Atlanta Falcons
- (48) Avieon Terrell CB Clemson
- (79) Zachariah Branch WR Georgia
- (134) Kendal Daniels LB Oklahoma
- (208) Anterio Thompson DL Washington
- (215) Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU
- (231) Ethan Onianwa OL Ohio St.
Immediate Impact: CB Avieon Terrell, WR Zachariah Branch
The Falcons taking Terrell is a great story considering his brother is their top starting CB and he could end up being the other starter. Mike Hughes is a solid veteran, but the younger Terrell has a higher upside. He only lasted until the second round because he’s a little undersized and ran 4.6 in the 40. He plays like a bigger CB, and his play speed is fine. They stuck with the small player theme on offense with Branch. He’s a small, speed demon slot receiver and he plays that part well. Beyond Drake London this WR group is pretty uninspiring. Branch can be a playmaker if Tua ends up the QB, if it’s Penix, his value declines significantly.
Best Value: Terrell
He came into the draft with an outside chance of being a first-round pick and he fell to 48th overall. He has starter potential and I think he’s an upgrade over Hughes. That’s well worth the 48th pick.
Sleeper: LB Harold Perkins Jr.
Perkins is the ultimate tweener, his best trait is his pass rush instinct but he’s 6’1 222 lbs. and simply too small to be a pass rusher. He’s a good off ball LB but he’s not great and he’s not as dynamic of a player as he was before he had some injury issues a few years ago. If DC Jeff Ulbrich can figure out a way to deploy him, he’s an excellent football player and it would be a shame if they can’t find a way to use him.
Overall Analysis
The Falcons didn’t have a lot of picks but the first two can help this team immediately. Terrell will be a starter in the league for a while, he’s far too feisty to just fade away. Branch would be an excellent WR if Tua is his QB for his career. Tua likes to throw the ball short to quick WRs and let them go to work, that’s Branch’s superpower. If Michael Penix is the QB, his preference is to throw outside and that will make Branch less valuable.
After the top two picks, the Falcons leaned heavily into drafting very athletic players, some who had less than stellar production. Kendal Daniels is a tall, rangy LB who runs well since he used to be a safety. He’s probably just a special team’s player but he has some potential. DT Anterio Thompson is a great athlete for a guy his size, but he’s never been a very productive player. There are a lot of guys ahead of him on this roster, but anything is possible. Perkins needs coach who finds the best way to use him, otherwise he’ll get lost in the shuffle. Finally, the Falcons took a longshot on OL Ethan Onianwa. Onianwa wasn’t a starter at Ohio St. after transferring from Rice. He’s a big man who moves well but he’s a longshot to make an NFL roster. The one thing that could work in his favor is the Falcons’ need for o-line depth and his ability to play guard or tackle.
Carolina Panthers
- (19) Monroe Freeling OT Georgia
- (49) Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech
- (83) Chris Brazzell II WR Tennessee
- (129) Will Lee III CB Texas A&M
- (144) Sam Hecht C Kansas St.
- (151) Zakee Wheatley S Penn St.
- (227) Jackson Kuwatch LB Miami (OH)
Immediate Impact: OT Monroe Freeling, DT Lee Hunter
The Panthers signed Rasheed Walker to be their stopgap LT because Ikem Ekwonu may miss the season with a torn patellar tendon, then they drafted Freeling. Freeling may be a bit raw but he’s a better player than Walker. He’s the long-term solution at the position and he should be the starter next season. Hunter won’t be a starter because the Panthers have their starting defensive line, however, he’ll figure prominently in the rotation. There isn’t a lot of depth behind Bobby Brown III, Derrick Brown, and Tershawn Wharton.
Best Value: C Sam Hecht
It’s a mystery how Hecht fell to round five when he could have easily been a round two pick. The Panthers signed Luke Fortner to step in at center after losing Cade Mays in free agency. Fortner was an injury fill-in in New Orleans last season and played well, but there’s no guarantee he can hold off Hecht for the job. There’s a good chance Hecht wins the starting job.
Sleeper: S Zakee Wheatley
Wheatley was the Panthers’ other fifth-round pick, and he also has a chance to end up a starter. Nick Cross is penciled in as the starter opposite Trevon Moehrig but he’s not great. Wheatley can play the FS spot and give the Panthers a playmaker on the back end in the passing game. Moehrig is a better playmaker coming forward, Wheatley can handle going backwards.
Overall Analysis
OT didn’t seem like the biggest need for the Panthers heading into the draft, but Ekwonu is going into his fifth-year option season and he’s unlikely to play this year. He may never suit up for the Panthers again. Walker was a late free agent addition and clearly the team saw Freeling as a value pick who allows them more upside at LT and a long-term solution. Hunter fits into their front three as the hulking nose tackle type and he’s a good fit in the scheme. He’s also insurance against Bobby Brown III not being great and Cam Jackson not being ready to play.
WR Chris Brazzell II isn’t the most refined WR in the draft, his time at Tennessee didn’t help him. He will need to learn as he goes but he brings a skill set they don’t currently have; he’s a deep ball threat with real speed. He’s also 6’5 which means he matches with their other WRs and gives Bryce Young a group of giants to throw to. CB Will Lee III is a big, physical man cover CB who fits the scheme and should be the third outside CB on this roster. Hecht and Wheatley are excellent fifth-round picks who should contribute quickly. LB Jackson Kuwatch is likely just a special team’s guy if he can make the roster.
New Orleans Saints
- (8) Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona St.
