Football,f1 motorsports,NBA,Premier League

The 2015 New Orleans Saints no doubt underachieved. Coming off of an 11-5 season and a division playoff win against Philadelphia the previous year, fans and spectators alike believed the Saints would only get better. And why wouldn't they? They signed All-pro free safety Jairus Byrd from the Buffalo Bills in free agency, adding him to an already top 5 defense from 2014. They also spent a 1st round pick on Brandin Cooks a receiver out of Oregon State who only led the nation in yards with over 1,800 and a guy who was also voted the best receiver in the country that same year. And of course, All-pro quarterback and future hall-of-famer Drew Brees was returning, and his four straight years of over 4,000 yards passing was nothing to scoff at. So what was the result? A 7-9 record and sitting at home for the playoffs. Time to reload for 2016.

The Jimmy Graham Trade: Maybe one of the most shocking deals that was made at the start of the 2015 offseason was the Saints' decision to trade all-pro tight end Jimmy Graham. The Saints' traded Graham to the Seattle Seahawks for all-pro center Max Unger and a 1st round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. The 31st selection. The trade may have been shocking due to the caliber of player involved, but it was nevertheless the right move to make. Graham had developed a reputation for being soft and disappearing whenever it mattered most. Most notably when he recorded 1 catch for 8 yards in a playoff game against his new team, the Seahawks. 

The trade allowed the Saints to get a lot better at center, a position they've been desperately trying to fill since their Super Bowl run in 2009. Max Unger brings a physicality to the offensive line that's unmatched and he wrecks havoc on defenses in the running game, an aspect of the offense that the Saints struggled at in 2015. When Unger was in Seattle, he helped Marshawn Lynch reach all-pro caliber, and without Unger due to injury, Lynch's yard per carry dropped an entire yard. That's significant. Unger also has all the mental capabilities you look for in a center to pair with a quarterback like Drew Brees. Brees will never have to be concerned with Unger missing a protection or an audible.

The Kenny Stills Trade: Only after 2 years with the team, the Saints dealt wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins for a 3rd round pick in the 2015 NFL draft and Danell Ellerbe, an outside linebacker. The deal was questioned by many due to the Saints' lack of depth at the receiver position, but the deal was a win for the Saints. Stills, who was a 5th round pick, was an average receiver to say the least. His main attibute was his ability to stretch the field with his speed, but that can easily be replaced. Many Saints fans also believe that without Brees throwing the passes, Stills would have not been as productive. In 2015 Stills had 63 catches for 931 yards and 3 touchdowns. His production also increased due to the injury of Brandin Cooks, a guy that will be returning in 2016. Also, the Saints have confidence in Brandon Coleman, a 2nd year player out of Rutgers that has yet to see the field, and Nick Toon out of Wisconsin who has shown flashes of his big play skill. The Saints turned an average player in Stills who was a 5th round pick in 2013, to a new 3rd round pick in 2015. Kudos to Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis. 

The Ben Grubbs Trade: Just as the Saints have been searching for a center since 2009, they've been searching for solid guard play since they lost Carl Nicks to free agency a few years back. Grubbs is an all-pro guard, and has shown why in certain instances with the Saints, but the 31 year old guard has also shown slight signs of decline. Most notably when Grubbs and his interior line mates allowed 5 sacks to the Atlanta Falcons, a team that ranked 32nd in the league in getting after the quarterback. The Saints received a 5th round pick from the Kansas City Chiefs for the guard, and will now be able to kick Zach Strief inside to guard. Again, kudos to Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis. 

The Mark Ingram Re-signing: A lot of spectators believed that the Saints would let Ingram walk after some would say the tailback has underachieved since entering the NFL out of Alabama. Well, they didn't. Ingram inked a 4-year contract extension worth $16M. Ingram showed flashes of his ability in 2015, and was voted to his 1st pro-bowl as a replacement for Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. Ingram can only improve from here, especially with the addition of a player like Max Unger. Again, Kudos.

The Signing of C.J. Spiller: The Saints have lacked a dynamic running back since they lost Reggie Bush to free agency in 2009. Granted, Darren Sproles was no slouch in replacing Bush in the following years, but Sproles wasn't used in the running game as much as Bush, and as his time went on he became a receiving threat only. Sproles eventually went on to play in Philadelphia, and the Saints also failed to resign Pierre Thomas, so this was definitely an issue the Saints needed to address. And they did. C.J. Spiller is arguably one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, as he can run between the tackles and also catch screens and passes out of the backfield. A trait that is crucial for any running back in a Sean Payton offense. Some questioned the signing due to Spiller's injury history, but he won't be expected to carry the load in New Orleans, and will be a great 1-2 punch with Ingram. Kudos. I see a trend here.

The Signing of Brandon Browner: Aside from Keenan Lewis, the Saints were desperate for a solid corner in 2015. Corey White seemed to always be giving up a game winning touchdown, and Patrick Robinson was just too inconsistent. The Saints addressed the issue however when they inked former Patriots corner Brandon Browner to a 3-year-deal. Browner is a big, physical corner that isn't afraid to tackle. He will be an excellent addition opposite Keenan Lewis, and will allow defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to play his aggressive man-to-man defense. Kudos.

The 2015 Draft: Going into the draft the Saints had a plethora of picks. 9 to be exact. And they made much needed selections with all of them. In the 1st round at 13 the Saints surprised some when they took Andrus Peat, Tackle, out of Stanford. It was a surprise because many believed the Saints would be going pass rusher, especially with someone like Bud Dupree stlll on the board. But Peat was a great selection. The 6'7, 313 pound gaurd will bring a unique athleticism to the Saints' offensive line, most likely at right tackle. Peat is great in the screen game, as he gets to the second level in a hurry, similar to current left tackle Terron Armstead. The Saints' future is bright on the offensive line.

With their second 1st round pick at 31 (From Seattle) the Saints selected linebacker Stephone Anthony out of Clemson. Linebacker was a definite need, but again the selection was questioned because Anthony isn't a pass rusher. What Anthony is though is a smart and tough backer who can run sideline to sideline like nobodys business. The Clemson product is also experienced, as he spent 4 years in college. In his career Anthony had 255 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions. Anthony will more than likely fill the middle linebacker position for the Saints eventually, after they failed to resign Curtis Lofton in the offseason.

In the 2nd round at pick 44 the Saints finally got their pass rusher. They selected Hau'oli Kikaha out of Washington. His name may be difficult to say, but his production isn't hard to see. In his last two years at Washington the outside linebacker totaled 32 sacks and 19 in 2015. His sack total led the country. Kikaha is relentless when it comes to getting to the quarterback and has a motor that never stops. He has strong hands, and his background in wrestling and martial arts give him an advantage when using his hands to shed blocks. The dominent pass rusher fell due to concerns with an acl injury he sustained in the past. But all signs point to him being at full strength. Quarterbacks beware in the NFC South.

Just like in the 1st, the Saints had two picks in the 3rd round. Pick 75 and pick 78 (from Dolphins). At 75 the Saints selected Garrett Grayson, quarterback out of Colorado State and at 78, P.J. Williams, cornerback out of Florida State. Grayson was a bit of a surprise, since the likes of Bryce Petty out of Baylor was still on the board. But Grayson was no slouch in college. In his four years he threw for over 9,000 yards, 64 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 145.3. There's also no rush to get Grayson on the field, as he can sit and learn from Drew Brees. P.J. Williams joins a secondary that has the looks on paper to rival Seattle for the best in the league. The 6 foot corner will join an already size infested secondary, with Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner both already being over 6 foot. Williams didn't record many interceptions in his career at FSU, only totaling 4, but his physical nature and ability to tackle is what stands out. In 2015 he registered 74 tackles. From the corner position that's nothing to turn your head at. Williams will be a solid corner in the Saints' nickel packages. 

In the 5th round, just like in the 1st and 3rd, the Saints had two picks. Picks 148 and 154 (from Chiefs). At 148 the Saints selected outside linebacker Davis Tull out of Chatanooga. Coming from a small school like Chatanooga, Tull fell to the 5th round, but his combine workout and stats throughout his 4-year career speak volumes to his potential. Tull racked up 37 sacks at Chattanooga and 60 tackles for loss. Tull will provide great depth at the linebacker position, and possibly see more playing time than expected. At 154 the Saints selected defensive tackle Tyeler Davison out of Fresno State. Davison is 6 foot 2, 316 pounds, but can move for his size. In all of his years at Fresno State, he has gotten at least 40 tackles and 2 sacks. The knock on him is that he can only play in a 4 man front, but with Rob Ryan that's okay. As Ryan shuffles between 4-3 and 3-4 personel frequently. Davison provides much needed depth to a position in which the Saints are thin, and can potentially give stud Akiem Hicks a blow when needed. 

In the 6th round the Saints held the 187 pick. And they selected Damian Swann, a cornerback out of Georgia. Swann, just like Williams, Lewis, and Browner, is over 6 foot. The Saints secondary just keeps getting bigger. In 4 years at Georgia Swann recorded 180 tackles and intercepted 8 passes. The Georgia prospect will be a great addition on special teams and may possibly see the field in some dime or nickel packages.

