Nfc South Draft Needs Per Chad Reuter (Nfl.com)

[Gallagher]

Atlanta Falcons

Needs: MLB, TE, OT, CB, WR

Atlanta stole the headlines in last year's draft with their move up to select receiver

Julio Jones, who they thought could help them over the hump in the NFC. Jones came up just short of 1,000 yards and scored eight times, but the offense stalled against better teams like the New York Giants, who stopped their playoff run. Left tackle Sam Baker will be a free agent after 2012, so using a relatively high pick (they sent their first-rounder to Cleveland in the Jones trade) on the offensive line wouldn't be a surprise. Tony Gonzalez isn't getting any younger, either, so a value pick at tight end makes sense. Picking up additional receivers for quarterback Matt Ryan might prevent an offensive slow-down if someone gets hurt.

Curtis Lofton led the Falcons in tackles the past three seasons, but defected to New Orleans, leaving the team with middle linebackers Akeem Dent (one tackle in 16 games last year) and Lofa Tatupu (the former Seahawks starter did not play in 2011 due to injuries in both knees). Thomas Dimitroff also locked up defensive ends John Abraham, Ray Edwards and Kroy Biermann, safety Thomas DeCoud, and used the franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes -- so the defense doesn't have a lot of glaring needs. However, building some depth at cornerback behind Grimes and Dunta Robinson wouldn't be a bad move.

Carolina Panthers

Needs: DT, WR, DE, TE, LB, OG

Cam Newton, the top overall pick in last year's draft, became a playmaker much earlier in his career than most people expected, but he needs more explosive pass catchers to further develop his aerial attack. It seems likely the Panthers will add one, whether at receiver or tight end, in the first or second round. General manager Marty Hurney replaced starting left guard

Travelle Wharton (who signed with Cincinnati) with Mike Pollak, but another addition there is likely.

The defense lost its third-leading tackler in linebacker

Dan Connor to Dallas as a free agent. The team hopes Thomas Davis can stay healthy this year (he's played in just nine games since 2009), but needs to find young talent at linebacker in case he doesn't. Rookie defensive tackles Sione Fua and Terrell McClain might improve in 2012, but are by no means physically dominant. Finding better space-eaters inside would certainly help the 25th-ranked run defense. The Panthers might use one of their premium draft picks on a defensive end to take pressure off Charles Johnson, who led the team with nine sacks in 2011.

New Orleans Saints

Needs: CB, WR, DTIt's been a remarkably stressful offseason for the Saints, from their publicized disagreement with franchise-tagged quarterback Drew Brees to the heavy suspensions levied by the league for the bounty program headed up by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Thankfully, the team has a talented roster, because filling needs through the draft will be difficult. They had already traded away their first-round pick to the

New England Patriotsto select running back Mark Ingram last April, and now forfeit their second-round selection as part of the bounty punishment. Losing Tracy Porter to Denver in free agency means special attention will be paid to the cornerback position. And re-signing receiverMarques Colston to a five-year, $40 million contract won't stop general manager Mickey Loomis (who will still be able to run the team's draft, as his bounty suspension doesn't start until the regular season) from picking up a replacement for lost free agent Robert Meachem (San Diego). Brodrick Bunkley was a solid pickup from Denver, but the team could use more bodies in the interior defensive-line rotation.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Needs: RB, LB, OT, S, CB, TEThe Buccaneers made a big splash in the free agency by landing Vincent Jackson -- exactly the type of big-play receiver quarterback Josh Freeman needed to take the next step as a passer. They also addressed a need area by reeling in cornerback Eric Wright and bringing back defensive leaderRonde Barber. Giving big contracts to interior offensive linemen Carl Nicks (nabbing him from the Saints) and Jeremy Zuttah will also help Freeman's development, but it will be interesting to see how new head coach Greg Schiano and his staff view starting tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood.

Schiano might want to build his team around a strong running game, which means he might want a stud back carrying the mail just as

Ray Rice did for Schiano at Rutgers a few years ago. That's why it's easy to see Trent Richardson going to the Bucs if he's available at the No. 5 pick. If Schiano wants to upgrade the league's worst scoring defense early in the draft, the linebacker and safety corps would be natural places to start. Don't count out the team using its top pick on corner Morris Claiborne, either, because of Aqib Talib's mercurial manner and a potential league suspension from his pending felony drug charge.