- (42) Christen Miller DT Georgia
- (73) Oscar Delp TE Georgia
- (132) Jeremiah Wright OL Auburn
- (136) Bryce Lance WR North Dakota St.
- (172) Lorenzo Styles Jr. CB Ohio St.
- (190) Barion Brown WR LSU
- (219) TJ Hall CB Iowa
Immediate Impact: WR Jordyn Tyson, DT Christen Miller
The Saints knew they needed help at WR, and they took three just to be sure, but Tyson is the one they need to hit. He’s the most talented WR in this draft and he’s a perfect complement to Chris Olave. If Tyson stays healthy, he can really help take this offense up a notch. Miller is the dirty work guy on the defensive line. He’s not going to stuff the stat sheet but he’s going to stuff the run and make life miserable for offensive linemen. He’s not flashy, he’s just tough.
Best Value: WR Bryce Lance
While Tyson may be the most important WR they drafted, he’s not the only one they can use. Lance is the younger brother of Trey Lance, he’s 6’3 and ran 4.34 in the 40, you can’t teach a guy to be that big and that fast. The Saints just don’t have that many good receivers and Lance could be a very good one.
Sleeper: DB TJ Hall
Hall fell all the way to the seventh round because he’s not a particularly great athlete, doesn’t have elite size, and isn’t particularly fast. What is he? An instinctual defensive back who’s not afraid to come up in run support and tackle guys bigger than him. He doesn’t back down from TEs or big WRs. One of the reasons I’m putting him as a sleeper is that I think if he doesn’t make it as a CB, he could move to safety. He wouldn’t be the biggest safety but his instincts, attitude, and development under Phil Parker at Iowa make him a great candidate.
Overall Analysis
This draft could go a long way to help the Saints as they look to make the playoffs. Tyson fills the biggest offensive need they have and he and Chris Olave can be a problem in the passing game. Miller may not start on the defensive line but he’s going to be heavily involved in the rotation. He brings youth and toughness to the spine of the defense. TE Oscar Delp is an intriguing player who never broke out as a weapon in Georgia’s offense. He’ll add to the run game as a blocker and if they can unlock his pass catching, his athleticism will make him very valuable in the pass game.
OL Jeremiah Wright is an offensive lineman who needs plenty of development, but he adds some nice depth inside. Lance is another player who needs development, but his ceiling is quite high with his physical gifts and skill set. Lorenzo Styles Jr. is almost as freaky an athlete as his brother Sonny but he’s smaller and plays in the secondary. He’s a nice addition to the depth at CB and he should be a demon on special teams. After taking the bigger WR Lance earlier, the Saints took a third WR in round six, Barion Brown. He’s a smaller, shifty guy who adds a different look from Tyson and Lance. Hall is a good late bet on a defensive back from a school that has sent plenty of good defensive backs to the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- (15) Rueben Bain Jr. Edge Miami
- (46) Josiah Trotter LB Missouri
- (84) Ted Hurst WR Georgia St.
- (116) Keionte Scott S Miami
- (155) DeMonte Capehart DL Clemson
- (160) Billy Schrauth OG Notre Dame
- (185) Bauer Sharp TE LSU
Immediate Impact: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., LB Josiah Trotter
The Buccaneers lacked an ace pass rusher last season and now they have that guy. Bain is a powerful edge setter who is also a relentless pass rusher. He’s going to be the best they have and he’s my early pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Trotter also fills a huge need at ILB where Lavonte David retired. It’s not fair to ask anyone to replace a legend like David but Trotter’s going to be a stud in the middle of the Bucs defense. He tackles everyone like he’s trying to break them in half. Between Bain and Trotter, the Bucs defense won’t lack attitude.
Best Value: Bain
Bain had an argument as the best pass rusher in the draft, but his short arms made him fall to 15th overall. He’s a difference maker for this defense and not only adds a great pass rusher, but he’s also the tone setter.
Sleeper: DB Keionte Scott
The Bucs have Tykee Smith who can play the nickel, and they have Jacob Parrish who can play the nickel. I don’t care how good those guys are, Scott is going to play the nickel a lot. He and Bain paired up at Miami to create one of the toughest defenses in college football last season and if used correctly, they can do it again in Tampa.
Overall Analysis
Sometimes it’s hard to understand the vision a team might have by its draft, it’s not hard to see what the Buccaneers were doing. Rueben Bain Jr., Josiah Trotter, and Keionte Scott are ass kickers. These guys play football with an edge the Buccaneers had slowly been losing over the years, it’s back. Bain is a terror off the edge and plays the run like he’s a school yard bully. Trotter has been described as playing like a hammer looking for a nail. And Scott plays like he’s David and the rest of the world is Goliath and he’s not going to lose. When you play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense this year, buckle your chinstrap.
The team lost Mike Evans in free agency, which hurts but isn’t going to kill them. They took Ted Hurst, a 6’3 195 lbs. outside speedster who needs to refine his route running if he’s going to become a legitimate NFL receiver. He’s going to play behind Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan, learning to run routes from those guys is like taking a masterclass.
They needed some depth on both lines, and they got solid value from DeMonte Capehart on the defensive side and Billy Schrauth on the offensive side. Capehart is a big man who will fit into the rotation and should hold his own. If Schrauth can stay healthy, he could easily become a starting OG at some point. They took a shot on a late round TE Beau Sharp. He’s going to have an uphill climb to make the roster but it’s not the strongest group behind Cade Otten.
The Hott Read 