To close out the draft in the 7th round the Saints held the 230 pick. They selected Marcus Murphy, a running back out of Missouri. Murphy was productive in his 4 years at Missouri in both the running game and also the return game. Murphy totaled 924 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in his senior season, and that's nothing to be ashamed of in the dominent SEC conference. Murphy nearly totaled 3,000 return yards and scored 7 touchdowns total on special teams. The Saints don't expect Murphy to contribute much on offense, but for the 32nd ranked team on special teams, Murphy can definitely help in that department. 

The 2015 Saints draft as of now, well, looks very promising. KUDOS.

Wrap up: The Saints will have a new look, and many new faces, as they look to bounce back in 2016. Along with the new additions made in free agency and in the draft, the Saints will also be getting Jairus Byrd and Brandin Cooks back at full strength. After losing both players early in 2015 to injury. The NFC South looks to be wide open yet again, and the Saints' look like a front runner to make a run at the division title. It initally seemed like the Saints were in rebuild mode, but with Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis calling the shots, they only reloaded.  

This draft class had a lot of talent, with plenty of first-round prospect seeping into day two. A player does not have to be a steal to be a great selection, as filling a need is important too, but pick value is widely seen as the best measure. All of the guys on this list were projected to go in the first round at one point, but fell due to character or injury issues, among other things. The on-the-field play by these players however, is unquestionable. Let us take a look at the five best picks of the third round!

5.) Eli Harold - OLB, Virginia

San Francisco 49ers, 79th Overall

The 49ers may not be the contenders they once were, but they seem to still be going with their strategy of getting luxury players in the early rounds. Eli Harold does not fill an immediate need, as Aldon Smith is one of the most skilled edge rushers while Aaron Lynch impressed as a rookie. Smith though, is on the last year of his contract, and Harold, a projected first-rounder could make for a solid replacement. Harold is unlikely to play at Smith's level, especially early on, but he still has the makeup of a quality player. This pick will save them money with just a small drop in play if they choose to let Smith go next year and promote Harold.

4.) Jaelen Strong - WR, Arizona State

Houston Texans, 70th Overall

The Texans' need at receiver became apparent when they released the 33-year-old Andre Johnson, but most suspected that they would get a player with more speed to complement DeAndre Hopkins. Jaelen Strong works too though, as his ball skills and playmaking ability made him a first-round pick in most people's eyes. Adding Strong to the mix will give the Texans a young, talented pass catching tandem that will give Ryan Mallett a real chance to succeed at quarterback.

3.) Carl Davis - DT, Iowa

Baltimore Ravens, 90th Overall

After trading away Haloti Ngata, the Ravens certainly looked like they were targeting a defensive tackle early in the draft. However, few thought that Carl Davis, a fringe first-round prospect, would be there for them in the third round. His lack of a pass rushing prowess may have pushed his stock down, but he will make for an excellent run stopper next to the two young and potent lineman already on the roster, Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams.

2.) Paul Dawson - ILB, TCU

Cincinnati Bengals, 99th Overall

Paul Dawson has some character concerns and lacks the athletic ability that so many teams covet, so he was bound to be overlooked early on. Dawson though, is one of the more impressive players on the field. I had him going to the Bengals in the first round early in the draft process, and while his stock has fallen a bit since, he is easily a steal at the end of the third round. Dawson will thrive opposite Burfict and should help shore up a run defense that often struggled last year.

1.) Tevin Coleman - RB, Indiana

Atlanta Falcons, 73rd Overall

The best third-round pick of them all is a running back that often ranked third just behind the two first rounders, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. Some thought that a team was trying to trade back into the first to get him, but no one picked him up in the second. T.J. Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah were both selected before him and the back-needy Falcons were able to snag him up with their third pick.

Atlanta Falcons

1 (8): Vic Beasley - OLB, Clemson

2 (10): Jalen Collins - CB, LSU

3 (9): Tevin Coleman - RB, Indiana

4 (8): Justin Hardy - WR, East Carolina

5 (1): Grady Jarrett - NT, Clemson

7 (8): Jake Rodgers - OT, Eastern Washington

7 (32): Akeem King - DB, San Jose State

Elaboration:

The Falcons were one of the teams expected to get a back early, while their defense was porous with holes. In the first two rounds, they got two extremely athletic and talented prospects, Vic Beasley and Jalen Collins. Beasley is on the lighter side of edge rushers, but he has the pass rushing skills to start at defensive end right away and become one of the more difficult guys to take on. Collins on the other hand, has great size for his position, but is too raw to play early on. He will need some time to develop, but he has all the physical traits teams want in a corner. Putting him opposite standout corner Desmond Trufant, the Falcons have one of the youngest and most physically imposing cornerback tandems. There were rumors that a team was trying to trade up into the first round for Tevin Coleman, but he went through the second round without being picked. The Falcons, with the ninth pick in the third round, were more than happy to have him fall to them. He is strong, fast, and gives every carry his all. He will be an instant starter for the Falcons and can bring back the success they used to have in the running game. Justin Hardy was a solid pick, as he should be able to immediately step in as their slot receiver. He lacks size and speed, but is a reliable target worth taking day three. In the fifth round, they got excellent value in Grady Jarrett, who should be a great fit as a defensive tackle that can both stop the run and rush the passer. Their two seventh-round picks are unlikely to be anything more than backups, but Jake Rodgers has good athleticism for a tackle while Akeem King has tremendous size. Their first five picks were great, practically getting three first-rounders, a second, and a reliable third option. The Falcons will have more work to do on their offensive line and their defense, but this is a good start.

Best Pick: Tevin Coleman - RB, Indiana

Tevin Coleman was often considered the third best back, just behind Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. With T.J. Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah going ahead of him and the Cardinals and Cowboys passing on running backs, he fell right into the back-needy Falcons' lap.

Worst Pick: Jake Rodgers - OT, Eastern Washington

Jake Rodgers is athletic, but he is also underpowered. He will likely never be anything more than a backup, but what can you expect out of a seventh-round pick. Putting him here just shows how good their draft haul was.

Grade: A+

Carolina Panthers

1 (25): Shaq Thompson - OLB, Washington

2 (9): Devin Funchess - WR, Michigan

4 (3): Daryl Williams - OG, Oklahoma

5 (33): David Mayo - LB, Texas State

5 (38): Cameron Artis-Payne - RB, Auburn

Elaboration:

The Panthers' biggest needs were receiver, offensive line, and strong safety. In the first round, D.J. Humphries was taken just one pick before them, so instead they took Shaq Thompson. Thompson could perhaps work as the 32-year-old Thomas Davis' replacement, but that was less of a need then what else could have been filled. Had they gotten a receiver here, they could have picked up a tackle like Jake Fisher in the second. In the second round, they traded up to get Devin Funchess, a 6-foot-5 wideout/tight end hybrid. With Greg Olsen's spot set in stone, it looks like Funchess will play opposite Kelvin Benjamin for the Panthers. This gives them two big-bodied receivers on the perimeter. He has been plagued with drops though, and he will have to fix that if he is to reach Benjamin-like heights. Daryl Williams is an underrated pick, as the fourth-round selection has starting capabilities. Where he will start is a question though. Guard is probably his best position, but the Panthers failed to pick up another lineman in the draft, so he may stay outside at right tackle. If he stays outside, he will struggle against NFL-level athletes. David Mayo is on the smaller side, at 228 pounds, and has below average athleticism. He is likely a backup and special teamer. Cameron Artis-Payne can be a bruiser, but lacks the speed to be an all-around threat. Thompson is the heir to Davis, while Funchess should work well with Benjamin, and Williams has good interior qualities. This was a decent draft, but they need more speed and should have picked a more pure tackle.

Best Pick: Shaq Thompson - OLB, Washington

Shaq Thompson is a very athletic linebacker than many thought might make a switch to safety. What makes this their best pick as he has the potential to be the perfect replacement for Thomas Davis. He was a bit overdrafted, but no one they drafted was a great pick in terms of value.

Worst Pick: David Mayo - LB, Texas State

All of the earlier picks have some risk associated with them, but David Mayo's lacking physical traits make him a bad pick, even in the fifth round. Overall, there was not much separation between these picks, but it seems harsh to call a potential quality player like Thompson, Funchess, or Williams, the worst pick.

