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The Carolina Panthers’ Fan Guide to the NFC South Draft Needs

By Nick Yon

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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With the combine happening, it’s a good time to start looking at the rest of the Carolina Panthers opponents in  NFC South and how they will draft.

How the Carolina Panthers’ opponents draft in April will greatly affect the rest of the season as well as the years to come. The NFC South gets more competitive each year. Today, here’s a look at where the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers could go with their draft picks.

Atlanta Falcons

Thanks to Tankathon, here are the Atlanta Falcons’ draft picks.

  • First Round: Pick #26
  • Second Round: Pick #58
  • Third Round: Pick #90
  • Fourth Round: Pick #122
  • Fifth Round: No Picks
  • Sixth Round: Pick #186
  • Seventh Round: Pick #218

Looking at the Atlanta Falcons’ roster, the offensive and defensive lines are the greatest needs. Expect an offensive lineman to be taken in the first round before the Falcons take advantage of the deep defensive class with second and third round picks. The Falcons are largely the same complete, dangerous team that went to Super Bowl LI, so most draft picks will offer depth.

In Panthers’ terms, the Falcons are looking for a Trai Turner-type lineman and a Kawaan Short.

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New Orleans Saints

Here are the New Orleans Saints picks.

  • First Round: Pick #27
  • Second Round: No Picks
  • Third Round: Pick #91
  • Fourth Round: Pick #123
  • Fifth Round: Pick #155
  • Sixth Round: Pick #187
  • Seventh Round: Pick #219

Per usual, the New Orleans Saints are expected to draft defensively. Their offense is still a juggernaut with Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, and Alvin Kamara, and the defensive improved with top pick Marshawn Lattimore. The Saints defense lacks a field leader, and defensive leaders tend to be linebackers. Expect a rangy, intelligent linebacker to be taken in the first round. In later rounds, a partner to Marshawn Lattimore will likely be drafted.

In Panthers’ terms, the Saints want a Luke-Kuechly-type linebacker, someone who can do it all athletically and bring intelligent leadership to the field.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The picks of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are as follows.

  • First Round: Pick #7
  • Second Round: Pick #38
  • Third Round: Pick #69
  • Fourth Round: Pick #104
  • Fifth Round: Pick #135
  • Sixth Round: Pick #166 and Pick #188
  • Seventh Round: No Picks

Oh boy, the Buccaneers’ front office has some work to do on, especially in discovering an edge threat and running back. Barring the fall of Saquon Barkley to the seventh pick, the Buccaneers will likely take a defensive lineman to stop the elite quarterbacks that the NFC South possesses.

In Panthers’ terms, it’s like the Panthers’ 2010 season.

Next: With Hurney cutting veterans, who's next...?

What this means for the Carolina Panthers

On one hand, this, unfortunately, means that the Panthers is that the NFC is going to get much more competitive. Luckily, the Panthers do have their own plethora of draft picks, an excellent defense, and a superhuman at quarterback. For more information on how the Panthers could draft this year click here.

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