NFL Draft 2011: Grading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South Foes

While you're gloating over the nice haul the Buccaneers made last weekend, let's take a look at how their NFC South foes fared, grades included.

New Orleans Saints:

First Round:   Cam Jordan, DE, Cal.

First Round:   Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Third Round:  Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois

Third Round:  Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

Seventh Round: Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh

Seventh Round: Nate Bussey, LB, Illinois

Comment:  A lot of folks thought the Bucs might go with Cam Jordan in the first round but the consensus seems to be that Adrian Clayborn offers more upside as well as immediate impact. As for Mark Ingram, I can't see and undersized running back that runs 4.6 scaring many defenses unless as some think, he's the second coming of Emmitt Smith. Martez Wilson was on the Bucs board, but Mason Foster was more productive and more NFL-ready. I do like the Greg Romeus pick in the seventh round.

Grade:   B

Atlanta Falcons:

First Round:   Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Third Round:  Akeem Dent, LB, Georgia

Fifth Round:   Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State

Sixth Round:  Matt Bosher, P, Miami

Seventh Round: Andrew Jackson, G, Fresno State

Seventh Round:  Cliff Matthews, DE, South Carolina

Comment:  The Dirty Birds gave up waaaaay too much for Jones. They parted ways with their first round pick, second, fourth, fifth and seventh from this year and their first and fourth from next year. I wouldn't give those up for Larry Fitzgerald, much less some kid out of Alabama who drops the football at times. Never draft a punter and Rodgers is a tiny back. The Falcons needed more help on defense.

Grade:  C-minus

Carolina Panthers:

First Round:   Cam Newton, QB, Auburn.

Third Round:  Terrell McClain, NT, South Florida

Third Round:  Sione Fua, DL, Stanford

Fourth Round: Brandon Hogan, DB, West Virginia

Fifth Round:    Kealoha Pilares, WR, Hawaii

Sixth Round:  Lawrence Wilson, LB, UConn

Sixth Round:  Zach Williams, OL, Washington State

Seventh Round: Lee Ziemba, OL, Auburn

Comment:  The Panthers will be judged in this draft solely by Cam Newton. At best, he's very raw and not NFL ready and the lockout will hurt this team most of all if they want to get him any early playing time. McClain is a solid kid from USF, good value there. I like Lawrence Wilson from UConn. As for the rest, the Panthers can have them. This team is a long-term rebuilding project and when you look at the mess surrounding Cam Jordan, it makes you very thankful to have Josh Freeman in Tampa!

Grade:    D

There you have it. Yes, pretty harsh with Carolina, but you have to question Cam Newton's desire and work ethic. He was surrounded by a lot of talent at Auburn and the talent level at Carolina is low compared to the rest of the teams in the NFC South, much less the NFL as a whole. 

The Buccaneers have the brightest future in the division with a pack of young defensive stars and an offense led by Josh Freeman that will only get better and more dangerous in the next two years.