Behind Enemy Lines is a weekly look at Tampa Bay’s NFC South foes every Tuesday morning. Let’s spy on the Bucs’ division rivals, shall we?
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, pick 16: Clemson CB A.J. Terrell
Round 2, pick 47:Â Auburn DEÂ Marlon DavidsonÂ
Round 3, pick 78: Temple CÂ Matt HennessyÂ
Round 4, pick 119: Fresno State LBÂ Mykal Walker
Round 4, pick 134:Â Cal SÂ Jaylinn Hawkins
Round 7, pick 228:Â Syracuse PÂ Sterling Hofrichter
Summary: The Falcons addressed big needs, especially with their first three picks, but there isn’t a lot here to make you think this helps Atlanta jump the Saints or the Buccaneers in 2020 – and a third-place finish in the NFC South seems to be the Falcons’ destiny. Some felt Terrell was a reach with the No. 16 pick, and while the Falcons were in need of a cornerback, moving up for C.J. Henderson would have made more sense – yet Atlanta isn’t a cornerback away from the playoffs. Davidson was a solid pick and will probably move inside to defensive tackle, and like Terrell, it was a need pick as the Falcons must boost a dreadful pass rush and after parting ways with Vic Beasley this offseason. Hennessy was a fairly safe pick, even if it doesn’t come with much splash. The Falcons still have Alex Mack at center and most like shift Hennessy to guard for now. Many felt Walker, like Terrell, was a bit of a reach to help fill a need at linebacker.
GRADE: C
Carolina Panthers
Round 1, pick 7:Â Auburn DTÂ Derrick Brown
Round 2, pick 38: Penn State DEÂ Yetur Gross-Matos
Round 2, pick 64:Â Southern Illinois SÂ Jeremy Chinn
Round 4, pick 113: Notre Dame CBÂ Troy Pride Jr.
Round 5, pick 152: West Virginia CBÂ Kenny Robinson
Round 6, pick 184: Baylor DLÂ Bravvion Roy
Round 7, pick 221: FIU CBÂ Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
Summary: Like the Falcons, the Panthers had plenty of holes to fill, particularly on defense and did a solid – if not spectacular – job of finding some players to fill the voids in a rebuilding process under new head coach Matt Rhule. Brown was a solid pick and should step in and immediately contribute. Gross-Matos had first round grades from some and lower second round grades from others, so at pick No. 38 it doesn’t appear to be a reach. He should be able to step in and team up with last year’s first-rounder, Brian Burns, to give the Panthers some edge rush help. Chinn is very athletic and a great story going from zero stars as a high school senior to no D1 college offers to a third-round NFL draft pick. With that said, it will be an adjustment for Chinn, who may get thrown into action early in Carolina, which has little experience in a depleted secondary. Cornerback was also hit hard in free agency after James Bradberry left for the Giants. Opposing quarterbacks should be salivating looking at Carolina’s secondary on paper, especially if Pride and Robison are thrust into starting roles as rookies.
GRADE: B
New Orleans Saints
Round 1, pick 24:Â Michigan C Cesar Ruiz
Round 3, pick 74:Â Wisconsin LBÂ Zack Baun
Round 3, pick 105:Â Dayton TEÂ Adam TrautmanÂ
Round 7, pick 240: Mississippi State QB Tommy Stevens
Summary: The Saints just do things differently. It doesn’t necessarily mean it is wrong, as evidenced by their recent run of success, but they are unique in how they approach the draft. This season they traded four draft picks to move up to get a tight end in Adam Trautman after taking center/guard Cesar Ruiz out of Michigan in the first round when most expected them to go wide receiver. Also needing linebacker help, New Orleans went with Zack Baun with their second pick, which came in the third round. The Saints did add Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, but other than Michael Thomas their wide receiving corps is relatively thin. Of course with Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook, and the addition of Trautman, Drew Brees will still have plenty of options. The trade back into the draft to take take quarterback Tommy Stevens was a bit puzzling. The Saints could see Stevens as their next Taysom Hill as he is an athletic specimen who played a hybrid role in 2017 at Penn State. Yet Hill signed a two-year deal with New Orleans, and the Saints are also looking to sign Jameis Winston to a one-year deal.
GRADE: C
Mark Cook currently is the director of editorial content and Bucs beat writer and has written for PewterReport.com since 2011. Cook has followed the Buccaneers since 1977 when he first began watching football with his Dad and is fond of the 1979 Bucs team that came within 10 points of going to a Super Bowl. His favorite Bucs game is still the 1979 divisional playoff win 24-17 over the Eagles. In his spare time Cook enjoys playing guitar, fishing, the beach and family time.Cook is a native of Pinecrest in Eastern Hillsborough County and has written for numerous publications including the Tampa Tribune, In the Field and Ya'll Magazine. Cook can be reached at [email protected]