Grade: C

New Orleans Saints

1 (13): Andrus Peat - OT, Stanford

1 (31): Stephone Anthony - ILB, Clemson

2 (12): Hau'oli Kikaha - OLB, Washington

3 (11): Garrett Grayson - QB, Colorado State

3 (14): P.J. Williams - CB, Florida State

5 (12): Davis Tull - OLB, Tennessee-Chattanooga

5 (18): Tyeler Davison - DT, Fresno State

5 (31): Damian Swann - CB, Georgia

7 (13): Marcus Murphy - RB, Missouri

Elaboration:

The Saints could have addressed receiver, tight end, or guard, but their biggest needs coming into the draft were on defense, as made evident by six of their first eight selections being on the side of the ball. Their first pick was a bit of a surprise, as Andrus Peat is a right tackle and they needed a guard. This likely means Zach Strief, who has excelled at tackle in years past, will move inside. Stephone Anthony is a great pick at the bottom of the first, one I got right in my mock draft. He is not as instinctive as you would like for a first-round pick, but his physical traits and aggressive style of play, he will be an immediate upgrade for the Saints. Given a year or two to develop, he could become one of the more feared inside backers. Hau'oli Kikaha was as shocking a pick gets. There were more talented edge rushers on the board, but they went with Kikaha, the most productive of the bunch. He is little small and his athleticism is lacking, but he understands the game well. He can be a decent starter, but he has a low ceiling for a second-round pick. The second quarterback taken off the board, Garrett Grayson looks to be the heir to Drew Brees. His physical traits are nothing more than adequate, just enough, but he captured the eyes of many teams and scouts with his accuracy and anticipation. Some see him as purely a reliable backup, but he has starting potential. The question is how good of a starter can he be. In the third round, it could be hard to pass up on a talented corner like P.J. Williams, but with Keenan Lewis, free agent acquisitions Brandon Browner and Kyle Wilson, and 2014 second-round pick Stanley Jean-Baptiste, this is a crowded group. Lewis and Browner are easily the two best and are more than likely to be the starters on the perimeter, but that's where Jean-Baptiste and Williams best fit. Wilson has was a disappointment for the Jets, but he is the best fit, or least worst, for the nickel position. Perhaps these past two early-round picks were made because Lewis and Browner are 28 and 30, respectively. The other cornerback they got, Damian Swann, it a corner/safety hybrid that is likely just a depth player or special teamer. Davis Tull provides solid depth at outside linebacker, where he can make contributions from time to time due to his relentless style of play. Tyeler Davison is a big, strong man that has solid athleticism. He will need to develop behind the scenes for a year or two, but he can take over at defensive end after that. Marcus Murphy, their final pick, is a smaller guy that can find work on screens, in the slot, and as a returner. Anthony and Davison add some talent to their defense, but beyond that they made a lot of questionable decisions. With all the picks they mustered this offseason, this was a disappointing draft.

Best Pick: Stephone Anthony - ILB, Clemson

This is not an outstanding pick, but it is a solid one. Stephone Anthony is a physical specimen that should be able to develop the intangible aspects of his game over time. He will be an immediate starter for the Saints defense and will be able to make an impact against both the run and the pass.

Worst Pick: Hau'oli Kikaha - OLB, Washington

Andrus Peat drew some consideration here, but ultimately the worst pick for them was Hau'oli Kikaha, who was drafted ahead of the likes of Randy Gregory, Eli Harold, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, and Nate Orchard. He can be a quality rusher in this league, but he has a low ceiling. In the second round, this was a major reach.

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 (1): Jameis Winston - QB, Florida State

2 (2): Donovan Smith - OT, Penn State

2 (29): Ali Marpet - C, Hobart & William Smith

4 (25): Kwon Alexander - OLB, LSU

5 (26): Kenny Bell - WR, Nebraska

6 (8): Kaelin Clay - WR, Utah

7 (14): Joey Iosefa - FB, Hawaii

Elaboration:

Quarterback and left tackle were the two positions the Buccaneers were expected to address first, but after that, they just have so many needs that it became hard to pinpoint where they would go. Jameis Winston will be their starting quarterback, and while he will probably struggle early on due to the change in the speed of the game, as most guys do, he should be able to pick it up later in the season. He has guys like Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, while the team's fifth-round pick, Kenny Bell can be a weapon in a year or two. Bell is a little raw in terms of route concepts, but his size, speed, and hands make him a steal in day three. Jackson is getting older and Bell will likely replace him on the outside opposite Evans. The other receiver they got, Kaelin Clay, is likely limited to special teams, as he lacks the burst to make it as a slot receiver. They got two linemen in the second round to shore up their offensive line, but neither guy really has a set position. Dovovan Smith is a little lacking in athleticism for a tackle, but he has the perfect build for guard. However, where their needs lie, it looks like he will start on the left side. As for Ali Marpet, he can play center and guard, but it is more likely guard right now, as Patrick Omameh will struggle if forced to start. Kwon Alexander was an excellent pickup in the fourth round, as Danny Lansanah is 29 years old and on the last year of his contract. Lavonte David is also on a contract year, but the Buccaneers cannot let a talent like that walk away. Joey Iosefa has some running back qualities, but he is more built to be a fullback. If he can grasp the nuances of the position, he may be able to overtake Jorvorskie Lane, who has been just average. Four of the Buccaneers' first five picks should pan out, so this was a pretty good draft haul. Had they gotten a better fit for tackle, this would have been at least an A-, possibly an A.

Best Pick: Kenny Bell - WR, Nebraska

Kenny Bell will not get onto the field too often in his first year, but he will become to team's number two receiver, behind Mike Evans, once Vincent Jackson leaves, be it by release or contract expiration. He will need to work on his routes, but he has great speed and hands.

Worst Pick: Donovan Smith - OT, Penn State

When this pick was initially made, it looked like he would be their starter at right guard, but then they got Ali Marpet in the third, who now projects to start there. The Buccaneers were expected to take a left tackle early in the draft, and it looks like Smith is the guy they expect to play there. Smith's athleticism is well below average and will have a tough time holding up as the blindside protector.

Grade: B+

This draft class had a lot of talent, with plenty of first-round prospect seeping into day two. A player does not have to be a steal to be a great selection, as filling a need is important too, but pick value is widely seen as the best measure. All of the guys on this list were projected to go in the first round at one point, but fell due to character or injury issues, among other things. The on-the-field play by these players however, is unquestionable. Let us take a look at the five best picks of the third round!

5.) Eli Harold - OLB, Virginia

San Francisco 49ers, 79th Overall

The 49ers may not be the contenders they once were, but they seem to still be going with their strategy of getting luxury players in the early rounds. Eli Harold does not fill an immediate need, as Aldon Smith is one of the most skilled edge rushers while Aaron Lynch impressed as a rookie. Smith though, is on the last year of his contract, and Harold, a projected first-rounder could make for a solid replacement. Harold is unlikely to play at Smith's level, especially early on, but he still has the makeup of a quality player. This pick will save them money with just a small drop in play if they choose to let Smith go next year and promote Harold.

4.) Jaelen Strong - WR, Arizona State

Houston Texans, 70th Overall

The Texans' need at receiver became apparent when they released the 33-year-old Andre Johnson, but most suspected that they would get a player with more speed to complement DeAndre Hopkins. Jaelen Strong works too though, as his ball skills and playmaking ability made him a first-round pick in most people's eyes. Adding Strong to the mix will give the Texans a young, talented pass catching tandem that will give Ryan Mallett a real chance to succeed at quarterback.

3.) Carl Davis - DT, Iowa

Baltimore Ravens, 90th Overall

After trading away Haloti Ngata, the Ravens certainly looked like they were targeting a defensive tackle early in the draft. However, few thought that Carl Davis, a fringe first-round prospect, would be there for them in the third round. His lack of a pass rushing prowess may have pushed his stock down, but he will make for an excellent run stopper next to the two young and potent lineman already on the roster, Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams.

2.) Paul Dawson - ILB, TCU

Cincinnati Bengals, 99th Overall

Paul Dawson has some character concerns and lacks the athletic ability that so many teams covet, so he was bound to be overlooked early on. Dawson though, is one of the more impressive players on the field. I had him going to the Bengals in the first round early in the draft process, and while his stock has fallen a bit since, he is easily a steal at the end of the third round. Dawson will thrive opposite Burfict and should help shore up a run defense that often struggled last year.

1.) Tevin Coleman - RB, Indiana

Atlanta Falcons, 73rd Overall

The best third-round pick of them all is a running back that often ranked third just behind the two first rounders, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. Some thought that a team was trying to trade back into the first to get him, but no one picked him up in the second. T.J. Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah were both selected before him and the back-needy Falcons were able to snag him up with their third pick.

Trade rumor speculation is at an all-time high with less than two weeks remaining until draft day. Until Roger Goodell shakes hands (or not in the case of our two favorite QBs) with these rookies, these rumors are only just that but regardless of their validity, few of these proposed deals would actually make sense for the respective franchises.

In 2013, the Dolphins moved up to select Dion Jordan, the Rams moved up to select Tavon Austin, and the Jets were able to secure Sheldon Richardson for Darrelle Revis. 2014 saw the Bills move up to take receiver Sammy Watkins, the Browns move up to take Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel, and the Saints move up to take Brandin Cooks. All of these players have undoubtedly impacted their teams in extremely positive and negative ways as well as the resulting picks and players sent the other way.

That brings us to now where Marcus Mariota seems to be the epicenter of a rumor hurricane. We've heard plenty of potential landing places from Washington to compete with RG3, to a reunion in Philadelphia, to a swap in San Diego for Philip Rivers. 

While most of these scenarios are most likely overly-ambitious fans drooling over the prospect of starting a new season with a fresh face, there are certainly plenty of opportunity beyod Mariota for legitimate deals to unfold as early as day 1. Let's take a look at some of these game changing deals that could drastically change the trajectory of both teams involved. 

