Last season the Panthers tore through their schedule, compiling a 15-1 record, while looking as bored as the Warriors have looked over the last couple of months. Then, unsurprising to many, they were exposed in the Super Bowl by the Broncos – a team featuring better athletes and seemingly more hard-nosed competitors. Now, with a proven formula on how to take down the mighty NFC Champs, the rest of the NFC South will look to get tougher and more athletic on the defensive side of the football. Expect three first round picks within the division to go towards the defensive front seven’s of the Falcons, Saints, and the Buccaneers, while the Panthers will look to shore up their overrated offensive line which was exposed during Super Bowl 50.

Atlanta Falcons

2015 Record: 8-8

2016 Draft Picks: 17, 50, 81, 115, 238

While the Falcons happened to be the only team to defeat the Panthers in the 2015 regular season, they still have a ways to go in terms of building up a proper roster to defend against Carolina’s devastating offensive attack on a consistent basis. With the way that my theoretical first round has been playing so far, by pick 17 there won’t necessarily be a defensive lineman available that will significantly upgrade their pass rush while filling a desperate need. Instead, the Falcons will gladly select Darron Lee – weakside linebacker out of Ohio State – to athletically compete on their front seven with his incredible playmaking ability in space.

To put in simple terms, Lee has all of the athletic traits and abilities of a safety, while possessing the instincts and toughness needed to play the will in a 4-3 defense. He ran a blazing 4.47 40-time at the Combine, which would automatically put him in the discussion as one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL once he is inevitably drafted.

In terms of his play on the field, Lee’s athletic ability on the track certainly translates. He blitzes very well off the weakside edge, does a great job of maintaining outside contain, tackles well in space, and while he’s no Myles Jack, he also excels in coverage. Of the two plays below, the first one displays his sheer athletic ability that allows him to close on a quick quarterback in space, while the second one is an example of his good coverage instincts and technique.

Beyond the first round, the Falcons will be looking to upgrade their roster in a number of different ways. Expect them to target a tight end early on, maybe giving Hunter Henry of Arkansas – the unquestioned top TE in the class – a look with the 50th overall pick. If they wait until the third round potential targets at the position include Nick Vannett of Ohio State, Austin Hooper of Stanford, and Jerell Adams of South Carolina. Past their third round selection, the Falcons only have two picks left, so expect both the offensive and defensive lines to be addressed in terms of filling out limited depth.

Carolina Panthers

2015 Record: 15-1

2016 Draft Picks: 30, 62, 93, 129, 168, 252

As stated above, entering the playoffs, the Panthers seemed as flawless as a team could get. They were playing terrific defense, featured one of the most potent aerial attacks in the league, and ran the ball with more than adequate efficiency. Somehow, a mere two months months later, the script has flipped. Largely due to the Broncos dismantling of them in the Super Bowl with a ferocious pass rush, now the Panthers seem to have a pressing need to address their offensive line in the draft. First round targets include left tackle Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M and left tackle Le’Raven Clark of Texas Tech. Both possess a ton of potential, yet are still very raw due to the unorthodox offenses that they operated out of in college. Personally, I like Clark for the Panthers best, as his ultra-athletic build, feather-light feet, and incredibly long arms give him all of the natural tools that he will need to combat speed rushers at the next level. He may need some time on the bench to properly learn the NFL left tackle position, but overall he projects as a future starting anchor on a professional offensive line. Here’s an example of what Clark brings to the table in terms of arm extension and footwork mirroring abilities…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for the Panthers' other draft needs, they could stand to improve at the safety position, while they are also in some serious need of an upgrade at wide receiver. Both positions should be considered in the second and third rounds, while the best player of the two positions should be selected first. Strong safeties available within the second and third rounds include Karl Joseph of West Virginia, Keanu Neal of Florida, and Miles Killebrew of Southern Utah, while likely available free safeties include Von Bell of Ohio State, Darian Thompson of Bosie State, and Jalen Mills of LSU.

Now I know that Kelvin Benjamin will be returning in 2016 from his ACL tear and that Devin Funchess will undoubtedly improve from his 2015 rookie season, but Cam Newton still desperately needs an upgrade over Ted Ginn Jr,, who proved to be a drop machine in critical situations last year. They will likely target a future replacement for Ginn in the second or third rounds of the draft. While Sterling Sheppard may be the best available at the position when they are selecting in the second round, he doesn’t fit the mold of a deep threat – a desperately needed skill-set to replace Ted Ginn Jr. Instead, expect them to wait until the third and take a chance on Clemson’s Charone Peake – a rangy wideout who reportedly ran in the high 4.3’s at his pro day. Another wide receiver to keep an eye on is Kolby Listenbee out of TCU, who while likely to be drafted in the later rounds, is basically a Ted Ginn clone as he ran in the 4.3’s both at the Combine and at his pro day.

