Josh Johnson was a great pick as he is suited to be a west coast offense QB.
3. Carolina Panthers (5.7 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 13 - RB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) - Score: 3
Round 1, Pick 19 - OT Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) - Score: 5
Round 3, Pick 4 - CB Charles Godfrey (Iowa) - Score: 8
Round 3, Pick 11 - MLB Dan Connor (Penn State) - Score: 8
Round 5, Pick 6 - TE Gary Barnidge (Louisville) - Score: 4
Round 6, Pick 15 - DT Nick Hayden (Wisconsin) - Score: 6
Round 7, Pick 14 - DE Hilee Taylor (North Carolina) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 34 - OT Geoff Schwartz (Oregon) - Score: 6
Round 7, Pick 43 - OG Mackenzy Bernadeau (Bentley College) - Score: 2
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 8
Notes
The Carolina Panthers received an 8 because they did address their team needs whole heartedly (minus S) but didn't do it with the appropriate picks.
We were wowed to hear Jonathan Stewart's name at 13. The Panthers just got rid of an injury prone RB and replaced him with one coming off of surgery. Then,
the Panthers give up everything (well, almost) to draft OT Jeff Otah, a guy with great upside but he is a bit of a project. Geoff Schwartz in the seventh round was a
steal for Carolina as he could even play guard and the Bernadeau selection is just a throw-away, camp body pick.
The Panthers made two great moves by securing Godfrey and Connor. Both of those were early second round picks by our estimation.
TE Gary Barnidge will not do much to test Jeff King's spot as the No. 1 TE on the depth chart but he does have reliable hands.
DT Nick Hayden is a brick house on the interior but he has shady footwork and he doesn't use his hands well.
Hilee Taylor was a steal in the seventh round. He will be grouped up with Charles Johnson and former Tar Heel himself Julius Peppers. Remember Taylor's
name because he could become the next Brett Keisel -- A seventh round steal at defensive end.
4. Atlanta Falcons (5.1 out of 10)
Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 3 - QB Matt Ryan (Boston College) - Score: 6
Round 1, Pick 21 - OT Sam Baker (USC) - Score: 4
Round 2, Pick 6 - ILB Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma) - Score: 7
Round 3, Pick 5 - CB Chevis Jackson (LSU) - Score: 5
Round 3, Pick 21 - WR Harry Douglas (Louisville) - Score: 3
Round 3, Pick 35 - S Thomas DeCoud (California) - Score: 5
Round 5, Pick 3 - OLB Robert James (Arizona State) - Score: 8
Round 5, Pick 19 - OLB Kroy Bierrman (Montana) - Score: 6
Round 6, Pick 6 - RB Thomas Brown (Georgia) - Score: 7
Round 7, Pick 5 - CB Wilrey Fontenot (Arizona) - Score: 3
Round 7, Pick 25 - TE Keith Zinger (Duke) - Score: 4
Usage of Draft Picks for Team Needs Score: 4
Notes
The Atlanta Falcons needed defensive line help, immediately, and with HC Mike Smith coming from
Jacksonville, one would think they would have grabbed some help as the only legitimate defensive
lineman they have is last year's first round pick DE Jamaal Anderson.
QB Matt Ryan is a great pick but with Sedrick Ellis and Glenn Dorsey on the board, they should have gone
in another direction.
Sam Baker was a reach this year, although in 2007, this may have been considered a value pick. He may ultimately end up as a right tackle. Where is the blind
side protection?
They did give an added boost to the linebacker corps with Lofton and James. Bierrman will be a special team's guy.
CBs Jackson and Fontenot are nothing special and S Thomas DeCoud is an overrated third round prospect, one guy that we were never too keen on.
Harry Douglas is too small and couldn't fill Roscoe Parrish's cleats while Keith Zinger will be lucky to last with the team through July.
Thomas Brown is a solid addition that will compete with Jerious Norwood.
