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Atlanta Falcons
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(26) Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
(58) Isiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
(90) Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida
(126) Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss
(194) Russell Gage, WR, LSU
(200) Foye Oluokun, LB, Yale
UDFA
Demario Richard, RB, Arizona State
Anthony Winbush, OLB, Ball State
Salesi Uhatafe, G, Utah
Daniel Marx, FB, Stanford
Luke McNitt, FB, Nebraska
Secdrick Cooper, S, Louisiana Tech
Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia
Jon Cunningham, DT, Kent State
Emmanuel Ellerbee, OLB, Rice
Matt Gono, OT, Wesley College
Devin Gray, WR, Cincinnati
J.C. Hassenauer, C, Alabama
Richard Jarvis, OLB, Brown
Lamar Jordan, WR, New Mexico
Chris Lammons, S, South Carolina
Troy Mangen, TE, Ohio
David Marvin, K, Georgia
Joseph Putu, CB, Florida
Jake Roh, TE, Boise State
Emmanuel Smith, LB, Vanderbilt
Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DT, UCLA
Malik Williams, RB, Louisville
Christian Blake, WR, Northern Illinois
Dontez Byrd, Tennessee Tech
Mackendy Cheridor, DE, Georgia State
Detrich Clark, WR, Colorado State
Justin Crawford, RB, West Virginia
Falcons came into this draft looking for some defensive line upgrades and reloads at the offensive skill positions. Ridley should make a solid slot WR but he may not be the #1 caliber option many analysts made him out to be. Fortunately the Falcons don't need that and he fits ideally with what they did need on offense...an explosive secondary threat and slot option. They opted for best player available in the 2nd instead of reaching for a DT like B.J. Hill or Nathan Shepherd. Oliver's a high upside guy with prototype size and speed that will be groomed for heavy snaps.
Senat is a good prospect and shares a similar skill set to Grady Jarrett. That's obviously a good thing on the one hand but a true nose may have helped more. I'm a big fan of Ito Smith and think he'll outperform his draft position. He's very similar to Freeman but not as fast. Gage and Oluokun are depth ans special teams guys that should stick. UDFA RB Richard was better than his teammate Ballage who went in the 4th. He's a similar talent to Terron Ward and could stick.
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Carolina Panthers
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(24) D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
(55) Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
(85) Rashaan Gaulden, S, Tennessee
(101) Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana
(136) Marquis Haynes, LB, Ole Miss
(161) Jermaine Carter, LB, Maryland
(242) Kendrick Norton, DT, Miami
UDFA
AL-Rasheed Benton, LB, WVU
Amari Coleman, DB, Central Michigan
Antwuan Davis, DB, Texas
Josh Fatu, DT, USC
Mike Ford, CB, Southeast Missouri State
DeAndre Goolsby, TE, Florida
Michael Hill, DL, Ohio State
Chris Jones, DB, Nebraska
Brett Kendrick, OL, Tennessee
Kyle Lewis, WR, Cal Poly
Chad Meredith, OLB, Southeast Missouri
John Montelus, G, Virginia
Beau Nunn, OL, Appalachian State
Brandon Powell, WR, Florida
Teo Redding, WR, Bowling Green
Ryan Santoso, K/P, Minnesota
Anthony Sherrils, S, Missouri
JoJo Wicker, DL, Arizona State
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Cornerback and WR were probably the two biggest needs headed into the draft and they addressed them straight away but I'm not particularly high on the players chosen. Moore did well to showcase himself at Maryland despite poor QB play but I get a Corey Coleman vibe from him. Jackson has blazing speed but is pint sized and lacks a great feel for the position. Coaching will play a huge role in his success or failure. Gaulden also fills a need and was solid value.
TE Thomas carries a lot of upside although I'm not sure I wouldn't have gone WR again there. Haynes looked like a future blue chip prospect as a junior but disappeared last year. He's strictly and edge and might struggle to adapt to anything other than situational edge rusher. Carter could be a find. He's a good space player with instincts and playmaking ability. Norton had top 100 talent but something clearly turned most teams off. But he's a solid try late in the draft.
