The hopes and dreams have come true for many young men. They’ll forever cherish the moment they got the call. The NFL is one of the most physically demanding sports. Some make it big, some flame out before their first preseason. Every team is open to skepticism when they make future investments in the young men they choose on draft day. We’ll pick up with the NFC South (Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, TampaBay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons).
The Carolina Panthers
Round 1 • Pick 1 • QB Bryce Young
Round 2 • Pick 39 • WR Johnathan Mingo
Round 3 • Pick 80 • EDGE DJ Johnson
Round 4 • Pick 114 • G Chandler Zavala
Round 5 • Pick 145 • S Jamie Robinson
The future is bright in Carolina. After a couple of years trying to find their QB thru trades and free agency, they landed on Bryce Young. Making him the face of the franchise for years to come. Sure he’s small, but we’re in a different era of football. This is clearly signified with him going 1st overall. In the second they took the Ole Miss big body reciever Johnathan Mingo. With the free agent aquastions of Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, he’ll fit in perfect. Then getting a steal in the 5th round with S Jamie Robinson. It’s a job well done.
Pro Football Debate draft grade: B
The New Orleans Saints
Round 1 • Pick 29 • DT Bryan Breese
Round 2 • Pick 40 • EDGE Isiah Foskey
Round 3 • Pick 71 • RB Kendre Miller
Round 4 • Pick 103 • G Nick Saldiveri
Round 4 • Pick 127 • QB Jake Haener
Round 5 • Pick 146 • S Jordan Howden
Round 6 • Pick 195 • WR AT Perry
Reach after reach after reach. Although Bryan Breese can be an impactful day one contributor, many experts say he’s raw and unproven. He was projected to fall out the first round because of it. Late in the first isn’t horrible, but this is a gamble. Foskey in the second was another reach. It was the very top-end of his projected range. Personally, I would’ve liked to see a trade down. RB Kendre Miller in the third doesn’t make any sense. Especially after signing Jamall Williams in free agency. Jake Haener in the 4th was also a reach. To be fair, their reasoning is understandable. The QBs did start coming off the board quickly in the range he was picked. With the money tied up in their new QB Derek Carr, he’ll remain a backup. This draft just doesn’t sit right with us.
Pro Football Debate draft grade: D+
DT Bryan Breese
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 • Pick 19 • DT Calijah Kancey
Round 2 • Pick 48 • OT Cody Mauch
Round 3 • Pick 82 • DE YaYa Diaby
Round 5 • Pick 153 • LB SirVocea Dennis
Round 5 • Pick 171 • TE Payne Durham
Round 6 • Pick 181 • CB Josh Hayes
Round 6 • Pick 191 • WR Trey Palmer
Round 6 • Pick 196 • EDGE Jose Ramirez
The Aaron Donald Comparisons have run rampid with Calijah Kancey. His film shows similarities but let’s see what he does with the big boys. Cody Mauch will sure up their O-Line that has been troublesome since All-Pro Gaurd Ali Marpet shockingly retired. Mauch provides positional versatility but should remain as a starting gaurd on their offensive line. The rest of their draft only fills holes. They didn’t get much positional value in day three. Currently I don’t see them seeing the field. Maybe they found a diamond or two in the rough, we’ll see.
Pro Football Debate draft grade: C+
The Atlanta Falcons
Round 1 • Pick 8 • RB Bijan Robinson
Round 2 • Pick 38 • OT Matthew Bergeron
Round 3 • Pick 75 • EDGE Zach Harrison
Round 4 • Pick 113 • CB Clark Phillips III
Round 7 • Pick 224 • S Demarcco Hellams
Round 7 • Pick 225 • G Jovaughn Gwyn
Arthur Smith got his Derrick Henry in the A-T-L. Bijan Robinson is one of highest graded running backs in quite some time. He’s in elite company with his NFL projections. Being selected eighth overall puts him at the same table as Saquon Barkley Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. Bijan is a do it all bellcow back that should hit the ground running. But we have to be honest, he’s only a RB. If anyone can maximize a bellcow back, it’s Author Smith. After extending Chris Lindstrom and resigning Kaleb McGary, OT Bergeron was a bit of a head scratcher. Maybe it’ll make sense in a year or two. Clark Phillips III in the fourth feels like a steal. He’s an ultra physical CB that plays with a high motor. He is undersized but that didn’t appear to hold him back in Utah’s defense last year. Time holds all the answers, we shall see.
Pro Football Debate draft grade: C-
RB Bijan Robinson
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