Around the Division- Who Did Our Rivals Select?

Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina have all made their 1st round picks of the 2008 draft. Unsurprisingly, the Falcons jumped on Matt Ryan. The Saints traded up to the 7th pick, making a deal with the devil in the Patriots and nabbing DT Sedrick Ellis and Carolina added to their backfield in the form of RB Jonathon Stewart.

Ryan become the hot QB a top draft boards soon after the college season ended and did little to hurt his standing. He's cool under pressure, has a good enough arm and is a true leader who did a lot with very little while at Boston College. Ryan should be the Falcons starting quarterback on opening day, a sore spot for the Falcons in the wake of Mike Vick.

Details have not yet been announced, but New Orleans made the jump up from 10 to 7 in the fear that they would not be able to land stud DT Ellis from USC who most likely would have gone to Cincinnati at the 9th spot. The defense suffered a huge drop off in performance from 2006, going from average to awful. Cornerback is a huge need for the Saints as well but that position is far deeper than defensive tackle.

The drafting of Stewart brings John Fox and the Cats back to their roots with a smashmouth runner in the mold of Stephen Davis. Stewart is more versatile and well-rounded than Rashard Mendenhall and should be able to help Carolina's offense get back on track. Actually, Fox's job may be depending on what this oft-injured runner can do.

These are three top notch prospects entering the NFC South division. Carolina and New Orleans are not far behind the Buccaneers in challenging for the crown and both teams have made deep play-off runs not too long ago. The moves the Falcons have made so far appear to have them back on the road to respectability, but it's the Falcons so who knows. The seat is still warm under Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen, no matter what it says on those new contracts and this draft could be a crucial one in their tenure.

Daryl Martin-Breault
Admin/Draft Coverage- www.pewterkrew.com
Senior Writer- www.nfldraftdog.com