The NFC South promises to be a lot more competitive in 2013 than it was last season. First, Sean Payton will be returning to the New Orleans Saints' sideline after being suspeded in 2012. He brings in Rob Ryan to take over a disastrous defense that will be switching to a 3-4. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson to what was a weak defense. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers look to actually live up to the talent level of a young team that is led by Cam Newton.

This doesn't even take into account the Atlanta Falcons, who were just a couple points away from a Super Bowl appearance last season. They added Steven Jackson and Osi Umenyiora to a talent-laden roster. 

Lets take a look at the draft hauls and analyze/grade each team's 2013 NFL Draft. 

I love what the Falcons did with their first two picks. Trade up in the first round and grab a top-10 talent and immediate starting cornerback in Desmond Trufant. then stay pat in the second round and nab one of the most underrated defensive backs in the draft in the form of Robert Alford; the first player evert to get drafted from SE Louisiana. They will be franchise book ends along the defensive secondary for the forseeable future. With that said, Atlanta could have gotten better value be looking at another position in the second and going corner later, hence the lower grade on the Alford selection. 

Malliciah Goodman is an absolute freak of nature and he was a steal in the fourth round. Improved technique and some seasoning could turn him into a future starting defensive end. I Wasn't, however, sold on the Levine Toilolo pick. He was Stanford's backup tight end last season and made a questionable decision to forgo his senior season. While talented, he is a major project. In addition, Atlanta had better tight end options available there. The Zeke Motta pick in round seven was a steal. Motta may not show a lot on tape, but dude is one of those hard-nosed defensive player. Perfect backup in the defensive secondary. Considering that Atlanta came in selecting at the bottom of each round, it did a damn good job here. 

Overall Grade: B (85 percent)

The Carolina Panthers' draft was top heavy in terms of talent and value. The addition of Lotulelei in the middle of the first round represented the best combination of value and need in the round. He is going to be an absolute force along the interior of the Panthers' defensive line, helping fortify one of the worst run-stopping defenses in the entire National Football League. Carolina then doubled down on a position of weakness and again gaining value. These two stout defensive tackles will likely start from day one. 

Outside of that, Carolina's draft leaves a lot to be desired. Edmund Kugbila in the fourth round made absolutely no sense. Carolina nabbed a player I had an undrafted grade on when there were so many quality players at positions of need still available there. A.J. Klein was a solid pick in the fifth, but the addition of Kenjon Barner in the sixth was another head scratcher. While he represented value late, the Panthers just don't have room on the roster for another running back. Overall, this was a "meh" draft after the first two selections. 

Overall Grade: C- (71.2 percent) 

Overall, the New Orleans Saints had themselves quite the draft. Being able to pick up Kenny Vaccaro in the middle of the first was not only a steal, it helps improve one of the worst pass defenses in the entire National Football League. The Texas product immediately becomes the Saints best cover guy. However scary that might be, it does represent a major upgrade. Vaccaro is a difference maker at the safety position and the best at the position since Earl Thomas entered the league back in 2010. 

Terron Armstead was also a steal in the third round. New Orleans can let him sit for a season or play right tackle and spot him in as the blind-side protector for Drew Brees in 2014. I had an early second-round grade on Armstead, which means his selection in the third represents tremendous value. In fact, I had the small-school product ranked ahead of both Kyle Long and Justin Pugh. 

After trading Chris Ivory, the Saints went out and traded up for a perfect zero-tech fit in their 3-4 in the form of John Jenkins from Georgia. He is a cog in the middle of the defensive line and will help open up pass-rushing lanes for outside rushers. The addition of Kenny Stills in the fifth was a steal and really fit a position of need behind Marques Colston and Lance Moore at wide receiver. Considering that the NFL stripped the Saints of a second-round pick, they did a great job rebounding here and finding  value at need positions. Grade: A- (91 percent) 

You have to take into account the Darrelle Revis trade when grading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' draft. Considering that they yielded a first this season and a third in 2013 and then gave Revis a contract that pays him $16 million per year, coming off an ACL injury; I'd grade them a solid C in the first round. After that, not much to write home about. Johnthan Banks is going to be a great cornerback, but the Buccaneers have now pretty much given up a first, second and third rounder for two "starting" corners. One is inexperienced and lacks recovery speed. The other is the best cornerback in the NFL when healthy, but there is an unknown factor due to the ACL injury and Revis' quickly advancing age. The selection of Mike Glennon was a tad ridiculous. I understand adding competition for Josh Freeman, but both Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib were on the board in the third. That made no sense. 

The Buccaneers also failed to really address the pass rush. The selection of Akeem Spence in the third was solid, but they left Alex Okafor and Malliciah Goodman on the board there. Both would have given them an upgrade, which doesn't make much sense. William Gholston has the build and talent, but fits more as a 3-4 run-stuffing defensive end and will not get to the quarterback on a consistent basis. Steven Means and Mike James were incredible reaches with other higher-ranked players at those positions still on the board. Really, not a great draft here. Grade: C+ (78.2 percent) 

Best Value Pick: Start Lotuelei, Defensive Tackle (Carolina) and Terron Armstead, Offensive Tackle (New Orleans) 

Biggest Reach: Mike Glennon, Quarterback (Tampa Bay) 

Best Draft: New Orleans Saints

Worst Draft: Carolina Panthers

Biggest Impact Offensive Player: Terron Armstead, Offensive Tackle (New Orleans Saints) 

Biggest Impact Defensive Player: Kenny Vaccaro, Safety (New Orleans Saints)