Atlanta Falcons move up to #2 to select Leonard Williams 

With one of the weakest defensive lines in the league, one would think the Falcons were in a great spot with a high pick in a draft full of ferocious pass rushers. Most were certain that Randy Gregory would be available at #8 for them to take which is now almost definite with his recent string of poor team visits and drug related activity. By this time, Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley, and Shane Ray should be off the board. Gregory has created the ultimate boom or bust scenario that Atlanta should not want any part of with such immediate need on the defensive side of the ball. Should the Bucs pass on Williams, I expect the Falcons to be aggressive and secure the safest pick on the draft to join Ra'Shede Hageman on a rebuilding defensive line. 

Cleveland Browns move up to #5 to select Amari Cooper 

The Browns might be best equipped to make a move on day 1 with a pair of first round picks. There are plenty of dynamic duos they could take and be perfectly content with, or they could take another route by swapping picks with the Redskins to take Amari Cooper. Yet another drug policy violation renders Josh Gordon's 2015 now non-existent while pass catching pro-bowl tight end Jordan Cameron makes his way to Miami. This depleted a large majority of the Browns passing attack and while veteran reinforcements Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, the Browns are in desperate need of a playmaker. 

Dallas Cowboys move up to #6 to select Todd Gurley

Gurley's injury history makes him a bit of a risk this early, but his presence is desperately needed in Dallas with Darren McFadden so far the only replacement for last year's leading rusher DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys may roll the dice and hope for Melvin Gordon to be around at #27, or wait until the second round to take Jay Ajayi but taking the tough runner in Gurley might pay off big time for Jerry Jones. 

Philadelphia Eagles move up to #7 to select Marcus Mariota 

Chip Kelly says none of his moves were part of some grand scheme, but it certainly seems like he's prepared his roster for a big time trade to grab his 9th Oregon Duck in Marcus Mariota. Should the Titans pass on Mariota, I see him falling to Chicago where the Bears have the chance to snag an edge rusher or wide receiver, but could get a value pick at both by trading down with a deep class at both positions. 

New England Patriots move up to #11 to select Trae Waynes

The defending champs have a ton of work to do in rebuilding a defense that lost Vince Wilfork, Brandon Browner, and Darrelle Revis in a single offseason. Florida State's Ronald Darby and LSU's Jalen Collins might be around at the end of the first round but the Pats would certainly benefit from making a rare aggressive move to grab the best corner in this draft class. 

Buffalo Bills move up to #19 to select Landon Collins 

After trading this year's first rounder to Cleveland last year, look for them to get back into the action on day one by snagging the same spot back. With three more capable quarterbacks in Buffalo than in any in Cleveland, and a plethora of young receivers, the Bills might be able to secure the best safety in the draft to address their biggest hole outside of quarterback. 

The 2015 NFL Draft is just weeks away and this time of the year there is a ton of speculations about trades, players sliding in the draft and most importantly, who will go number one overall?

This time of year mock NFL drafts are very popular and as a writer of the sport, I find them to be very fun to think about and create. In most cases, there is a surprise pick early on or a trade that shakes the entire draft up.

NFL mock drafts are designed to help fans understand where these prospects rank and most importantly for fans across the country, let them have an idea of who their favorite team will be targeting come draft night.

I am going to run a mock draft on the first ten picks of the 2015 NFL Draft. The draft is such an unpredictable sporting event, that within a week something could happen, such as a trade, which would throw the entire mock draft into a complete free fall.

Here is my top ten NFL picks for the 2015 NFL Draft as we currently sit here with about a month to go until the real action takes place on draft night.

1^st overall pick- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston

2^nd overall pick- Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota

3^rd overall pick- Jacksonville Jaguars- Leonard Williams

4^th overall pick- Oakland Raiders- Amari Cooper

5^th overall pick- Washington Redskins- Vic Beasley

6^th overall pick- New York Jets- Randy Gregory

7^th overall pick- Chicago Bears- Kevin White

8^th overall pick- Atlanta Falcons- Todd Gurley

9^th overall pick- New York Giants- Dante Fowler, Jr.

10^th overall pick- St. Louis Rams- La’El Collins

So, there you have the top ten picks of the 2015 NFL Draft, in my opinion, as we sit here today with about a month to go. I’m sure these projections will change multiple times before draft night arrives, but that’s the fun of the entire event.

The unpredictably of the NFL Draft makes it one of the most exciting sporting events of the year, despite it not actually being an on the field sporting event.

Spoiler alert St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Willliams, is the best defensive coordinator in the NFL not named to a head coaching position.

Are there four more defensive coordinators out there? 

Jim Schwartz who did a masterfull job in Buffalo is out of a job right now.  Todd Bowles who was named best defensive coordinator in 2014, with the Arizona Cardinals is now head coach for the New York Jets.  And Dan Quinn who has been the creator and head of the Legion of Boom is now the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons. 

So who is going to step up for the 2015 season, I mean besides Williams?

Here are the five best defensive coordinators in the NFL for 2015.  Don't worry even with a spoiler alert I haven't ruined it for you.

Follow me on Twitter @neverenoughglt

Atlanta Falcons:

While the Falcons look like a talented team with the likes of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones leading the way, they are really as talent-dearth as the likes of Tennessee and Jacksonville. Their biggest needs are at running back, tight end, left guard, and edge rusher, while they also need a defensive tackle or two, inside linebacker, and some replacements in the secondary. Those that can possible be addressed with their first pick are left guard, with Brandon Scherff and La'el Collins being possible candidates, edge rusher, with Vic Beasley and Shane Ray projected to be available, among others, and defensive tackle. With left guard, they can wait until Day 2 to address, while one of the top two tackles, Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton, are fully expected to be picked up, though they may reach for a guy like Malcom Brown. That leaves edge rusher as the most reasonable pick, but who they pick is the question. Ray looks to be the more natural fit, as he primarily played end in college, but Beasley is the more athletic and highly coveted player, while Randy Gregory--who the Falcons may eventually deem as too small--and Bud Dupree are also in the mix.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Vic Beasley - OLB   Clemson

2.) Shane Ray - DE   Missouri

3.) Brandon Scherff - OG   Iowa

Carolina Panthers:

Making it to the divisonal round of the playoffs, many of the Panthers' early-season weaknesses had turned into strengths, with young players stepping up. However, they still have weaknesses along their offensive line and in their secondary. Left tackle is of top priority while slot corner and strong safety shuold be up there too. In the first round there are not any corners that would fit as the Panthers' third guy while outside of Landon Collins there is no safety worth their first-round pick, so they will likely look to take a left tackle. Ereck Flowers and D.J. Humphries are the top prospects with potential to play on the left side and of the two, Humphries looks like the safer option, with Flowers being a bit more raw.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) D.J. Humphries - OT   Florida

2.) Ereck Flowers - OT   Miami (Fla.)

3.) Jake Fisher - OT   Oregon

New Orleans Saints:

The Saints are one of the teams with two first-round picks, which will come in handy as they seem to enter a rebuilding phase. They have created a few holes with their trades, with tight end and guard coming to mind first, but they already had troubles with inside linebacker and the cornerback position. Of those needs, guard is the only one that should be addressed at 13, but they must also get a little lucky for Brandon Scherff or La'el Collins to fall to them, with the Giants, Rams, and Vikings all possibilities to draft a guard with their first pick. With their second pick, they will more likely than not go with inside linebacker. Tight end can be addressed during Day 2 while there are some nice nickel corners in projected to go in the third round. They have a few teams ahead of them that also have a hole at inside linebacker, so they might have to trade up or just be happy with who is available.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) La'el Collins - OG   LSU

2.) Eric Kendricks - ILB   UCLA

3.) Stephone Anthony - ILB   Clemson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

It is almost certain that the Buccaneers will go Jameis Winston, but let us momentarily explore the other possbilities. If the Buccaneers are content with Mike Glennon at helm, they could trade down or have their choosing of one of the top prospects in the draft. Leonard Williams immediately comes up to mind, as pairing him with Gerald McCoy would strike fear in opposing quarterbacks, but guys on the edge like Dante Fowler or Vic Beasley could also work. For their offense they could pick up Amari Cooper, who would be dangerous in the slot with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson attacking defenses out wide. The possibilities would be endless for the Buccaneers if they did not need a quarterback.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Jameis Winston - QB   Florida State

2.) Amari Cooper - WR   Alabama

3.) Leonard Williams - DE   USC

If the Atlanta Falcons were hosting a segment of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, the word of the day would be “pass rusher.”

If the position was defined at a spelling bee, it would read, “something the Falcons need more than anything in the NFL Draft or in free agency.”

Yes, it’s that bad.

The topic is now being discussed by Mel Kiper, Jr., who said the team will have plenty of options when it’s time to choose eighth in the NFL Draft. Kiper, who commented on ESPN.com, did not go as far as to say which pass rusher would best suit the Falcons needs under new head coach Dan Quinn, but he did say the team would choose one from the pool of talent available.

