The NFL Draft is officially in the books for 2025, and there were plenty of surprises across the board.
That especially holds true in the NFC South, where the Falcons shocked with a massive trade and the Saints passed on a quarterback in Round 1. There was also an interesting decision by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to add another weapon to their offense to the surprise of many, while the Panthers stole away a dream prospect from the Dallas Cowboys.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the best and worst picks from the NFC South in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Atlanta Falcons
Best Pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Jalon Walker is an absolute stud who can play linebacker and rush the passer on any given down. He is going to have an immediate impact on this defense and make things much easier for head coach Raheem Morris.
Worst Pick: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
James Pearch Jr. is a talented player. There is no doubt about that. He does come with some character questions, but the skills are there. What makes this pick questionable is the Falcons being so aggressive to move up and spend a future first-round pick on a position they had just theoretically addressed a few picks earlier.
Carolina Panthers
Best Pick: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan is going to be a star in the NFL and has a chance to become the next Mike Evans. He also pairs with a talented young quarterback and other playmakers in the passing game which should allow him to move freely in the offense.
Worst Pick: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Like James Pearce Jr., Princely Umanmeielen is a very talented player, but the Panthers had just addressed the edge position with the previous pick by drafting a better player in Nic Scourton. It’s not a terrible pick by any means, but it feels like they could have improved elsewhere here.
New Orleans Saints
Best Pick: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Texas product Kelvin Banks is going to be a stalwart in the NFL for a long time at the left tackle spot and he is a great fit in New Orleans to protect their future franchise quarterback, whomever that ends up being. Kellen Moore starts off his tenure in the Big Easy with a big win.
Worst Pick: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Tyler Shough was a questionable pick for a variety of reasons. He’s 26 years old as a rookie with seven years of college experience and multiple injury issues in his past. He had one good season in his college career in his final season with Louisville. There is talent, but it feels like a reach this early in Round 2.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best Pick: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
Jacob Parrish should be able to fill the nickel corner spot for Tampa Bay immediately and bolster a secondary that needed help. They got him for tremendous value in Round 3 as well.
Worst Pick: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
This is also not a bad pick by any means, but adding a third wide receiver to an already stacked room when the No. 1 corner was still on the board here in Jahdae Barron is questionable. Emeka Egbuka is a talented player who fits well with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but this need could have been easily addressed later.
The post Best and Worst Picks for Every NFC South Team in NFL Draft appeared first on Newsweek.
