NFC SOUTH

New Orleans

• I loved the move up to get Sedrick Ellis. NO has been looking for an elite DT since they picked Jonathon Sullivan (BUST) a few years back. The Saints identified a big need and went after the impact player they wanted. New Orleans doesn’t plan on picking this high again anytime soon, so kudos to them for making sure they swung for the fences.
• Ellis should have a big time impact; it will be hard for teams to double him because of the Saints quality edge rushers. Look for Sedrick to be the knife in the middle which helps to take the pressure off the beleaguered Saints secondary.
• Tracy Porter was a good addition to the CB group and strengthens the nickel package.
• Demario Pressley adds some good depth at the D-line, and should help keep the Saints defense strong in the middle for the next few years.
• Carl Nicks in the 5th round was a great pick, he will add some quality depth to an already strong NO line. Although probably not a tackle at the NFL level, Nicks could start at guard as early as this season.
• If you count getting Jonathon Vilma for a 4th rounder, then the Saints had an excellent draft, which rightly focused on the defensive side of the ball.

Atlanta

• With all the picks Atlanta had, it would have been hard to screw this up and come away without some quality players.
• Matt Ryan is obviously the key to this draft, and his huge contract means he is the unquestioned new leader in Atlanta. I don’t think Matty Ice is going to have any luck in his first year. He will

probably be running for his life and wondering who the hell is playing receiver out there, but he will likely start anyway.
• Sam Baker; where he was picked you can probably say it was a bit of a reach, but he fills an obvious need. You can’t discount all the games he has played at the LT position, that big time experience will help his transition. Although not an elite athletic specimen, Baker is highly intelligent and a solid technician.
• Curtis Lofton was a good value pick, and he has a chance to be another early impact player at linebacker.
• Hugh Douglas came out early, and this caused his draft stock to fall. He is very raw and will need to work extremely hard to catch up to the sophistication and athleticism of the pro game.
• Chevis Jackson may be a huge steal; he will clearly be a starter in the nickel package and may develop into a #2 corner. He has lots of experience and played for the National Champions and in the SEC, so the jump to the pro level of competition isn’t quite so large for him.

Carolina

• Jonathon Stewart is a monster, plain and simple. He is an every down stud with moves, power and speed. He went to a team that has been trying to get its power running style back ever since Stephen Davis left, and J-Stew might be just what the doctor ordered. He may be the best RB in this draft.
• Jeff Otah is a big risk, there is some injury history and a lot of teams took Otah off their boards entirely. This could be a big bust. Considering what they had to give Philly to get this pick, Otah better make some pro-bowls before he’s done. That being said, the Panthers were able to keep a very strong O-line group together and add another tackle to help ease the potential loss of Jordan Gross next year. Look for Carolina to have a very strong run game this year.
• After giving up so much to get Otah, Carolina really needed to have some good picks in the later rounds, and they did just that.
• Getting Dan Conner in the 3rd round was highway robbery. He will immediately upgrade that LB corps, and allow the Panthers to move Jon Beason to his more natural WIL position. Godfrey was another great pick in the 3rd.
• This draft met a lot of Carolinas needs, but without a 1st rounder next year, the Panthers will live or die with Jeff Otah. Personally, I expect the Panthers to be in the mix for a wildcard spot.

Tampa Bay

• This was a relatively pedestrian draft for the Buccaneers, which included a big character risk with Aqib Talib in the 1st round. Although extremely talented, Talib seems to get in serious trouble at least once a semester, so look for his turd-potential to come into play for the Bucs down the road. However, when you watch film on him he is clearly a playmaker, which means Talib could be a steal so late in the round. This one really depends on if he can grow up and stay on the field.
• Dexter Jackson is an intriguing pick. I don’t see his true value being on offense, but in the kicking game. If he becomes Devin Hester light, then good pick; if he becomes an average KR, then this pick was too high. He may be there to just clear some space for old man Galloway, and with a player like Limas Sweed still on the board, this looks like a big reach.
• Everyone seemed high on Josh Johnson, and Gruden has a huge boner for QB’s, so how did we not see this coming. Oh, maybe it’s because the Bucs already have 9 quarterbacks.
• With such a complicated offense, and such an offensive minded coach, it is really surprising how little attention TB has placed on offense in the recent drafts.