Team AFC South faces Team NFC South to see which conference knows how to draft for team needs. Houston Texans receives a draft grade of A because they had few needs to meet. With the draft they addressed their need of a backup runningback to Steve Slayden. The cornerback Kareem Jackson should be go fit in the defensive backfield.

Indianapolis Colts earns a draft grade of B. This team made it to the Super Bowl and fell short but this team has always shown that they know how to pick the players to fulfill the roles on their team. In the 2010 NFL draft they got the offensive line help and a DB that should pay dividends against teams like the New Orleans Saints who like to pass.

Jacksonville Jaguars needed a better draft to merit higher grade than a C but they just did not get all the players needed. They draft three defensive ends but forget about any offensive lineman. They could have added a receiver since Tory Holt signed with New England.

Tennessee Titans receives a B grade. They were not many needs that the Titans needed; therefore, they went out found players that could fill their needs. Their draft efforts should help them get off to better start than last year.

Team NFC South has Atlanta out of the gate. The Falcons addressed a few issues at different positions. They needed defensive end but got defensive tackle. The team managed to get the linebacker they needed. Falcons can only receive a draft score of C because they could have done better.

Carolina Panthers did a superb job of selecting the players they needed. I think went to extreme with drafting three QBs. QB Jimmy Clausen is a practical steal and he most pro ready quarterback that was in the draft. He will be the Panthers insurance policy in case Matt Moore does not pan out. Good overall draft for needs.
The Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints did an okay not great job with meeting draft needs. They manage to fulfill three of the needs. Those three needs were cornerback, defensive tackle, and center. The draft grade of C would fit the Super Bowl winning Saints for their participation of their draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers selection of DT Gerald McCoy out of Oklahoma greatly met a tremendous need of shoring up the defensive line. The Wide Receiver Arrelious Benn maybe great find in the second round. Overall, the team earned a draft grade of a B. This is not too bad and I look for this team does little better this upcoming season.

Team AFC South clearly outmatches Team NFC South when it comes to drafting for team needs. Each team for the AFC seems to find the mark and those teams with better drafts made up for the squads that seem to be lost. Well make everyone tune into the last segment of the Battle of Draft Grades when Team AFC North, versus Team NFC North go head to head.

AFC South
Houston Texans Needs (RB, DB) Draft Grade (A)
Round Pick Player Position School
1 20 (20) Kareem Jackson DB Alabama
2 26 (58) Ben Tate RB Auburn
3 17 (81) Earl Mitchell DT Arizona
4 4 (102) Darryl Sharpton LB Miami (FL)
4 20 (118) Garrett Graham TE Wisconsin
5 13 (144) Sherrick McManis CB Northwestern
6 18 (187) Shelley Smith OL Colorado St.
6 28 (197) Trindon Holliday WR LSU
7 20 (227) Dorin Dickerson TE Pittsburgh

Indianapolis Colts Needs (OL, CB, DT, LB) Draft Grade (B)
1 31 (31) Jerry Hughes DE TCU
2 31 (63) Pat Angerer LB Iowa
3 30 (94) Kevin Thomas CB USC
4 31 (129) Jacques McClendon G Tennessee
5 31 (162) Brody Eldridge TE Oklahoma
7 31 (238) Ricardo Mathews DL Cincinnati
7 33 (240) Kavell Conner LB Clemson
7 39 (246) Ray Fisher CB Indiana

Jacksonville Jaguars Needs (DE, LB, S, C, G, DT, WR) Draft Grade(C)
Round Pick Player Position School
1 10 (10) Tyson Alualu DE California
3 10 (74) D’Anthony Smith DT Louisiana Tech
5 12 (143) Larry Hart DE Central Arkansas
5 22 (153) Austen Lane DE Murray St.
6 11 (180) Deji Karim RB Southern Illinois
6 34 (203) Scotty McGee James Madison

Tennessee Titans Needs (DE, CB, LB) Draft Grade (B)
1 16 (16) Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
3 13 (77) Damian Williams WR USC
3 33 (97) Rennie Curran LB Georgia
4 6 (104) Alterraun Verner CB UCLA
5 17 (148) Robert Johnson FS Utah
6 7 (176) Rusty Smith QB Florida Atlantic
6 38 (207) Myron Rolle S Florida St.
7 15 (222) Marc Mariani WR Montana
7 34 (241) David Howard DT Brown

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons Needs (DE, OLB, RB, C, S, PK) Draft Grade(C)
Round Pick Player Position School
1 19 (19) Sean Weatherspoon LB Missouri
3 19 (83) Corey Peters DT Kentucky
3 34 (98) Mike Johnson OL Alabama
4 19 (117) Joe Hawley C UNLV
5 4 (135) Dominique Franks DB Oklahoma
5 34 (165) Kerry Meier WR Kansas
6 2 (171) Shann Schillinger DB Montana

Carolina Panthers Needs (WR, DE, QB) Draft Grade (A)
2 16 (48) Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame
3 14 (78) Brandon LaFell WR LSU
3 25 (89) Armanti Edwards QB Appalachian St.
4 26 (124) Eric Norwood LB South Carolina
6 6 (175) Greg Hardy DE Mississippi
6 29 (198) David Gettis WR Baylor
6 33 (202) Jordan Pugh DB Texas A&M
6 35 (204) Tony Pike QB Cincinnati
7 16 (223) R.J. Stanford DB Utah
7 42 (249) Robert McClain CB Connecticut

New Orleans Saints Needs (LB, DE, S, DT, CB, C) Draft Grade(C)
Round Pick Player Position School
1 32 (32) Patrick Robinson CB Florida St.
2 32 (64) Charles Brown T USC
3 31 (95) Jimmy Graham TE Miami (FL)
4 25 (123) Al Woods DT LSU
5 27 (158) Matt Tennant C Boston College
7 32 (239) Sean Canfield QB Oregon St.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Needs (DT, WR, S, LB, DE, OG, CB) Draft Grade (B)
1 3 (3) Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma
2 3 (35) Brian Price DT UCLA
2 7 (39) Arrelious Benn WR Illinois
3 3 (67) Myron Lewis CB Vanderbilt
4 3 (101) Mike Williams WR Syracuse
6 3 (172) Brent Bowden P Virginia Tech
7 3 (210) Cody Grimm LB Virginia Tech
7 10 (217) Dekoda Watson LB Florida St.
7 46 (253) Erik Lorig DE Stanford