Kiper obviously is a big fan of Florida's Dante Fowler, a guy he believes will be off the board when the Falcons pick. Remember, Fowler was recruited to the Gators by Falcons coach Dan Quinn when Quinn was Florida's defensive coordinator.

"Fowler could be gone because he had a solid workout and he has the ability to play ... I mean this kid is as productive; when he lowers that pad level, he has unbelievable strength," Kiper said. "He is a guy that is awesome in terms of power. Dante Fowler, forget the reps he did, I think 19. He plays like someone who did 35 reps. He's as powerful with the pads on as any defensive end you've seen in a while. So he's going to go high."

Kiper also praised Clemson's Vic Beasley, a Georgia native who dominated the combine workouts.

"Beasley's going to go, I think, top 10," Kiper said. "When you put the combined production -- 25 sacks the last two years, 33 the last three years, 44 1/2 tackles for loss last year -- [and] he had a phenomenal workout. I can't see him getting out of the top 10."

Kiper said Nebraska's Randy Gregory, projected as a top-5 pick by some, will slip a little because he came in light. And Missouri's Shane Ray didn't participate in the combine due to a toe injury, so he still has work to do before the draft.

TEAM EXTENDS BRYANT

In a move that was expected and will help continue to keep the special teams unit a strength of the franchise, the Falcons have extended the contract of kicker Matt Bryant.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the deal is a three-year extension for Bryant, who was a bright spot on the 6-10 team last season.

Negotiations went pretty smooth. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the deal was close last Thursday at the scouting combine.

The Falcons are not overly concerned about Bryant’s age. He’s set to turn 40 in May.

“Matt has some age in his leg, but again, Matt is one of those guys who takes care of his body,” Dimitroff said. “He’s fine-tuned as far as his flexibility and his hydration, because that’s another part of it. I’m not concerned about it as far as what we are looking to do. I think he’s still got years left in him.”

Bryant has been with the Falcons since 2009. He’s made 148 of 167 field goals attempts (88.6 percent), including 18 of 24 from 50 yards are longer. He has become the second-leading scorer in franchise history, with 666 points. He’s 140 points shy of Morten Andersen’s club record of 806 points.

If the Atlanta Falcons were hosting a segment of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, the word of the day would be “pass rusher.”

If the position was defined at a spelling bee, it would read, “something the Falcons need more than anything in the NFL Draft or in free agency.”

Yes, it’s that bad.

The topic is now being discussed by Mel Kiper, Jr., who said the team will have plenty of options when it’s time to choose eighth in the NFL Draft. Kiper, who commented on ESPN.com, did not go as far as to say which pass rusher would best suit the Falcons needs under new head coach Dan Quinn, but he did say the team would choose one from the pool of talent available.

Kiper obviously is a big fan of Florida's Dante Fowler, a guy he believes will be off the board when the Falcons pick. Remember, Fowler was recruited to the Gators by Falcons coach Dan Quinn when Quinn was Florida's defensive coordinator.

"Fowler could be gone because he had a solid workout and he has the ability to play ... I mean this kid is as productive; when he lowers that pad level, he has unbelievable strength," Kiper said. "He is a guy that is awesome in terms of power. Dante Fowler, forget the reps he did, I think 19. He plays like someone who did 35 reps. He's as powerful with the pads on as any defensive end you've seen in a while. So he's going to go high."

Kiper also praised Clemson's Vic Beasley, a Georgia native who dominated the combine workouts.

"Beasley's going to go, I think, top 10," Kiper said. "When you put the combined production -- 25 sacks the last two years, 33 the last three years, 44 1/2 tackles for loss last year -- [and] he had a phenomenal workout. I can't see him getting out of the top 10."

Kiper said Nebraska's Randy Gregory, projected as a top-5 pick by some, will slip a little because he came in light. And Missouri's Shane Ray didn't participate in the combine due to a toe injury, so he still has work to do before the draft.

TEAM EXTENDS BRYANT

In a move that was expected and will help continue to keep the special teams unit a strength of the franchise, the Falcons have extended the contract of kicker Matt Bryant.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the deal is a three-year extension for Bryant, who was a bright spot on the 6-10 team last season.

Negotiations went pretty smooth. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the deal was close last Thursday at the scouting combine.

The Falcons are not overly concerned about Bryant’s age. He’s set to turn 40 in May.

“Matt has some age in his leg, but again, Matt is one of those guys who takes care of his body,” Dimitroff said. “He’s fine-tuned as far as his flexibility and his hydration, because that’s another part of it. I’m not concerned about it as far as what we are looking to do. I think he’s still got years left in him.”

Bryant has been with the Falcons since 2009. He’s made 148 of 167 field goals attempts (88.6 percent), including 18 of 24 from 50 yards are longer. He has become the second-leading scorer in franchise history, with 666 points. He’s 140 points shy of Morten Andersen’s club record of 806 points.

You can almost bet the bank that when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium to announce the Atlanta Falcons first pick in the Draft, it will be a pass rushing defensive end.

Who the pick is, however, is anyone’s guess right now.

As new head coach Dan Quinn gets acclimated to his new role in Georgia, there are many players to evaluate and consider. The NFL Combine this week end will give Quinn, along with team general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant general manager Scott Pioli plenty of chances to see the best talent available.

As wrote before in the team’s final assessment of 2014 for Football Nation, when I look at this defensive unit, all I can say is “Oy Vey!” The headaches this unit caused for Smith and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan are too many to speak of, but there were some bright spots with this franchise.

Paul Worrilow came out of nowhere to lead the team with 143 tackles and received a Pro Bowl invite. He was a monster on the defense from the linebacker position. The fact he had 45 more tackles than anyone else on the team speaks volumes about how important he was to this unit.

Kroy Biermann was a nice surprise after he came back from injury last season. It looks like, should he stay because he is a free agent, Biermann could be a solid pass rusher and outside linebacker for this team.

The Falcons are still lacking a solid pass rush and need someone to lead by example. Biermann had 4.5 sacks which led the team. Look for the team to address this in free agency or look for a pass rusher like Dante Fowler or Shane Ray in the Draft.

The secondary is still an issue as they Falcons face some of the best receivers in the league within the NFC South on six occasions during the season.

The team had 16 interceptions on the year. No one had more than four this past year. Dwight Lowery lost a step. Kemal Ishmael had his best season. William Moore was solid when he was not injured. Desmond Trufant continues to be a player who gets better and had vowed that 2015 will be a better season for himself and the Falcons defense.

Another defensive back in the Draft or free agency may be warranted.

Two players who figure to be in the hunt for that eighth overall selection will be Dante Fowler, Jr., a rush end for Florida and Vic Beasley, a rush end who could also play some outside linebacker. As Jay Adams of atlantaflacons.com explains, both already have ties to the organization.

Florida's Dante Fowler was recruited by and played one season under Dan Quinn with the Gators and Clemson's Vic Beasley, who calls Atlanta home, grew up following the Falcons. Both could be targets for the Falcons as the team looks to boost the pass rush this offseason.

Coming off an eight-sack season with 15 tackles for loss, Fowler spent most of his time at Florida under Bill Muschamp's guidance, but the impact Quinn left on him is still with him.

"Just being able to be with Dan Quinn for that one year, he taught me so much. I had enough information for four years," Fowler said. "He was just a great coach, a players' coach type of guy. He was just smart. He was a man and he taught me how to become a man. I was hurt when he left, but I knew he was going to do great things. He's just accomplishing his goals and his dreams just like I am, too, and I'm proud of him."

Fowler was loose in front of the media, coming off as comfortable and engaging. It's no doubt that Quinn played a part in developing that quality in him as Quinn boasts his ability to connect with people and being positive as one of his biggest strengths.

Beasley’s story is a bit different, but his value to this team could still be great, if he is chosen to do what he does best – rush the passer. Beasley may have the best first step off the snap in this Draft.

Beasley shocked scouts at Combine weigh-ins as he registered at 246 pounds after concerns that he had been playing too light — around 225-230 pounds with the Tigers. Beasley said proper training and diet after leaving Clemson has been the reason for the significant weight gain that could put to rest any doubt of whether he can effectively play defensive end in the NFL.

Teams will be looking at Beasley at the outside linebacker spot, as well, and that's what he's looking to show teams at the Combine. He spent much of his career with his hand in the dirt, but wants to prove to teams that he can cover.

Beasley compared himself to Denver's Von Miller and Seattle's Bruce Irvin — the latter being an interesting comparison because of Quinn's use of Irvin as the Seahawks' weakside backer, called a LEO, who can rush with his hand in the dirt or standing up.

Atlanta could also look to find help on the interior. Danny Shelton of Washington or someone like Malcolm Brown could be a choice, should the team trade down.

The Atlanta Falcons are already making moves to improve their roster, given the fact that the Scouting Combine is in the rear view mirror and free agency is less than a month away.

March 10^th to be exact.

According to Jay Adams and the team website, the Falcons today announced that they have signed fullback Patrick DiMarco and defensive end Cliff Matthews to contract extensions. The club has also signed wide receiver Nick Williams.

