My friend Pete Prisco at CBS ranked the top 100 players in the NFL. It is a very interesting list, and as always with Pete's work, there are some questions.

To access the list, click here. 

Here are the totals for the NFC South squads:

Atlanta

48. QB Matt Ryan

61. WR Roddy White

75. LB Sean Weatherspoon

95. RB Michael Turner

COMMENT: Hard to argue with any of this. All are fine players, and he didn't miss on one. 

Carolina

46. WR Steve Smith

68. OG Jordan Gross

83. QB Cam Newton

93. CB Chris Gamble

COMMENT: I think Ryan Kalil should be in this list over Chris Gamble, but this just shows the pieces that Carolina has at this moment. Look out for the Panthers. 

New Orleans

6. QB Drew Brees

21. TE Jimmy Graham

53. OG Jahri Evans

100. Darren Sproles

COMMENT: I think it is a bit high for Graham, but hard to argue for the rest. Sproles has added a bunch to the team. 

Tampa Bay

17. Carl Nicks

COMMENT: Don't agree with this at all, but not just because I am a loyal Bucs fan. Davin Joseph should be on here along with Nicks, as should Vincent Jackson. Josh Freeman, had he not suffered a tough year last year, would be top 50. 

What are your thoughts?

Atlanta 

The Falcons cut 31-year-old veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution created a post-Mughelli depth chart for fans, quite interesting. 

Carolina

The Panthers signed former Jaguars punter Nick Harris, while a coveted WR opted to sign with the Ravens. 

New Orleans

Jonathan Vilma news, as his lawyer says the NFL has yet to respond to his request...this one is getting interesting

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson impressed the Bucs during the rookie mini camp and looks to stick with the team after earning a contract. 

Also, right now, here are my predicted records for each NFC South team next season. Way too early, I know, but it is for fun.

Saints 10-6

Falcons 10-6

Panthers 8-8

Bucs 7-9

The NFL.com's Elliot Harrison came out with his NFL Power Rankings today. Where do you think each NFC South team stands?

To find the list, you can click here. 

When I consider the NFC South teams, I would put the New Orleans Saints at six, the Atlanta Falcons at nine, the Carolina Panthers at 20 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 26.

Harrison has the New Orleans Saints at nine and this for his explanation:

Bountygate: Medieval
Saints: Reeling.
Rest of the NFC South: Improved.
But still ...
Brees > Ryan > Cam > Freeman.

For Atlanta, Harrison has the team at 17 saying:

The Falcons have morphed into a passing team, looking to ride the right arm of their fifth-year veteran behind center. It's hard to believe Matt Ryan has been in the league that long, but it's time this "franchise quarterback" takes the next step. This team has won 42 games in his first four seasons, but really has nothing to show for it. On defense, the onus falls on the pass rush, where Ray Edwards (3.5 sacks) hasn't complemented aging John Abraham the way the club envisioned.

The Panthers come in at 24:

Carolina chose not to grab a defensive tackle or give Steve Smith a viable No. 2 in the early rounds -- a bit of a surprise from draft weekend. What the Panthers did get is a big-time player in linebacker Luke Kuechly. The only pause here is the enormous amount of bad luck Carolina has had at linebacker.Thomas Davis can't stay healthy. The team's best player, Jon Beason, missed almost all of 2011 due to injury. Dan Morgan was a beast, but couldn't stay healthy, either. Let's hope Kuechly lines up 16 and knocks 'em down.

While Tampa rounds up the NFC South just two spots back of Cam Newton and company:

Who are the Bucs? Are they the club that lost the last 10 games of 2011 under Raheem Morris? Or are they a new-look team with a new head coach -- as well as new No. 1 receiver, new guard, new safety, etc. -- that can compete in a division whose champion is knee-deep in turmoil? The answer lies somewhere in between, but if the defensive line plays up to its potential, this is a completely different football team. All four players on the line were first- or second-round picks. Look no further than the Giants to see what a good front four can do for playoff hopes.

What do you think of these rankings? I guessed Tampa spot on, but I'm a bit surprised each of the first three aren't a nod higher. What say you?

