I am prematurely assigning grades to each teams first three picks from the 2014 NFL draft. There is a method to my madness however. This grading is based on how I feel about these players and their ability to transition to the NFL. My grading system is simple. If you picked a 1st rounder who was great value you got an A. In the second and third rounds a typical good pick only gets a B grade. You have to find great value to score an A after the 1st round because there arent that many A players left at that point. So, lets see who had the best draft in the NFC South.Atlanta- Overall B. 6 - Matthews. Great pick if you ask me. Safest pick in entire draft and fills a need. A37 Hageman. They filled a need and got a good player. B68- Southward. Obviously this fills a need but this is not exactly BPA at this point. CThe Falcons have made themselves much better. They addressed the major issues in the trenches and secondary. Good way to start their draft. They get a solid B.Carolina- Overall B28- Benjamin. They reached for a need but player has huge upside. B60- Ealy. They got one of the top DE's in a weak year. C.92- Turner. Here they knock one out of the park. Turner is an athletic guard who may be the best in this class. ACarolina started out sluggish with the first two picks but that is to be expected when you are picking at the end of the rounds.New Orleans- Overall F.20- Cooks. The Saints traded up to no.20 to grab a midget. This is terrible. They drafted a 190 pound WR in the 1st round and gave up their last premium pick to do so. F58- Jean-Baptiste. In another head scratcher the Saints take a CB in round 2. They reach on a mediocre player with great size at CB. Reminiscent of the Myron Lewis pick for the Bucs. D3rd rounder traded for midget. FThe Saints were on crack. Do they have issues with pass catchers? Are they desperate for a slot WR? What on Earth made them trade away a 3rd in this draft for a 190 pound WR? Heaven only knows but as a Buc fan I am delighted. Tampa Bay- Overall B.7- Evans. BPA and position of need gets an A. 38- ASJ. This pick should help out the offense. ASJ upgrades the position immensely. B69- Sims. This one was a big head scratcher. Everyone was expecting an OG to be the pick but the Bucs went with another offensive weapon. C.Obviously, our main focus was to bring in playmakers who could contribute right away. We still have huge question marks regarding the OL. Specifically, our guards. All up this draft should help to make for a more competitive NFC South as NO lost ground and ATL and TB addressed needs. Carolina needed to draft about 4 WR's. They will be in the cellar regardless of how good their defense is.