DiMarco, 6-1, 240 pounds, was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as a college free agent out of South Carolina following the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent the 2012 season with the Kansas City Chiefs before being signed to the Falcons practice squad in 2013. In two seasons in Atlanta, DiMarco has played in 30 games with 14 starts while logging 17 receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown.

Matthews, 6-4, 275 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the sixth round (230th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the Falcons, he has appeared in 32 games, primarily on special teams. Last season, Matthews saw action in seven games while totaling six tackles (four solo) on defense and adding three special teams tackles.

Williams, 5-10, 184 pounds, was originally signed by the Washington Redskins as college free agent out of the University of Connecticut following the 2013 NFL Draft. He played in five games as a receiver and returner during his rookie campaign in 2013. Williams played in 42 games at UCONN where he caught 43 passes for 588 yards and two touchdowns. He set a school record for career kickoff return yards (2,045) and ranks second in yards per return (25.9). Additionally, Williams is the only player in UConn history with at least two kickoff returns and two punt returns for touchdowns in a career.

MAKING A PLAY FOR THOMAS

A report from NFL.com and Chris Wesseling have the Falcons and the Jaguars as potential destinations for Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, should he test the free agent waters.

The Jaguars will be "among the most aggressive pursuers," writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The Florida Times-Union agrees that Thomas is a "perfect fit" for a Jags offense desperately in need of a premier red-zone threat.

Broncos’ general manager John Elway now appears willing to let Thomas test his value on the open market. There are questions in Denver about the former college hoops star's injury history as well as his fit in Gary Kubiak's scheme that requires tight ends to do more blocking on cutback runs.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Falcons will also be interested in Thomas, which jibes with scuttlebutt at the NFL Scouting Combine late last week.

Levine Toilolo proved to be an unworthy successor to Tony Gonzalez last season, while Thomas became the first tight end in NFL history with at least 12 touchdowns in back-to-back years.

It appears that Denver Broncos tight end, should he test the free agent market, will have two strong suitors in the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams are in need of a dependable option from the position after a less than stellar performance in 2014.

Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reports that the Broncos have not said whether or not they intend to make an offer to Thomas. The franchise also has to worry about Demaryius Thomas and whether the soon-to-be free agent wide receiver will re-sign with the team. The Broncos also have to deal with whether Peyton Manning will be back behind center for another playoff run.

Against that backdrop, the Broncos have scheduled a meeting with tight end James Casey, recently released by the Eagles.

Once Thomas reaches free agency on March 10, Jacksonville and Atlanta are viewed as likely landing spots, Wesseling said.

The Jaguars will be "among the most aggressive pursuers," writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The Florida Times-Union agrees that Thomas is a "perfect fit" for a Jags offense desperately in need of a premier red-zone threat.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Falcons will also be interested in Thomas, which jibes with scuttlebutt at the NFL Scouting Combine late last week.

Levine Toilolo proved to be an unworthy successor to Tony Gonzalez last season, while Thomas became the first tight end in NFL history with at least 12 touchdowns in back-to-back years.

The Jaguars have Marcedes Lewis on the roster, but may become a cap casualty due to his 2015 salary. The first round pick in 2006 out of UCLA was a Pro Bowl player in 2010, but has not come close to living up to those expectations since and was often injured last season, losing playing time to Clay Harbor, who could be a cheaper, more reliable option for the team, should they not be able to sign Thomas or another free agent replacement.

"Skill-set wise as a tight end, he gives you everything," NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah opined last November. "He can run after the catch, he can post you up in the middle of the field, he has a great feel in the red zone. He's an outstanding tight end and a big-time weapon for Peyton Manning."

As a Pro Bowl-caliber talent in the prime of his career, Thomas is exactly the kind of player who should be on the radar of rebuilding teams with salary-cap space to spare.

Last season, the AFC South staked its claim as the worst division in the NFL. The Houston Texans ended up with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft after a 2-14 record, the Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t far behind the Texans as they ended up with the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft after a 4-12 season, the Tennessee Titans finished 7-9 on the year and the Indianapolis Colts won the division at 11-5.

In 2013, the AFC South went 12-28 outside of their own division as three teams finished with a negative point differential, including two of the top three point differentials in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars led the league as they were outscored by 202 points by their opponents while the Tennessee Titans ranked third in the category as they were outscored by 152 points by their opponents. According to fivethirtyeight.com, the 2013 AFC South ranked as the seventh worst division ever out of all of the four major professional sports in the United States.

Could any division take the crown of ineptitude away from the AFC South in 2014? It was a tough task but the 2014 NFC South did it. It certainly caught many by surprise as the New Orleans Saints were a hot preseason pick to make the Super Bowl and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a popular choice to go from worst-to-first in the division. Furthermore, the Carolina Panthers were fresh off of a 12-win season and the Atlanta Falcons were two years removed from competing in the NFC Championship Game. If anything, the NFC South was going to be among one of the most competitive divisions in football because there was potential to have three playoff teams by the end of the 2014 season.

The NFC South has had a history of being different from the rest of the league as they had never had back-to-back division champs since the NFL went to four divisions in 2002. Since then, each team won the NFC South three times until this past season when the Carolina Panthers became the first team to win back-to-back NFC South division titles.

However, with a record of 7-8-1 this season the Panthers didn’t exactly earn the respect that comes with being a division champion. The Panthers, Saints, Falcons and Buccaneers finished with a combined record of 22-41-1 on the season. Each team also finished the year with a negative point differential, the only such division to do such a thing. The Panthers, Saints, Falcons and Buccaneers were outscored by their opponents by margins of 35, 23, 36 and 133 respectively. Additionally, the NFC South went a combined 19-29 in the NFC and was 3-12-1 against AFC opponents.

Furthermore, every team in the division finished below .500 in 2014, the first time that happened since the 2010 Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record. Both Seattle and Carolina angered football fans across the nation because of their sub-.500 records that saw them host playoff games. Both teams also made the playoffs over 10-6 squads as Seattle beat out the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Panthers beat out the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles.

Just in case, those facts weren't enough, the NFC South went a combined 10-29-1 against the rest of the NFL. From BusinessInsider.com, five of the eight NFL teams that got to play the NFC South in non-division play made the playoffs. Those five teams went 15-4-1 against the NFC South. The three teams that clinched wild-card spots in the playoffs (Bengals, Ravens, and Lions) went 10-1-1 against the NFC South and 21-15 against all other teams.

Outside of the Saints and Falcons, who ranked ninth and 12^th in points per game on offense, the Panthers and Buccaneers ranked 19^th and 29^th in the same category. Meanwhile on defense, every team had a struggling defense. The Panthers were the division’s top defense as they ranked 21^st in the league in points per game allowed. The Buccaneers followed at 25^th with the Falcons and Saints ranked at 27^th and 28^th respectively. Based on the point differentials, it isn’t a surprise that every team finished with records under .500.

For the NFC South to improve in 2015, there are various holes on each team’s rosters that need to be addressed, especially defensively. However, the division could have a bounce back season because of the amount of talent in the division, especially at the quarterback position where Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton can lead a team to success. Until next year, the NFC South was by far the worst division in football. 

John Elway shook the core of the NFL Draft system.

The consensus top pick in the 1983 NFL Draft was assured a fortune, but he stood his ground when the one thing he asked not to happen took place when then Commissioner Pete Rozelle made his announcement.

WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE 1983 NFL DRAFT, THE BALTIMORE COLTS SELECT JOHN ELWAY, QUARTERBACK OF STANFORD.

It wasn’t a surprise the blond kid with the cannon arm and the quick feet was taken first overall – just that the Colts were the ones to make the call and the choice that changed football forever in the state of Maryland.

Elway played his entire 16-year professional career with the Denver Broncos. At the time of his retirement in early 1999, Elway recorded the most victories by a starting quarterback and statistically was the second most prolific passer in NFL history. He led his teams to six AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls, winning his last two.

Elway set several career records for passing attempts and completions while at Stanford and also received All-American honors. He was the first selection in the 1983 NFL Draft, famously known as the quarterback class of 1983, where he was taken by the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the Denver Broncos. In January 1987, Elway embarked on one of the most notable performances in sports and in NFL history, helping engineer a 98-yard, game-tying touchdown drive in the AFC Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns.

The moment is known in National Football League lore as "The Drive." Following that game in Cleveland, Elway and the Broncos lost in Super Bowl XXI to the New York Giants. It was the first of a record five Super Bowl starts at quarterback for Elway, a record that he solely held until 2012, when Tom Brady earned his fifth Super Bowl start.

After two more Super Bowl losses, the Broncos entered a period of decline; however, that ended during the 1997 season, as Elway and Denver won their first Super Bowl title by defeating the Green Bay Packers 31–24 in Super Bowl XXXII. The Broncos repeated as champions the following season in Super Bowl XXXIII by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34–19. Elway was voted MVP of that Super Bowl, which would be the last game of his career.

Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 in his first year of eligibility. The statistics and the fame and immortality are great, but they were never done while wearing a Colts uniform. Elway wouldn’t have it and he forced the Colts’ hand after making one of the biggest NFL Draft blunders in history.