Hey guys,

Welcome back. What a fun NFL Draft 2012 eh?

I'm hear to deliver the draft grades for each team, so why wait? Let's get started!

Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: Peter Konz OC, Wisconsin -- The big man can play any position along the offensive line and was a nice grab by Atlanta in the second round. He should be a solid player for them for the next decade. 

Questionable pick: Trading everything they did last season for Julio Jones. It was way, way too much. 

Steal: Konz

Analysis: They were able to nab a nice player in Konz and Lamar Holmes, who could push for time. Solid, but not spectacular. 

Grade: C+ 

Carolina Panthers

Best Pick: Luke Kuechly LB, Boston College -- An amazing player, he can do it all as a defender and should help right away in Carolina. 

Questionable pick: None

Steal: Amini Silatolu, OG Midwestern State -- A powerful presence, the lineman has quick feet and just so much strength. Solid pick. 

Analysis: Landed some really good players to continue adding to an already nice pool of talent. 

Grade: B

 New Orleans Saints

Best Pick: Nick Toon WR, Wisconsin -- A fast receiver, he is just another weapon for Drew Brees. He should have a nice rookie campaign. 

Questionable pick: Bounty Scandal, of course. 

Steal: None. 

Analysis: The scandal cost big, losing a second-round pick. 

Grade: D- 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Pick: Lavonte David LB, Nebraska -- This kid will be a star. He is so versatile and will start from Day 1 at outside linebacker. Another great Buc linebacker. The next Derrick Brooks. 

Questionable pick: None, addressed needs. 

Steal: Doug Martin RB, Boise State -- Martin, the Muscle Hamster, can do it all. He is the most complete back in the draft and will start. 

Analysis: Starting off with Mark Barron at safety, the Bucs struck gold in this one, picking up potentially four starters. 

Grade: A

Have a source in the NFL who works for a franchise that made the playoffs last season. Spoke to him a bit on the phone today to hear about any rumors going on leading up to the draft, and picked up on a couple golden ones on the NFC South.

The source told me that it appears that the Panthers are looking at linebacker at the 9th pick and would be pleased to see Melvin Ingram there, but it looks like they surely like Luke Kuechly out of Boston College. In the event that both are gone, which isn't likely, I was told not to be surprised if they end up going with a wideout, most likely Malcolm Floyd of Notre Dame, with the goal being to get more weapons for Cam Newton.

As for Tampa, there is no doubt that their top two targets are RB Trent Richardson out of Alabama and CB Morris Claiborne of LSU. But, it looks as if the Bucs fear that both could be gone when they pick at five, with Richardson likely going to the Browns and four, with Minnesota aiming for Claiborne at three. It would surely make things interesting, but where Tampa would go from there is tough. My source tells me that they may end up looking to trade down, which makes sense, but if they can't find a trade partner, Kuechly or Ryan Kalil would likely be the pick.

With each team looking to decide what to do with their first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the NFL.com has put together a neat page that shows predictions of each analyst. 

I've taken the liberty of sorting out these picks by numbers, so you can see what tehey are hearing from sources as to who the Bucs and Panthers may take, as they are the only NFC South teams with first round picks. 

FIFTH PICK

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Morris Claiborne, CB LSU  (8)

Trent Richardson, RB Alabama (2)

Dontari Poe, DT Memphis (1)

Analysis: Claiborne is obviously the pick here and make sense as Aqib Talib is having his issues and Ronde Barber is pushing 40. This stud CB could be a big-time player and does fill a need, especially in this pass-happy league. Richardson could be the pick if the CB is off the board. The Bucs WILL NOT pick Dontari Poe, from what I'm hearing. 

NINTH PICK

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Dontari Poe, DT Memphis 5

Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina 3

Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina

Devon Still, DT Penn State

Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

Analysis: Do you see the trend here? All but one go with a DL. Makes sense, as the team's defense has to improve to go with the talented offense, led by Cam Newton. I would expect it to be Coples, the home-state kid from UNC. Any of these players would be good gets at No. 9, but may be a bit of a reach for Still and Ingram. 

What do you think? Who would you predict in being picked?