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Poll
Which NFC South draft picks scares you the most?
This poll is closed
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33%
McCaffrey - duh
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33%
Howard - he’s gonna be a BEAST
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19%
Tak - please don’t hit Drew...
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13%
Anzalone :(
So the NFC South saw tons of improvements in the 2017 NFL Draft, but which draft pick coming to the division of the New Orleans Saints should Saints fans be most afraid of?
The Carolina Panthers selected Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey with the 9th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. McCaffrey is a dynamic all-around Running Back that bring another dimension to the Carolina Panthers backfield, already containing mobile QB Cam Newton. With Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen as threats in the passing game, McCaffrey will make the Panthers run game that much more of a unit for opposing defenses to focus on.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got their own offensive weapon in the draft, selecting Alabama TE O.J. Howard with the 19th overall selection. Howard is a big-bodied receiving Tight End who poses a huge threat for opposing defenses to cover when he’s out running routes. Opposite Bucs WR Mike Evans, Howard can be QB Jameis Winston’s second-favorite target, but in the run game, Howard is no slouch when asked to lay down blocks.
The Atlanta Falcons traded up to draft UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley, who is most famous right now for his epic “Fine me later” rant after being selected by the Falcons 26th overall. “Tak” is a high-energy pass rusher who could profile as a 4-3 Defensive End or 3-4 Outside Lienbacker. Tak uses his energy and athleticism to constantly get in the opposing backfield, registering 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 6 pass break-ups his senior year.
And just for fun, let’s throw a Saints draft pick out as a option. The Saints grabbed Florida LB Alex Anzalone in the 3rd Round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 76th overall. At that point in the Draft, the Saints had still yet to draft an Edge rusher (finally grabbing DE Trey Hendrickson later in the 3rd Round), and the Anzalone selection left a lot of Saints’ fans scratching their heads. Anzalone is reminiscent in skill set and athleticism of LB Stephone Anthony (but that’s not exactly a good thing anymore, is it?), but also has the durability concerns of balsa wood. If Anzalone is never healthy enough to play in the NFL, this could be the “wasted” pick that comes back to bite the Saints and make them re-think taking injury-prone players in the future.
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Maybe it’s someone else to you, though. Maybe there’s another draft pick that came into the NFC South that gives you a little pause. Or maybe there’s just an honorable mention that you’d like to point out. Vote in the poll. Tell us in the comments. Send me presents.