Elway was wary of playing for the Colts, then among the worst teams in the league, and his father advised him against playing for head coach Frank Kush, who had a reputation as a harsh taskmaster. While Elway preferred football his agent Marvin Demoff later stated that baseball was "a true option" for him at the time. More importantly, the possibility gave Elway leverage in negotiations with the Colts.

After unsuccessfully attempting to negotiate a private agreement with the Colts in which Elway would cite his alleged desire to remain on the West coast to explain the team trading him, Elway publicly threatened to join the Yankees full-time if the Colts did not trade him; Demoff wrote in his journal, published three decades later, that "he would be a garbage collector before he'd play for Baltimore." Elway's refusal to join the Colts was controversial— Terry Bradshaw denounced him, stating "you should play baseball ... he's not the kind of guy you win championships with"—but many other NFL teams began negotiations with the Colts for the quarterback.

The Colts' general manager Ernie Accorsi wanted Elway as, Accorsi later said (in the documentary), he did not foresee the 1984 Draft as producing any first-round quarterbacks, and announced Elway as the team's choice as soon as possible during the 15-minute window on draft day, surprising observers. Elway that day reiterated his wish to not play for the Colts at a press conference, saying "As I stand here right now, I'm playing baseball". (When a reporter pointed out that the Yankees were not based on the West coast, Elway replied "They play baseball during the summertime".)

The Colts, however, were interested in offensive lineman Chris Hinton, who the Denver Broncos had chosen as the fourth pick in the first round. On 2 May Colts owner Robert Irsay and Accorsi agreed to trade Elway for Hinton, backup quarterback Mark Herrmann, and a first-round pick in 1984.

The Colts did recover, drafting Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft, some 15 years later. The Colts could have also traded down in the Draft in 1983, selecting Dan Marino or even Jim Kelly. But the team had its sights set on No. 7, which created the biggest NFL Draft controversy of all time.

Todd Bowles got his first head coaching job last month when he was hired to lead the New York Jets back to prominence. Jim Tomsula was hired from within the 49ers organization to ring stability to the team after the bouncy ride the players and staff had with Jim Harbaugh.

Dan Quinn was handed the keys to the Atlanta Falcons roster last week with full approval from team owner Arthur Blank. Both first-time bosses have a lot of work to do – molding a staff, a roster and convincing a fan base the playoffs are closer than some might think.

The fact is assistant coaches who make teams better get plenty of attention when it comes to open head coaching slots. Adam Gase, Kyle Shanahan and Teryl Austin were all given consideration from many of the six teams looking to fill their void this offseason. And there will be more assistant coaches who will hear their names thrown around as potential head coaches in 2015. Here are few NFL teams will consider.

It’s hard to argue that Aundrey Bruce may have been the worst draft pick in Atlanta Falcons history, given the names and success of the players drafted after him in the top 10 of the 1988 NFL Draft.

Neil Smith, Bennie Blade and Paul Gruber all had successful careers in football and Bruce stunk the joint up in Atlanta in his time as a Falcons’ player.

Add Tim Brown and Sterling Sharpe – both Hall of Famers to that list and you leave me scratching my head over what the Falcons were thinking.

Bruce did carve out an 11-year career in the NFL, but the first four seasons were nothing to write home about.

Bruce was named All-Southeastern Conference in 1986 and 1987, All-America in 1987, and Citrus Bowl MVP in 1987. He first garnered national attention in a nationally-televised game in 1987 against Georgia Tech by intercepting three passes and returning one for a touchdown and making 10 unassisted tackles. Entering the NFL Draft, he was saddled with expectations of becoming the next Lawrence Taylor, though once drafted was described as "unquestionably the least heralded No. 1 draft choice this decade."

He didn’t even come close. And to make matters worse, the first round was littered with defensive ends who did not pan out like Eric Kumerow of the Dolphins, Scott Davis of the Raiders and Aaron Jones of the Steelers.

Although he was the first overall pick, Bruce started only 42 games in his 11-year career. Bruce enjoyed his most prominent role on the Falcons 1991 playoff team when he saw spot duty on offense as a tight end as well as defense. He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders as a free agent in 1992 and finished his career with the organization. Bruce played in 151 games over his 11-season career, posting 32 sacks and 4 interceptions.

According to thefalcoholic.com, in 1988, Bruce posted six sacks and started every game, but problems began to manifest immediately. His remaining three years in Atlanta were a sharp downward trend, and the Falcons weren't shy about criticizing him for mental lapses, failure to pick up the playbook and routinely being out of position. By 1990, he was alternating between linebacker and tight end, and not doing well at either. The team lost faith with him, and after four seasons, he was gone.

He was quite serviceable in Oakland but never lived up to the high expectations and was regarded as a bust.

Dan Quinn was hired as the Atlanta Falcons head coach to not only fix the defense, but fix what is wrong with a team that is two seasons removed from playing in the NFC Title game before falling to the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s quite possible the team is not as bad off as it is perceived. The offense for sure needs some minor tweaking, especially at running back and on the offensive line, but other key components of the offense appear to be in fine working order.

Quinn must revitalize this team from the defense first, and let everything else fall into place.

These may take baby steps to accomplish, but with an excitement level created by hiring a man that has been a coach in the last two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, those small steps might turn into giant leaps.

Quinn takes over for the departed Mike Smith, who went 66-46 (.589) across seven seasons in Atlanta. CBSSpsorts.com’s Jared Durbin points out that Smith's Falcons made the playoffs in four of his first five seasons, never finishing worse than 9-7 in that time. They won only one playoff game in that span, though, and regressed badly over the last two seasons. They compiled a record of just 10-22 amid various injuries and mismanagement, which led to Smith's being fired by owner Arthur Blank at the end of the 2014 campaign.

All of that is about to change.

Here are a few things to know about Quinn and how he will change things in Atlanta.

1. The buck stops with Quinn

During Quinn's introductory press conference, owner Arthur Blank let on that Quinn will have final say over the 53-man roster. I tend to think that is a good thing where Quinn will put his own seal of approval on players and positions that need the most attention. Look for him to potentially bring in former Seahawks players who are free agents this offseason.

2. Offense is ready to go

As a defensive coach, there's no better situation to walk into than one where there's already a ton of offensive talent on hand and you just need to fix up your side of the ball.

Armed with a stud quarterback in Matt Ryan and a top-flight passing game target in Julio Jones, Quinn is on the right track in that department.

Throw in Roddy White, Harry Douglas and even Devin Hester as additional passing game options, and it's not hard to see the Falcons having continued offensive success. Atlanta ranked 11th in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA this past season despite sustaining a torrent of injuries along the offensive line and seeing the running game deteriorate as Steven Jackson aged in front of our eyes.

3. Defensive philosophy

Quinn spent the last two years coordinating the best defense in football. Along with Pete Carroll and defensive backs coach Kris Richard, Quinn helped mold the Legion of Boom and a powerful, versatile front seven into the most terrifying unit in the league.

Seattle played a 4-3 defense with heavy doses of Cover-3 under Quinn and his predecessor, current Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley.

Atlanta was a 4-3 team for years, but made a switch over to the 3-4 last season, though they did vacillate back to some four-man fronts as well. They were, in NFL parlance, "multiple." It will be interesting to see if that philosophical change sticks or if Quinn, defensive coordinator Richard Smith and assistant head coach Raheem Morris take the team back to more of a pure 4-3 alignment.

4. Path to the playoffs

Luckily for Quinn, he steps into a team in the easiest division in football to win. The NFC South was an abomination last year, easily the worst division in the NFL and possibly one of the worst ever. The Carolina Panthers won the division with a 7-8-1 record thanks to a Week 17 victory over these same Falcons.

The Panthers have holes all over their offense -- especially 

The book is closed on the 2014 NFL season. For 31 teams, the season ended in disappointment. OK, maybe teams like Houston were very happy to go from 2-14 to 9-7. Maybe Dallas was glad to finally get over the 8-8 hump. And maybe Carolina will forever play up the fact that they won a playoff game with only seven regular season wins. But for most of us, the year ended in a frustrating form or fashion. Whether that finishing the year under .500, barely missing the playoffs, or getting knocked out when everything was on the line.

But don’t worry football fans; we are all 0-0 now! And since we have made it into February, it is not too early to start talking about what we can expect in 2015.

Dozens if not hundreds of questions are still to be answered for every team in the NFL. Off-season signings, the NFL draft, schedules, coaching vacancies, and so much more. I will leave it to the team experts to answer those questions for each individual squad. But if you need a leg up on some early 2015 wagers, take a look at what this writer expects out of the 2015 season.

Division Champs:

Often the first major goal of an NFL team is to win their division. It equates to opening the playoffs with a home game. Even if the NFL expands to 14 playoff teams in 2015 (which I think they will), it is likely that the division winners will still be hosting a game. Of course the NFL could also address the fact that the 7-8-1 Panthers got to host a wildcard game, while the 11-5 Lions and Cardinals both had to go on the road by changing the wild-card games to allow the team with the better record to host the game.

