Panthers Leave NFL Draft As Winners

NFL Draft

By: Mike Mauro

Posted: 4/30/08

Mike Mauro will break down the draft grades for teams in the East, North, South and West divisions each day this week. Today he focuses on the South divisions, while Thursday will feature the West.

NFC SOUTH

Carolina Panthers - B-plus

Carolina surprised some people by taking Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart with the No. 13 pick when they already have another former first-round pick, DeAngelo Williams, at the same position. However, teams need two good backs these days and Stewart has a chance to be the best overall pro running back in this class. His power running and breakaway speed make him special. The Panthers traded back into round one to take Pittsburgh offensive tackle Jeff Otah, who is enormous. However, they gave up a first-round pick next year and Otah isn't quite worth that much despite being a very good player. With their two third-round picks they got players with first-round value. Iowa's Charles Godfrey is a versatile defensive back who always seems to be around the ball. At that point in the process he was a big steal. Surprisingly, Penn State linebacker Dan Connor slid all the way to the third round. The Panthers are lucky to have picked him up because with Dan Morgan moving on, Connor has the experience and football knowledge to step in right away and make an impact. Also, drafting Lousiville tight end Gary Barnidge in the fifth round was intriguing because while he is not flashy, Barnidge has great receiving skills and can become a threat in the passing game.

Atlanta Falcons - B

Atlanta had a tough decision to make between Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. In the end, they made the best choice for the franchise. Ryan brings a new face to the team and puts the Michael Vick era in the rearview mirror. Ryan has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL with his poise and intelligence. The Falcons traded back into the first round to take USC left tackle Sam Baker. This was one of the biggest reaches of the draft. Baker was viewed as a potential franchise tackle at one time but he doesn't have the explosiveness in the run game and his pass blocking skills are not elite. It will be interesting to see how he works out because if he turns out to be great, the Falcons have set themselves up at two of the most important positions for the next 12 years. Their second-round pick, linebacker Curtis Lofton from Oklahoma, could turn out to be a real steal. He flies around the field and is an impact player on defense and special teams. With three picks in the third, Atlanta added three solid players in LSU cornerback Chevis Jackson, Louisville receiver Harry Douglas and California safety Thomas DeCoud. None of them will wow you with their workout numbers, but each is a very good football player who will help the Falcons get better fast.

New Orleans Saints - B-minus

The Saints did a good job trading up to get the guy they wanted in USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. He is a space-eater and gap-penetrator all in one. Rated just a half-notch below Dorsey, expect Ellis to be a perennial Pro Bowler. Then they grabbed Indiana cornerback Tracy Porter in the second round. He is a very good cover-man with ability in the return game as well. With the inept secondary of the Saints don't be surprised if Porter pushes for a starting job, but he will definitely step in and contribute right away. New Orleans also came away with two solid picks in the fifth round in NC State defensive tackle DeMarrio Pressley and Nebraska offensive lineman Carl Nicks. Pressely takes up a lot of space and can clog up the interior, and Nicks is a massive specimen who can provide insurance along the offensive line. Michigan receiver Adrian Arrington was a nice pickup in the seventh round and will probably stick on and surprise some people with his production.

Tampa Bay Bucs - B-minus

Tampa had a solid if unspectacular draft overall. They picked an extremely talented player at No. 20 in Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib. His physical skills are unmatched, he has very good hands and in the Tampa system he will have the chance to create numerous turnovers. Appalachian State wideout Dexter Jackson made a name for himself in the Michigan upset, but he has electric speed and playmaking ability, and even though he measures in at just a shade over 5-foot-9 he give the Bucs a much needed playmaker to go along with Joey Galloway. The Bucs also added Rutgers lineman Jeremy Zuttah and Maryland defensive tackle Dre Moore. Both of these picks were great value and each have the potential to make an impact in their rookie season. Jon Gruden loves quarterbacks and adding San Diego's Josh Johnson in the fifth is intriguing. Johnson is raw and played against lower competition, but he has the tools and athleticism to develop into a starting quarterback. Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes slid to the sixth round but Tampa has a Hall of Fame Seminole in Derrick Brooks who Hayes can learn from and look up to and eventually replace.

AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis Colts - C-plus

There isn't much to like about anyone's draft in this division, but the Colts, without a first-round pick came away with a bunch of solid players to complement their already stellar squad. Their first pick was Arizona State center/guard Mike Pollak, who they feel can step in and produce right away. They picked up a productive Georgia Tech linebacker in Philip Wheeler in round two and he has the potential to become a starter for them there down the line. In the fourth they took Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme who is more like a big receiver. He can become a very good threat for Peyton Manning who likes to attack the seams of opposing defenses. In the sixth round, Virginia tight end Tom Santi, Wake Forest center Steven Justice and Michigan Mike Hart were all brought on board. These were all dependable collegiate players and are perfect fits for what Indianapolis likes to do with their team in terms of bringing in solid team-players.

Jacksonville Jaguars - C

They traded up to No. 8 to take Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, who was a major reach there. He wasn't overly dominant in college and his huge game against Ohio State in the national title game two years ago is the only reason he was overrated so much. They obviously feel he can be a difference-maker, but in case he's not, they added another pass-rushing specialist in Auburn's Quentin Groves. Groves is a menace to quarterbacks, but he is one dimensional and can't play the run very well. He would have been better suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. They had three other picks in the entire draft and the only one of great value was South Florida cornerback Trae Williams in the fifth round. Lost in the shadow of his first-round teammate Mike Jenkins, Williams is a solid player who can develop into an effective nickel corner in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans - C-minus

Taking East Carolina running back Chris Johnson in the first round was definitely a reach, but he has electric speed from the backfield and in the return game. He is also a solid pass-catcher and if the Titans intend to use him more as a receiver, this pick looks better, because they really needed to bolster their receiver corps. However, they waited to do so until the fifth round with California wideout Lavelle Hawkins. Hawkins was more solid and reliable than teammate DeSean Jackson and should turn out to be a good pro, but he isn't the potential difference-maker that they could have found in round two. There they took Eastern Michigan defensive end Jason Jones instead. Jones is a sleeper prospect with ability, but they seemed to ignore the need to give Vince Young another weapon outside. They added California tight end Craig Stevens in the third round, which was a solid pick. Stevens is a very good run-blocker and will help to pickup first downs in the passing game.

Houston Texans - D-plus

The Texans made a mistake by moving out of their pick at No. 18 and going down to No. 26. Instead of getting USF corner Mike Jenkins at that spot or maybe Jeff Otah but they instead traded back and took Virginia Tech left tackle Duane Brown. Brown is very athletic and may develop into the left tackle they have lacked since joining the league, but he wasn't a great value pick at No. 26. With two third-rounders they took Eastern Kentucky cornerback Antwuan Molden and West Virginia running back Steve Slaton. Molden is a big-time sleeper with great size and speed but played against lesser competition - he could be a steal. Slaton went higher than he should have. He is fast, but disappeared from too many games on a national title contender that needed him. He will get battered around in the NFL and won't be able to run past people like he did in college. Fourth-rounder Xavier Adibi, linebacker from Virginia Tech, had a tremendous college career but doesn't have the athleticism to be an every-down starter in the pros. Fifth round pick Frank Okam, defensive tackle for Texas, is huge and filled with ability but doesn't show up to play every week and doesn't seem to have a passion for the game. If he someone finds it in Houston, then he will be a steal.

Mike Mauro's NFL Draft column is running every day this week.

He can be reached at

Michael.Mauro@UConn.edu.