A thorough assessment of a team’s draft can’t truly be reached for another three years or so. That said, with tighter rosters and larger rookie contracts, a successful draft must yield at least some immediate help. With that in mind, here’s a look at how NFC South teams fared over the weekend—both from a big-picture NFL standpoint as well as a fantasy perspective—taking into account how key needs were (or weren’t) addressed and the impact potential of the players acquired.

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta focused heavily on the defensive side of the ball, bookending their draft with DTs Peria Jerry and Vance Walker; the former will start immediately, while the latter adds depth and upside. S William Moore could step directly into the SS role vacated by Lawyer Milloy, third-round CB Christopher Owens might crack the nickel and dime packages, and fourth-round DE Lawrence Sidbury has a chance to contribute right away as a situational pass-rusher. CB William Middleton and LB Spencer Adkins bring speed and athleticism to the Atlanta special teams. OT Garrett Reynolds is the lone torch-carrier for the offense; the 6-8, 309-pounder is a developmental project who could eventually man the line in front of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. 

Fantasy nugget: Ummm… hey, the Falcons traded a 2010 pick for Tony Gonzalez. Atlanta signed QB John Parker Wilson as an undrafted free agent; he could unseat Chris Redman or D.J. Shockley and bcome the Falcons’s developmental quarterback.

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