2025 NFL Draft Grades: NFC South

2025 NFL Draft Grades: NFC South

Hey, you. Yes, you. Stop pretending you’re going anywhere else for your NFL Draft information and show that damn support to VSM. Your feedback is welcome as we continue to grind away with these 2025 NFL Draft grades. After hitting the NFC East and NFC North, the NFC South is next up. This division stinks, but this class might have shifted the balance of power. Let’s get into all of it, and a reminder that the future content plan will be pasted below.

Atlanta Falcons: Grade A-

Round 1: No. 15 – Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (Profile)
Round 1: No. 26 (from LAR) – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (Profile)
Round 3: No. 96 (from PHI) – Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame (Profile)
Round 4: No. 118 – Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma (Profile)
Round 7: No. 218 (from CLE via LAC) – Jack Nelson, T, Wisconsin

Notable UDFAs: Nate Carter, Nick Nash, Quincy Skinner, Joshua Simon, Joshua Gray, Jordan Williams, Simeon Barrow, Nick Kubitz, Cobee Bryant, Dontae Manning, Malik Verdon

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually going to give the Falcons a passing grade for the first time in the Terry Fontenot era. Yes, it absolutely sucks they gave up their next year’s one, but we’ll go over that next year. For this year, holy hell, they knocked this puppy out of the park.

Sitting there and snagging Jalon Walker is a no-brainer. I’m more so surprised the Falcons finally were smart enough to take the Georgia guys sitting in their backyard for a change. To double up on pass rusher, also bagging James Pearce is a real win. This team needed pass rusher help to be taken seriously heading into this year, and they definitely accomplished just that.

It didn’t stop there. They also got two of the better safeties in this draft in Watts and Bowman. Both of those guys are going to help in a big way. Watts in the third round is a total steal. To get a guy like that who led college football in interceptions, is a huge win.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but great job, Falcons. They were screwed before. They still might be screwed, but now they have a fighting chance again.

Carolina Panthers: Grade B-

Round 1: No. 8 – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (Profile)
Round 2: No. 51 (from DEN) – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (Profile)
Round 3: No. 77 (from ATL via NE) – Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss (Profile)
Round 4: No. 114 (from DAL) – Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia (Profile)
Round 4: No. 122 (from DEN) – Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
Round 5: No. 140 (from NYG) – Cam Jackson, DT, Florida
Round 5: No. 163 (from BAL) – Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame (Profile)
Round 6: No. 208 (from PHI via DEN) – Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Ethan Gabers, Jacolby George, Kobe Hudson, Moose Muhammad, Luke Kandra, Mike Tarquin, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Bam Martin-Scott, Ryan Fitzgerald

Dummy Dan Morgan actually did ok here. Maybe he’s getting smarter with more experience on the job. No argument on the McMillan pick. The guy is a stud and was really the only boundary receiver worth taking seriously in this draft. Scourton and Umanmielen are two edge guys who should help them. I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but Etienne is already their best running back. Also, I love the Jimmy Horn pick at the back of the class.

It might not be a perfect draft. I’m not sure they got a ton of surplus value here with their picks but they’re definitely a better team heading into this year.

New Orleans Saints: Grade B

Round 1: No. 9 – Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas (Profile)
Round 2: No. 40 – Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville (Profile)
Round 3: No. 71- Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas (Profile)
Round 3: No. 93 (from WAS) – Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia
Round 4: No. 112 – Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma (Profile)
Round 4: No. 131 (from WAS) – Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
Round 6: No. 184 (reacquired via WAS) – Devin Neal, RB, Kansas (Profile)
Round 7: No. 248 (from PHI via WAS) – Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA (Profile)
Round 7: No. 254 (Compensatory) – Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Marcus Yarns, Chris Tyree, Torricelli Simpkins, Omari Thomas, Tyreem Powell, James Burnip

I struggled with this one because I don’t totally hate this class, but I also have to recognize it’s hard to take this team seriously. This grade is as high as it is because they took Kelvin Banks. Let’s be clear about that. When you can go Banks and Fuaga as the bookends for the next however many years, that’s a damn good place to start.

I also think some of these other picks will actually help them. Broughton was maybe a touch high for me, but he can play. Ditto for Stutsman. The Riley, Neal, and Diggs picks all have a good chance to become hits.

This draft comes down to Shough. Can he be a real franchise quarterback? I’m skeptical of that, but I also don’t think he totally sucks. If he can be a guy, the Saints have a chance to somewhat compete. There’s also a chance they still need a QB this time next year.

Decent draft, just can’t go higher than a B.

2025 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Grade C+

Round 1: No. 19 – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (Profile)
Round 2: No. 53 – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (Profile)
Round 3: No. 84 – Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
Round 4: No. 121 – David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
Round 5: No. 157 – Elijah Roberts, EDGE, SMU
Round 7: No. 235 – Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Connor Bazelik, Josh Williams, Garrett Greene, Will Sheppard, Jake Majors, Desmond Watson, Shilo Sanders

Another hard one to grade. The Bucs already had receivers out the ass. Egbuka and Tez add onto that strength. I’m also high on Morrison and don’t blame them for going that route. That pick makes total sense. I just don’t think they got much else, and it’s hard to imagine they’re much better heading into this year.

Very confusing draft. They almost have so many receivers that they may have to trade one. I’m not sure we have the total answer on what’s going on here. Also, I didn’t view Egbuka as a home run first round guy so there’s that.

*Still on the horizon*

2025 NFL Draft Grades, along with a few stragglers left behind on the individual profiles.

The film studies for the East-West and Senior Bowl practices will be published soonish.

The 2026 NFL Draft way-too-early position rankings will be posted after the grades.

Fantasy rookie rankings for each position will come out after the way-too-early 2026 list.

Then, Trey is going on hiatus for a few days. Make sure to share the links around, and feel free to comment. If you’re here, thanks for your support, and I hope I helped make everyone smart this draft season!

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