NFL draft preview: South

NFL DRAFT

The draft will be held Thursday to Saturday in New York. The Times’ NFL writer, Sam Farmer, examines the needs of each team by division:

NFC SOUTH

Coming off its most successful season, New Orleans is in the unfamiliar spot of drafting last. There’s a good chance the Saints will use their 32nd pick on a defensive player, someone who can step right into the starting lineup. They’ll be looking at outside linebackers, defensive ends and safeties. With a draft this deep, the Saints are in an enviable spot — they won’t have to pay as much, and they’ll still get a good player.

Atlanta has a solid defense and the Falcons want to stay that way. One weakness is they don’t have a lot of linebackers who are good in coverage. They can address that in the first round, possibly with Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons have worked out UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, although he might go a bit later than the 19th pick.

Carolina’s first pick comes midway through the second round (48th), so the Panthers can just sit back and watch Thursday. This is a deep draft, though, so they can still get real value at that spot. Having lost Julius Peppers, they could use somebody who can generate a pass rush. Receiver is also a position of need, as is someone who can add depth at quarterback.

For years, Tampa Bay has searched for a defensive tackle who can do for its defense what Warren Sapp once did. The Buccaneers pick third and would love to have either Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy or Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh. Later in the draft, the team can address its need for help at wide receiver and offensive tackle.

AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis tried last year to improve the interior of its defensive line and is still on that quest. The Colts are in position at the end of the first round to catch the second wave of defensive tackles, perhaps a player such as UCLA’s Price. The Colts also need help and/or depth at all positions on the offensive line. In the unlikely scenario that Idaho guard Mike Iupati or Florida center Maurkice Pouncey slips through — OK, that’s almost certainly not going to happen — the Colts could hit the jackpot.

Tailback Steve Slaton doesn’t appear to be the answer for Houston — or at least he wasn’t last season — and this could be the year the Texans break with tradition and select a running back in the first or second round. They also need a cornerback, and could get one of the good ones with the 20th pick. Safety is also a position of need, and the Texans could stay local if Texas safety Earl Thomas is still on the board.

With the 16th pick, Tennessee is in prime position to take a defensive end. The Titans might take a player such as South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul, a phenomenal athlete who’s very unpolished, or maybe Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan, who is more seasoned but might not have quite the upside.

Jacksonville has the 10th pick and is in excellent position to get an impact player. The Jaguars certainly have a lot of pressing needs, including at quarterback, so if Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen is there, he would be an option. More likely, the Jaguars will take a defensive player, presumably someone who could ramp up the pass pressure of a defensive front that mustered an NFL-low 14 sacks last season. Another option is inside linebacker, and the highest-rated player at that spot is Alabama’s Rolando McClain.