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NFL Draft grades: Jaguars, Bills head class

By Matt Verderame

Sep 5, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) during pregame before the game against the Texas State Bobcats at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) during pregame before the game against the Texas State Bobcats at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number eleven overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number eleven overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: D

Keanu Neal is a decent safety prospect, but he was a massive reach in the middle of the first round. Atlanta needs to be right about Neal, or this will be a pick that general manager Thomas Dimitroff doesn’t live down anytime soon. The rest of this class might not be able to start over the next few years, something that doesn’t bode well for a team in need of talent.

Carolina Panthers: C-

The selection of Vernon Butler is a terrific one in a vacuum. The problem is where is he going to play? Butler is a defensive tackle on a team with Star Lotulelei and Kawaan Short. It doesn’t appear he will be seeing any real time. General manager David Gettleman could have went with a corner or a defensive end, but instead built on strength. The rest of this group is also underwhelming.

New Orleans Saints: B

The Saints only took five players but did a really nice job of getting talent. New Orleans was able to land a nice fit in defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins before adding Vonn Bell at the safety spot out of Ohio State. The Saints also brought in Bell’s teammate, Michael Thomas, to go with Brandin Cooks. This is a quality class that could help Drew Brees find the playoffs again.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-

This class doesn’t make a ton of sense. The pick of Vernon Hargreaves III is fine and Noah Spence is a decent fit because the Buccaneers really needed a defensive end, but trading third and fourth-round picks to get a kicker is insane. It’s indefensible. Kicking is very important, but not worth that price. Tampa Bay needed to do better here.

Next: NFC West grades

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