Either way, grabbing the division crown is a huge step in the right direction. Here are my predictions for division champs:

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles definitely need to re-sign the right pieces of the puzzle, and moving away from Nick Foles would be a terrible decision. While Dallas is probably the easy call here, I find it difficult to believe that the Cowboys will keep their offensive core together when Bryant and Murray have huge contract potential on the open market. I expect a bounce back for McCoy that will help to carry this team to 11-12 wins and the division crown.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

The Packers were a play away (take your pick of about eight of them) from playing for a Super Bowl. They are the easy pick here in a division that they usually beat up on (19-4-1 the last four years). Their biggest off-season question is clearly what happens if they do not sign Bulaga and Cobb, but neither question provides a resounding issue to take the division.

NFC South: Atlanta Falcons

The NFC South might be the widest open of all of the divisions for who could take the title. The Falcons brought in a new coaching staff and I think they will move away from the aging Steven Jackson in the run game. They have possibly the best wide receiver in the league and a quarterback that can get him the ball. They actually have some solid play makers on defense, and they play very well against the division (they went 5-1 in the division and ONE AND NINE against everyone else). I think 10 wins easily takes the division, and Atlanta has the talent to get to double digits victories.

NFC West: Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have a lot of holes to fill, and likely finding a replacement for Larry Fitzgerald, or at least the talent the Cardinals came to expect from Fitzgerald, might be tops on the list. But this team is still built around defense and a running game that allows a healthy Carson Palmer to do his thing. Palmer is a winner. Arizona will take advantage of the 49ers re-building and a Rams team that could be starting a rookie quarterback. If they can split with Seattle to go 5-1 in the division, they will be in a good spot. Seattle is the safe pick here, but I think the Cardinals give them a run for their money.

AFC East: New England

Is there really any question that the Patriots are set up to win the division as long as Tom Brady is throwing the ball? Miami could push 10 wins and a wild-card birth, but New England will win the division.

AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are one of my favorite teams heading in to 2015. They have a lot of weapons on offense and in my opinion have the best quarterback, wide receiver, and running back in the division. In fact the trio is likely one of the top three in the league behind Green Bay and maybe Denver. Pittsburgh simply needs to clean up their play against weaker opponents and play their game instead of playing down to their competition. This is a 12-4 team in the making.

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts

While Houston could make a run at the AFC South in 2015, I still believe the division should belong to the Colts. No one in the division has a signal caller that is even ¼ of the QB that Andrew Luck is; and that is where it all begins and ends in the NFL. The Colts could easily go 6-0 in the division and coast to 11 or 12 wins.

AFC West: Denver Broncos

This may be the toughest call, mostly because the status of Manning, Sanders, and both Thomas’ are up in the air. Will any of them be back? Will they all be back? I lean towards the latter. Peyton has a year or two left in him and Denver’s experiment will be a failed one if they can’t win it all. Peyton gives it at least one final go to try and cement his name as the greatest of all time.

For the moment we will go ahead and assume that the NFL does indeed expand to 14 teams into the playoffs; a move I am not happy with, but can understand. Here are my picks for the wild-card teams:

NFC: Dallas, New York, Seattle

I like the NFC East to send three teams in 2015 because of their schedule. They get to play the NFC South and the AFC East. Other than road games against New England, I do not see a single game that is not going to at least be competitive among those eight games for each team. The division should beat up on the Skins and then split games against each other. Each team could be sitting at 4-2 in the division with a real shot at 7-3 in other games.

I don’t think I need to defend my selection of Seattle.

AFC: Baltimore, Miami, and San Diego. I love the Chargers getting four games against the Chiefs and Raiders and Miami getting four games against the Bills and Jets. Baltimore will remain competitive and all three of these teams should hit 10 wins.

With the playoff teams set, lets predict how this plays out:

NFC Championship: Green Bay hosting Philadelphia

AFC Championship: New England hosting Pittsburgh

Super Bowl 50: Green Bay over Pittsburgh in a great rematch of 2010.

And now to hand out a few awards:

Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons will go from 6-10 with the eighth selection in the draft to at least 10-6 and the division champs. Quinn, in his first year with the team, will be an easy choice.

Rookie of the year: Melvin Gordon

Gordon’s talent will not be wasted in 2015. Oddly enough I could see him going to the Falcons as the long-term replacement for Steven Jackson. He would be an immediate impact player, and defenses would have to choose between stopping Gordon or stopping Julio Jones. That is a nasty choice. I expect Gordon to hit 1500 all purpose yards and double digits TDs in his rookie season, where he will literally run away with the award.

Defensive MVP: JJ Watt

It will come as no surprise that Watt is expected to be the DMVP again in 2015. Getting four games against the Jags and Titans could mean 10+ sacks and four or more forced turnovers just in those games! Watt is one of the rare beasts of the NFL; this award might not be close for a while.

Offensive MVP: Aaron Rodgers

If you thought Rodgers was good in 2014, just wait til the Packers develop a pass-catching tight end (Richard Rodgers? Maybe sign Thomas?!) and give Davante Adams another year in their system. Perhaps a lot of this relies on Randall Cobb returning, but if he does I could see Rodgers with 45 total scores, over 5,000 passing yards, and still finish with single digit turnovers. He would have neared those numbers this season had the Packers not been destroying teams by half-time.

While more of the same (Def/Off MVPs, previous SB match-up) may not be as entertaining as some would prefer, the season as a whole will be a great one; and it is only eight months away.

The Atlanta Falcons were so impressed with Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn that they waited over a month for him to become available to them after the Super Bowl.

Now, with Quinn safely on board as the team’s head coach and a staff that has been assembled to improve the defense and give more excitement to the offense, the train leaving the station in Atlanta has more steam and lot more energy.

Quinn becomes the final puzzle piece of a coaching carousel that saw six teams replace their leaders this offseason. Only one – Denver – hired someone who was not regarded for their defensive mind, that being Gary Kubiak.

So, who is this Dan Quinn man? Aside from the fact we know he was plucked from Florida when Gus Bradley left the Seahawks to run the Jacksonville Jaguars, which gives Seattle coach Pete Carroll a pretty good start to a coaching tree, there is the defensive mind that made the “Legion of Boom” a part of the sports lexicon of today.

Here are five things to know about Quinn, according to Rein Ferrin and the team’s website.

1. Super-Sized Momentum: Quinn arrives in Atlanta as the Falcons 16th head coach in franchise history, bringing momentum from back-to-back Super Bowl seasons with him, including one championship after the Seattle Seahawks topped the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Serving as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator the past two seasons, Quinn played a vital role in continuing the team’s defensive dominance. Under his watch, Seattle’s defense allowed the fewest points per game in the league and permitted just 267.1 yards per game in 2014.

The Seahawks were the only team in the NFL to allow fewer than 300 yards per game and a league-best 17.3 points per game. Quinn’s imprint on his defense was best personified by the “Legion of Boom,” the team’s secondary group, which allowed only 185.6 passing yards per game.

2. Unfazed by Distraction: In a league that is often times filled with distractions, Quinn showcased his ability to remain unfazed as evidenced during his head coaching interviewing process with teams after the regular season. Leading his Seahawks defense on a playoff run to Super Bowl XLIX, Quinn remained committed to his top priority — preparing Seattle for a possible repeat championship, while demonstrating time management by creating time to interviewing for potential jobs.

“We have such a big mission that we are on and Dan wants nothing more than doing exactly right to help us do what we have to do these next couple of days and the next week," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told the HeraldNet.com. "He has no intention other than that, he is dead solid on that."

Quinn's undistracted focus won't just benefit him but his coaching staff and players, as well, in the coming seasons. 

3. A Leader of Men: Falcons owner and Chairman Arthur Blank said NFL head coaching attributes include being a great leader with clear vision and one who can motivate others; he found those qualities in Quinn.

“Dan has tremendous character,” Carroll told The Herald of Everett, Wash. “He has great leadership qualities. He is an excellent communicator. He’s got a competitive nature that I think he conveys.”

Quinn helped Seattle become the first team to lead the NFL in fewest points allowed for three-straight years since the 1969-71 Vikings. His past defensive efforts should cause Falcons fans to bank on an improved defense in 2015 and beyond.

4. True Players’ Coach: While getting a new coach can often times require extra time for building team unity and trust, that won’t be the case for the Falcons, according to Quinn’s former players.

"They are getting a great coach," Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner told the LA Times, when asked what Quinn brings to a team. “(He) is very open to talk. I think the biggest thing is he is a great communicator and definitely helps you understand the game."                                                                                                

5. High-Motors Expected: When the Falcons players meet Quinn for the first time, they’ll know immediately what kind of a coach he is and what he’ll expect from everyone on the roster. Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood worked with Quinn on staff at Hofstra in the late 1990s and believes the Falcons new head coach’s approach to the game then has helped lead to his current NFL success.

"If you weren't a high-motor guy and you weren't passionate about football, you weren't going to play for Dan Quinn,'' Flood said. "He's the total package. He's a really sharp Xs and Os football coach but also a great motivator and a really good person. (He's) somebody who elevates the people around them.''