This is the sixth of eight breakdowns looking at the draft history of each division from 2001-2010. In the NFC South, the Saints have marched to the best beat while it has been a tale of two QBs for the Falcons:
Best first-round pick, offense: Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (No. 3, '08). The pressure was on first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff to land a franchise savior in the wake of Michael Vick's prison sentence, and the G.M. delivered by drafting Matty Ice. Ryan has quickly established himself as one of the NFC's best and should help keep Atlanta a consistent contender for years to come.
Worst first-round pick, offense: Kenyatta Walker, OT, Buccaneers (No. 14, '01). Walker was a decent starter for five-plus years, but given how high he was taken, it was disappointing he wasn't good enough to hold up as a long-term star on the left side.
Best first-round pick, defense: Jon Beason, MLB, Panthers (No. 25, '07). Carolina had a pretty big hit in defensive end Julius Peppers (No. 2, '02) five years earlier, but Beason, a premier tackler, gets the nod for being taken so late in the round.
Worst first-round pick, defense: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Falcons (No. 8, '07). His lack of punch in the pass rush has hurt the defense. In 2010, Atlanta had only five sacks that didn?t come from John Abraham. Anderson had two.
Biggest surprise: Michael Vick, QB, Falcons (No. 1, '01). Although everyone expected Vick to go No. 1, it was expected to be to the original holders of this pick, the Chargers. Then came Atlanta's aggressive trade up from No. 5 to get Vick, while San Diego "settled" for LaDainian Tomlinson and still got a good QB at No. 32: Drew Brees.
Most unfortunate injury: Cadillac Williams, RB, Buccaneers (No. 5, '05). Williams rolled out of the lot with three consecutive big rushing games as a rookie (148, 128, 158 yards), then was slowed by a foot/ankle injury. The bigger injury blows came in '07 and '08 when he tore the patellar tendons in both knees. That cost him the chance to be a really special back, but to his credit, he has worked hard to overcome the injury history.
Best second-round pick: Kris Jenkins, DT, Panthers (No. 44, '01). Jenkins was a big part of an excellent front four under John Fox that helped Carolina get to Super Bowl XXXVIII after the '03 season. If it weren't for three ACL injuries, Jenkins, recently released by the Jets, would have more than the four Pro Bowls on his 10-year resume.
Best seventh-round pick: Marques Colston, WR, Saints (No. 252, '06). Colston, who came out of Hofstra, quickly became a favorite target of Drew Brees in their first year in New Orleans, and now it?s unclear how Colston slipped so far, given his impressive hands and ideal 6-4, 225-pound frame. At some point, he?ll get the Pro Bowl nod he deserves.
Best undrafted player: Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (?07). Between Thomas and Chris Ivory ('10), New Orleans' brass has shown a knack for stealing unheralded runners. Thomas has been a more reliable all-purpose back than first-rounder Reggie Bush, and the team showed its faith in him by re-signing him to a four-year, $12 million contract in March.
Most valuable drafter: Mickey Loomis, Saints. SN?s 2006 NFL executive of the year has been New Orleans? general manager since '02, and he has made few mistakes in turning the Saints into a Super Bowl champion and NFC power. His signature is finding offensive gems well beyond Round 1, such as Colston, Thomas, Ivory, Jahri Evans (No. 108, '06), Jermon Bushrod (No. 125, '07), Carl Nicks (No. 164, '08) and Jimmy Graham (No. 95, '10).
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