Fool is trippin' for not not listing CB as one of our biggest needs. Can't really blame him for thinking Cam needs another target though with Gettis being so unknown. We, the fans, know though that big things are coming from #12.

Can't really speak to his analysis of the rest of the South. If it's anything like his bit on our needs, it's surface level at best.

[CRA]

Fool is trippin' for not not listing CB as one of our biggest needs. Can't really blame him for thinking Cam needs another target though with Gettis being so unknown. We, the fans, know though that big things are coming from #12.

Can't really speak to his analysis of the rest of the South. If it's anything like his bit on our needs, it's surface level at best.

Could almost consider Hogan being in play to be similar to drafting a kid in this draft.....

New young talent that wasn't competing last year for time for the most part

[R0CKnR0LLA]

I'd say...

CB

OLB

UT

DE

S

Kicker

Punter

#2 TE

OLine depth

LBer depth

WR not too worried about with LaFell emerging, Gettis back and using TEs as much as we do. But jesus that's a lot of needs.

[Gallagher]

Could almost consider Hogan being in play to be similar to drafting a kid in this draft.....

New young talent that wasn't competing last year for time for the most part

Hogan got some snaps against TB and NO late last season but, they were throwaway games so he's definitely not proven.

I'd say...

CB

OLB

UT

DE

S

Kicker

Punter

#2 TE

OLine depth

LBer depth

WR not too worried about with LaFell emerging, Gettis back and using TEs as much as we do. But jesus that's a lot of needs.

Forgive my ignorance but, I don't know too much about the Under Tackle position. Who would be UT on our team now?

[Ivan The Awesome]

The minute I didn't see CB on his list, I stopped reading.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

terrell mcclain

[pantherclaw]

While most of us fans see CB as a big need, I wonder if the team does.

Honestly, an improved pass rush is a bigger need than a CB.

Makes me wonder how many fans will rage if the Panthers don't get a CB in the first two rounds.

[rippadonn]

No CB?!? NFL.com knows nothing about footballz!!! :lol:

[Ivan The Awesome]

No CB?!? NFL.com knows nothing about footballz!!! :lol:

Right, because WR is definitely a pressing need that it warrants being #2 on the needs list right? I mean OG and OLB aren't that much of a need, not at all..

[Keep Pounding]

An improved pass rush will mask the secondaries deficiencies, the need for a CB is important, IMO, if the QB don't have time to get the ball out, the less time a DB has to cover his opponent. We ranked in the bottom in the sack column last year, If a top tier CB falls to us in the draft yeah grab him at 9, if not BPA on DEF, that is what I think would be the smart move.

[rippadonn]

There are still a lot of people who believe in Brandon Hogan. Just heard a scout on the radio give him a lot of praise.

[rippadonn]

Right, because WR is definitely a pressing need that it warrants being #2 on the needs list right? I mean OG and OLB aren't that much of a need, not at all..

WR would be a luxury and a tip of the cap to NY and NO with all the threats at WR. I'd like us to get Joe Adams who is also a great ST guy if we get a WR.

[rodeo]

On what planet is TE a need for the Panthers? Even without Shockey, is the guy aware we have Greg Olsen?

Might as well put RB on the list while you're at it.

This guy just looked at the free agent list and no deeper. "Oh, their WR Legedu Naanee left. WR is gonna be a big need. Oh, and Jeremy Shockey?! Holy cow!"

[Keep Pounding]

There are still a lot of people who believe in Brandon Hogan. Just heard a scout on the radio give him a lot of praise.

He really only played a few snaps in a few games, the most impressive was vs the Texans, when forced the WR out of bounds and stop covering the WR, and went into a zone def as he pointed to the spot to the official where the WR stepped out, (WR can't go out of bounds and be the 1st person to touch ball), I have high hopes for him also, he can't be no worse than Captain last year, so that would be an upgrade, a whole year to learn the DEF and study film and prep, I believe will make Hogan better than we think, but drafting a CB to get into the fold is important, we need at least 3 good corners, we only have 1 great corner....