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  2. 42 GB 29 JAX
  3. 0 SF 0 LAR
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  5. 0 CIN 0 KC
  6. 0 BUF 0 NYJ
  7. 0 CLE 0 LV
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NFC Draft Grades

by Weedseed1 | 6 years ago | 0 Comments

NFC Draft Grades

(NFC South)

Weedseed

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WHpE40Vgs2E/maxresdefault.jpg

The fun NFC South. Highly competitive division that from the outside in, looks like one of the funnest divisions to play in this cycle. This is one of the divisions that I am not surprised on who wins as it only takes one of them to get hot to win it all. The Bucs have been the king, but the Panthers surged last season, along with the Falcons, and the Saints are sneaky. One really good draft class could send one of these teams to the top, or keep the Bucs there, so let's get to it.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Pick: Markus Ecker CB

Worst Pick: Thomas McCrary HB


Grade: B-


I’m going to start this one off a little different. I don’t think the Bucs did enough to surpass the other top teams in the NFC. They essentially are an older version of last years squad. This class was a complacency draft class in my eyes. Sure, you get your OJ Howard replacement down the road, and you do add two very good developmental corners in the 2nd, but there is nothing explosive about this class. 1st round pick Griffin Simonson may be the best TE in the class, but isn’t half the tight end OJ Howard is athletically, tight ends are one of the worst positions to focus development on, and he's slow dev. Now I do love Markus Ecker. Hes super fast and will match up well with those small speedsters, but is a developmental talent. Not an awful draft class, just not an aggressive one to get him over this hump. B-


New Orleans Saints

Best Pick: Banks Drake CB

Worst Pick: Every other one


Grade: F


Now I do remember that JP didn’t get to pick, but he still coulda set his draft board. So fair warning, he gets no sympathy in these grades.


This draft by the cpu was not good. 2nd round defensive tackle Terik Mosely is actually pretty athletic for an interior defensive lineman, but there were so many better defensive linemen that were taken in the 2nd round and later better than Mosley that it hurts my heart. 3rd round linebacker Poindexter is slow, and with a name like that belongs on the Bills. The qb they drafted in the 5th has nothing you look for in a developmental qb. He has a weak hard, not very fast, and his accuracy is below avg for rookies coming out. The one player I feel they did get good value on was cornerback Banks Drake, a 6’2 92 speed corner with mid 70’s man and zone. This draft is a cautionary tale, set your draft boards. F


Carolina Panthers

Best Pick: Devonne Ramsey OLB

Worst Pick: Jameon Fontenot CB


Grade: B+


I am very impressed by the Panthers draft class. It was very hard for me to rank a worst pick for this team as every pick had value. The Panthers came into this draft with no first round pick, and were still able to find decent players and in fact, didn’t draft a sub 70 overall player until the 7th round, and that 7th round pick, is a pretty stinkin good 7th round pick. Devonne Ramsey will look nice opposite last years first round pass rusher Maxey Sherman, and this rebuilding defense is only a piece or 2 away from being a complete unit. Even if you say they reached taking the punter in the 4th, they got a 94 kick power rookie punter, which I am sure is one of the better punters to be drafted this cycle. They got a nice speed rusher with Sparks in the 5th, a value guard in the 6th, and the 7th round corner comes in at 6’1, 91 speed, and 84 man coverage. Overall, very solid drafting by the Panthers and a very solid B+.


Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: Charles Trotter CB

Worst Pick: Rashaun Swancutt III FS


Grade: C


The Atlanta Falcons wanted to upgrade their secondary badly. They spent a 1st, 2 3rds, and their 4th round selections all on defensive backs. 1st round pick cb Jimmy Balmer is good out of the box, but his slow dev will prevent him from being the Darrelle Revis/Richard Sherman they were looking for. 3rd round pick Charles Trotter is definitely my favorite pick out of the bunch already sitting at 85 zone coverage, and good measurables, but most likely will be delegated to play slot being 5’10. Overall, I think it was bad luck with Jimmy Balmer being slow dev that really cost this draft class a higher grade. None of the players were bad, but with no quarterback the slow dev Balmer could have been superstar quarterback Houston Redding who I think is the 2nd best quarterback drafted this cycle. I don’t think this draft puts the Falcons ahead of the Bucs and I have to give it a lower pack grade of a C.