New Orleans Saints

2015 Record: 7-9

2016 Draft Picks: 12, 47, 78, 112, 152, 237

Each Sunday last season, the Saints trotted out an all-time bad defense, so it will be no surprise when they address this side of the ball early and often in the draft. Expect them to start in the middle and select Alabama’s imposing defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. He is arguably the best run-stuffer in the draft, while he has the tools to develop into an adequate pass rusher. Here’s an excellent example of his run-stuffing ability, as he fully extends on the Iowa lineman, drives him off the spot, forces the back to feather out his angle, and ultimately engulfs him behind the line of scrimmage.

To go along with his imposing size and intimidating strength, Robinson is also one of the more sneakily athletic players in the class. He didn’t test particularly well at the Combine. However, his football instincts and excellent coordination for his size show in spades on the gridiron. He batted five passes down at the line of scrimmage in his career, while he also blocked three kicks. Expect big A-Rob to come into New Orleans and change the defensive culture early on.

In the second and third rounds, the Saints will continue to look to improve their disappointing defense. A defensive end at 39 makes sense, while a corner should be considered at No. 74. Likely second round DE targets include Kevin Dodd of Clemson, Emannuel Ogbah of Oklahoma State, and Charles Tapper of Oklahoma. As for available cornerbacks in the third round, expect the Saints to take a look at Xavien Howard of Baylor, Will Redmond of Mississippi State, and D.J. White of Georgia Tech.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2015 Record: 6-10

2016 Draft Picks: 9, 39, 74, 108, 148, 183, 197

The Bucs may have finished with a disappointing 6-10 record last season. However, they have a lot of things to be happy with in terms of roster improvement and player development. They hit a home run with their first pick in Jameis Winston last season, and by my projections, are likely to do the same in this draft, as DeForest Buckner of Oregon – if he indeed falls all the way to No. 9 overall – would undoubtedly be the steal of the draft.

On tape, Buckner’s excellent functional strength jumps off the screen. He’s stout against the run and always seems to be playing heads up, instinctual football. He possesses excellent hand use with a powerful punch at the snap of the ball. He’s surprising nimble and displays adequate balance, as he does a great job of avoiding cut blocks. As a pass rusher, Buckner has a great idea of what he wants to do, but struggles when it comes to natural quickness. He strings together good hand and footwork leading to great combo moves, but without an increased suddenness, will struggle to win off the edge at the next level. Ideally Buckner fits in as a five technique, with three technique potential in a 4-3 scheme, but does not project well coming off the edge as an NFL pass rusher. This should be no matter for the Buccaneers, as they can slot him on the end as an edge setter on early downs, while both he and Gerald McCoy as inside pass rushers on third downs would be virtually impossible to stop.

Here’s an excellent example of him taking on a player who I view as a potential top-15 pick (Jack Conklin of Michigan State). In this play, Buckner gets his arms fully extended, keeps his head up, diagnoses the action, and tosses the would-be blocker out of the way once he identifies a direct path to the ball carrier. In the end, he blows up the play for a loss of yardage, giving his team a huge momentum boost.

In the second round the Bucs should look to target a potential starting center to complete their offensive line overhaul. Alabama’s Ryan Kelly seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the class at the position, but he might not be available when the Buccaneers are picking at 39. If he is there, expect them to pull the trigger, but if he is not, the position is not exactly out of play. Teams and scouts are really taking a liking to Notre Dame’s Nick Martin, brother of Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack. While he is a less athletic and powerful version of his brother, he will be best suited to play center at the next level. He might be a reach early on in the second round, but he projects to fit in really nicely with the rest of this talented Tampa Bay offensive line. If they decide to wait on the position until the third or even fourth round, Jack Allen of Michigan State is a potential fit as well.

As for their other draft needs, some secondary depth would be nice, specifically at the two safety spots. Clemson’s Jayron Kearse would be a nice toolsy project piece for the coaching staff to work on, while Ohio State’s Tyvis Powell would be the same as a late-round flier.

 

*** Check back in on Wednesday as I wrap up the divisional draft needs of each NFL team. The final division will be the AFC South ***