Various 1st round NFC South draft grades

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NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
Draft picks: Alabama WR Calvin Ridley (No. 26 overall).
Day 1 grade: B+
The skinny: Even though the team had needs on defense that Taven Bryan and others could have met, it's tough to blame Thomas Dimitroff for taking a good value in Ridley. And, they can find a nose tackle later in the draft. Ridley's quickness will complement Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu quite well, especially with Andre Roberts and Taylor Gabriel no longer with the team.

Carolina Panthers
Draft picks: Maryland WR D.J. Moore (No. 24 overall).
Day 1 grade: A
The skinny: The Panthers got the best receiver in the draft at the 24th overall pick. He's fast, quick, elusive, and tough. Get him the ball and let him go. Cam Newton needs more weapons, and Moore fits the bill.

New Orleans Saints
Draft picks: UTSA edge rusher Marcus Davenport (No. 14 overall).
Day 1 grade: C-
The skinny: Sean Payton jumps up the board to get his man, trading from 27 in a deal with the Packers. Davenport is a talented player, but trading a 2019 first-round pick and a 2018 fifth-round pick to go get a raw pass rusher was too heavy a price in my mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Draft picks: Washington DT Vita Vea (No. 12 overall).
Day 1 grade: B-
The skinny: Vea is a talented defensive tackle who could be a difference maker against the run and as a penetrator in the interior. I believe there was better value at a position of need in Florida State safety Derwin James. They could have picked a nose tackle later in the draft.

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Buccaneers
12. Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Grade: B+
This is a more athletic Haloti Ngata. The Bucs had to get bigger up front and he certainly helps that.

Saints
14. Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Grade: B-
He is a a boom-or-bust player, but this move could pay off in a big way.

Panthers
24. D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
Grade: A
The Panthers wanted to get faster and Moore does that. They needed to give Cam Newton help.

Falcons
26. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Grade: B
They land a player who some thought was the best receiver in the draft. They do need more speed.

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12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—DT Vita Vea

Tampa Bay must really love the massive defensive tackle, because it didn’t need him. The Bucs fell apart in pass defense last year, thanks to an inept four-man rush and underperforming secondary, but the pass rush was addressed by the trade for ex-Giant Jason Pierre-Paul and signing of ex-Eagle Vinny Curry. Still, it doesn’t hurt to add one more piece. But the secondary? That’s still an issue, particularly at safety. Vea can be a special run defender, and that augments what you get with terrific chase linebackers like Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander. But the NFL is a passing league. Being iffy in aerial D and not drafting players who can theoretically help (like, say Derwin James), is dicey.
GRADE: C-

14. New Orleans Saints—DE Marcus Davenport

When the Saints traded the No. 27 pick and next year’s first-rounder to move up, many thought they’d take Drew Brees’s successor, Lamar Jackson. But Marcus Davenport’s name was announced. Davenport provides the explosive edge-rushing that was missing opposite All-Pro Cameron Jordan. While the trade seemed like an awfully steep price to pay, the relief of the Saints doing the right thing and building on their improving—but still far from perfect—defense inflates this grade.
GRADE: B

24. Carolina Panthers—WR D.J. Moore

Any team that has Devin Funchess and especially Torrey Smith as projected starters obviously needs help at wide receiver. The question is, what kind of help? With last year’s second-round flex weapon Curtis Samuel plus ex-Viking Jarius Wright, there are answers in the slot. What this team needed was a weapon on the perimeter. Moore isn’t huge (6' 0", 210 pounds), but he plays large. He’s a contested catch artist whom some have described as a potentially more refined version of DeAndre Hopkins. That style should suit a strong-armed risk-taker like Cam Newton.
GRADE: A-

26. Atlanta Falcons—WR Calvin Ridley

This is a clear example of a rich offense getting richer. Ridley is a polished route runner whom some believe has stylistic similarities to Antonio Brown. Atlanta’s scheme is flexible enough to move him around, and obviously, opponents will be game-planning to stop Julio Jones, making Ridley’s life easier. If the rookie can learn the system and the pro game quickly (NFL coverages can look very different than college coverages), he can contribute significantly outside, relegating Mohamed Sanu to purely a slot role. The thought of Matt Ryan with three top-flight wideouts and two big-time running backs (Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman) is terrifying. We can’t quite give this pick an A because Atlanta’s needs along the D-line are drastic. The Falcons must not have been high on Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan.
GRADE: B+

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12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Don’t look at Vea’s size and just assume he’s just some big body gap plugger. Of course he’s good against the run. But he’s capable of rushing the passer. After adding Beau Allen, Vinny Curry and Jason Pierre-Paul, the Buccaneers have clearly prioritized fixing their defensive line. However, Derwin James was still available and fits a big need in Tampa. The value of Vea is good. James would have been a better choice.
Grade: C+

14. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Davenport, Edge, UTSA

The Saints gave up a first-round pick in next year’s draft to move up from No. 27 to 14 to get Davenport. It makes some sense because pass rush is the NFL’s most important position after a quarterback. Beyond Cameron Jordan, the Saints don’t have much of a pass rush. This obviously fills a need. However, this is a lot to give up for a raw player with a limited pass rush repertoire. This is a move to make a Super Bowl run this season.
Grade: C+

24. Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

The Panthers have needed to get lead wide out after dumping Steve Smith, so they went ahead and got the receiver who was frequently compared to him in Moore. The Big Ten’s best wide receiver last season gives the Panthers a legit No. 1 receiver who has speed and physicality to his game. The Panthers were fortunate there was a slide on the wide receivers in the first round. Carolina could have used a defensive back, but this choice makes sense. Giving Cam Newton a playmaker is a scary proposition.
Grade: A

26. Atlanta Falcons: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Almost no one expected Ridley to be available with the 26th pick. He is the best wide receiver in this draft. With Julio Jones occupying the opposing team’s top cornerback, Ridley should get open with ease in the NFL. He’s at worst a high, high end No. 2 target. He’s ready to go as a route runner, and has good hands.
Grade: B+

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