Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

New Orleans Saints
Summary: New Orleans made an attempt at need picks but didn't get a lot. Blame a lot of that on where the Saints were picking from. Super Bowl winners rarely get high grades for drafts. Patrick Robinson is a tough corner who provides starts or depth immediately. Then the Saints got Charles Brown with the last pick in the second round, a fair value. Centers will never go high, but Matt Tennant is one of the best the draft had to offer. Jimmy Graham could be a good developmental tight end from a school that's produced some good ones. Not a flashy draft, but the Saints didn't have many options.

Draft grade: C

Atlanta Falcons
Summary: Sean Weatherspoon is a good outside linebacker and has the strength and size to start and be productive in this league, but after that, it's a lot of wishful thinking. Corey Peters was a slight reach on my board even at 83 and has a ways to go to improve his skills. Joseph Hawley has a chance to develop, but a pair of guards and no tight end or even a shot at a defensive end surprises me. I don't see an improved football team.

Draft grade: C-

Carolina Panthers
Summary: Carolina started late, but consistently got value. The debate on Jimmy Clausen started a long time ago and it won't end just because the draft is complete, but to get a guy with his skill set and upside at No. 48 is exceptional value no matter where you stand on the debate. I liked Brandon LaFell at No. 78, and Eric Norwood and Greg Hardy in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively, are both low on risk and extremely high on potential. Norwood is inconsistent, but he's looked positively dominating in some games, and Hardy drops mostly because of injury questions. Tony Pike may even develop into a chip they can move down the line.

Draft grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Summary: Tampa had a great draft. They get arguably the best all-around talent in the draft in Gerald McCoy, then, in a move reminiscint of what San Francisco decided to do along the offensive line, they nabbed Brian Price early in the second round with the hope they could get the wide receiver they needed a little later. Price and McCoy should complement each other well. That reciever turned out to be Arrelious Benn with the No. 39 pick, and he can be a good one. By the fourth round, when Tampa landed Mike Williams with the 101st overall pick, they had four guys I've had on the Big Board at some point. Myron Lewis at corner is another solid pick. The story for Tampa is they drastically improved arguably their two weakest position groups. Productive draft.

Draft grade: B+

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

I'd say "C" is fair

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

At least the falcons got the lowest grade

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

who the Hell is Mel Kiper

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

LOL...

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

I think this quote right here just about sums up the reason a lot of Saints' fans were up in arms about the selections the Saints made. They didn't select any marquee names that were really talked about. Some may say that it was because the Saints weren't drafting for need positions, but it comes down to the flash when it all boils down.

A lot of us questioned the Robinson pick, wondering if they were going to select a corner, if he was the best option for the position. Same goes for Brown with Bruce Campbell on the board, and Jimmy Graham with Aaron Hernandez and Dennis Pitta still available. They didn't draft the likes of Kindle, Cody, Mays, etc. that a lot of us were talking about before the draft when they were available on the board.

Overall, the draft didn't turn out TOO bad. I think it could have gone a whole lot worse, but that's still the thinking I have from years of seeing the Saints screw up a draft from previous regimes. In the Peyton years, he has had a very astute eye for talent, so apparently the choices they made were what they thought was best for the team. Trading a 4th next year to move back into the 5th round for the center could have been a steal. Then again, any of these picks could turn out that way. They could just as easily be a bust.

The Saints may have chosen players that may only produce down the road, but that shows this team is attempting to keep a lot of continuity to a team that just won the Super Bowl for the first time ever. It definitely wasn't flashy, but IMHO, they drafted smart.

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

yes indeed ... many of these guys are probably better than we know.

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

He's being tight with his grades. I would have given both Tampa and Carolina A's and the Saints a solid B.

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

D_it_up - I walked away from this draft happy too.

We needed CB, OL, DT/DE and we found value with each pick.

Some guys are 2-3 years away, but their upside is huge.

Re: Kipers Draft Grades for the NFC South
 

Yea, I gave the draft a B because we won't get much help this year, but that's not what the drafts about for Superbowl champs. :D