Grading the 2008 NFL Draft: NFC South

This is part two of my eight part series re-grading the 2008 NFL Draft. Click here to read my NFC West grades.

Atlanta Falcons
1(3)     - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
1(21)   - OT Sam Baker, Southern California
2(37)   - LB Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
3(68)   - CB Chevis Jackson, LSU
3(84)   - WR Harry Douglas, Louisville
3(98)   - S Thomas DeCoud, California
5(138) - LB Robert James, Arizona State
5(154) - DE Kroy Biermann, Montana
6(172) - RB Thomas Brown, Georgia
7(212) - CB Wilrey Fontenot, Arizona
7(232) - TE Keith Zinger, LSU
Thoughts: Atlanta hit on a lot of their draft picks, as Matt Ryan is a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, Sam Baker is a solid right tackle (41 starts in 46 career games) and Curtis Lofton is a tackling machine at middle linebacker (averages 125 tackles/year). Harry Douglas is a solid slot receiver, Thomas DeCoud has been a solid three-year starter and Kroy Biermann is a solid rotation defensive lineman. While some of the other lower round picks (Jackson, James, Brown, Fontenot, Zinger) didn't really stick, the team hit on a large majority of their picks, including four starters.
Grade: A

Carolina Panthers
1(13)   - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
1(19)   - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
3(67)   - CB Charles Godfrey, Iowa
3(74)   - LB Dan Connor, Penn State
5(141) - TE Gary Barnidge, Louisville
6(181) - DT Nick Hayden, Wisconsin
7(221) - LB Hilee Taylor, North Carolina
7(241) - OT Geoff Schwartz, Oregon
Thoughts: Jonathan Stewart has been solid in a platoon role at running back. Jeff Otah has struggled with injuries, but is a very good tackle when healthy. Godfrey has been solid after transitioning to strong safety (274 tackles, 9 INT career). Dan Connor is another injury-prone player, but provides solid depth at middle linebacker. Schwartz has seen most of his playing time at guard (32 games, 19 starts), but missed the 2011 season due to injury. Hayden has been a career reserve (most recently with Cincinnati), while both Taylor and Barnidge didn't see the field in 2011. The team did a good job of finding needs, but due to the large amount of injuries, their grade is down slightly from where it could've been.
Grade: B

New Orleans Saints
1(7)     - DT Sedrick Ellis, Southern California
2(40)   - CB Tracy Porter, Indiana
5(144) - DT DeMario Pressley, North Carolina State
5(164) - OT Carl Nicks, Nebraska
6(178) - K Taylor Mehlhaff, Wisconsin
7(237) - WR Adrian Arrington, Michigan
Thoughts: Ellis (12.5 career sacks) and Porter have been fixtures on the Saints defense since their rookie season, with Porter having the deciding pick-six of Peyton Manning in their Super Bowl win his first year. Carl Nicks slid inside to guard, where he is arguably the best in the NFL. Pressley has appeared in eight career games through four seasons, while Arrington has appeared in five (as he spent his first couple season on the practice squad). Mehlhaff never appeared in a game. Three starters is a good draft, and getting an All-Pro in the fifth round is a steal.
Grade: B+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1(20)   - CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
2(58)   - WR Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State
3(83)   - G Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers
4(115) - DT Dre Moore, Maryland
5(160) - QB Josh Johnson, San Diego
6(175) - LB Geno Hayes, Florida State
7(238) - RB Cory Boyd, South Carolina
Thoughts: Aqib Talib is a talented (but troubled) cornerback that has 17 career interceptions, but with a new coaching staff coming in, could find himself on very thin ice due to his legal troubles. Hayes is a solid (but undersized linebacker who has started 42 games the past three seasons. Zuttah is a solid road-grader at guard, and Johnson has been a steady backup who will likely try to find a starting gig elsewhere this offseason. Moore (5 career tackles) and Boyd were largely practice squad players. Dexter Jackson had one season as a return man for Tampa before bouncing around practice squads the past three season. Three starters is a solid haul, but missing on two of your top four picks isn't a great percentage.
Grade: C+