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New Orleans Saints
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(14) Marcus Davenport, OLB, UTSA
(91) Tre'Quan Smith, WR, UCF
(127) Rick Leonard, OT, Florida St
(164) Natrell Jamerson, S, Wisconsin
(189) Kamrin Moore, CB, Boston College
(201) Boston Scott, RB, Louisiana Tech
(245) Will Clapp, OC, LSU
UDFA
Deon Yelder, DT, Western Kentucky
Cameron Serigne, TE, Wake Forest
Daronte Bouldin, OL, Ole Miss
A.J. Hantak, LS, Eastern Illinois
Cory Helms, OL, South Carolina
Jeromy Irwin, OT, Colorado
Colton Jumper, LB, Tennessee
Keith Kirkwood, WR, Temple
David Knevel, OL, Nebraska
Henry Mondeaux, DL, Oregon
Taylor Stallworth, DT, South Carolina
Linden Stephens, CB, Cincinnati
Saints have been widely criticized for staying put and selecting a small school DE that had an up and down week of practice senior week. What's not always mentioned is that Davenport's ups were completely dominant, as in, the best defensive player on the field dominant. In 11 on 11's and the final game, he looked like a likely top 10 pick. He's angular, strong, ridiculously long and has an impressive first step. His mindset, however is a bit different, and he didn't respond to the initial rah rah of 1 on 1's in Mobile.
WR Smith also possesses unique length. If he can become a good route runner, he'll be a difficult cover. His skillset reminds me of Josh Gordon. I'm not especially familiar with the Saints next 4 picks. Each had solid but fairly nondescript college careers and were taken a little higher than the consensus on them. Will Clapp was a surprise early declaration and has some talent as a run blocker out of the pivot. But dropping as he did might suggest teams aren't trusting the person entirely.
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UDFA's Yelder and Serigne were solid TE prospects but it appears they might be attempting to switch Yelder to the other side of the ball. Barrett is an intriguing pick up. Obviously a longshot to stick but it won't be because of lack of preparation.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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(12) Vita Vea, DT, Washington
(38) Ronald Jones, RB, USC
(53) M.J. Stewart, CB, UNC
(63) Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
(94) Alex Cappa, OG, Humboldt St
(117) Jordan Whitehead, S, Pitt
(144) Justin Watson, WR, Penn
(202) Jack Cichy, LB, Wisconsin
UDFA
Shaun Wilson, RB, Duke
Godwin Igwebuike, S, Northwestern
Austin Allen, QB, Arkansas
Sergio Bailey, WR, Eastern Michigan
Cole Boozer, OL, Temple
Donnie Ernsberger, TE, Western Michigan
Demone Harris, DE, Buffalo
Tanner Hudson, TE, Southern Arkansas
Josh Liddell, S, Arkansas
Trevor Moore, K, North Texas
Evan Perrizo, DE, Minnesota State
Erv Philips, WR, Syracuse
Jason Reese, TE, Missouri
Antonio Simmons, DE, Georgia Tech
Bucs traded back and still landed the best interior defensive prospect in the draft. Vea is really just scratching the surface and could become a star if he buys in and grinds as a pro. Jones is a potential star in their run scheme but they still lack a banger in their RB group. CBs Davis and Stewart or likely starters and should upgrade the secondary eventually. OG Cappa and OC Jensen are smash bros on that OL. I'm a big fan of Whitehead and think he was slept on during the draft process. He's an eventual starter.
Watson made a career of big boying ivy league opponents. He's an intriguing late rounder with the size, speed and ball skills to make some noise. Cichy would've been a much higher pick if not for losing his junior year to injury. He's a Pozlusny type that should produce if healthy but this is a tough lineup to crack. It's a luxury pick for the Bucs but I think his talent was worth it. UDFA RB Wilson is productive and underrated and could be an all purpose weapon. S Igwebuike was highly thought of by some analysts and could stick.
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