NFL draft preview: NFC South and AFC South

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

Saints coaches had dinner with USC linebacker Brian Cushing the night before the school’s pro day and came away liking him. Fellow Trojans linebacker Clay Matthews could be a fit for them too. New Orleans’ most pressing need is for a free safety, but it’s too early to spend the 14th pick on that. The Saints also need a running back, and the two most tempting at the top of the draft are Ohio State’s Chris Wells and Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno.

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NFC South

The Falcons lost their two starting outside linebackers to free agency, Michael Boley and Keith Brooking, so this ‘backer-rich draft sets up well for them. They should be able to get one at 24, possibly one of the USC guys. Quarterback Matt Ryan did a spectacular job last season, but a pair of hands at tight end would really help. Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew is the best of the bunch.

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Unless they do some serious wheeling and dealing, the Panthers are going to be draft spectators for quite a while. Their first pick is at 59, marking only the second time they have not had a first-round selection. They will be looking for help along the defensive line, and might again try to fill the receiving void opposite Steve Smith -- a role Dwayne Jarrett has yet to claim.

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After falling short in the Jay Cutler derby, the Buccaneers signed Pittsburgh free agent Byron Leftwich. But do they see him as a stopgap, or do they anticipate his reviving his career the way Kurt Warner did? It will be interesting to see what new Coach Raheem Morris does if Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman remains on the board at 19. (Morris knows Freeman from his days as a K-State assistant coach.) The Buccaneers could also use some help on their defensive line.

AFC South

Over the last eight years, the Colts have used their first-round selection to pick up some very capable targets for Peyton Manning: Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez. Why stop now? Now that Marvin Harrison is out of the picture, the Colts could use another receiver, and they should be able to get one at 27. There are other areas of need too, including defensive and offensive tackle.

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In the first two rounds of Gary Kubiak’s first two drafts, the Texans used all but one of their four picks on defensive players. There’s nothing to suggest that trend will end. Despite some decent defensive moves in free agency -- the signings of Cato June, Antonio Smith and Shaun Cody -- the Texans still should be thinking defense with the 15th pick. Two cornerback prospects to watch are Vontae Davis of Illinois and Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins. Davis would have the edge but could slide amid drug rumors.

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The first day of the draft could either be very good or very bad for Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard. The Jaguars might use the eighth pick on a quarterback -- maybe USC’s Mark Sanchez -- or they could grab an elite receiver such as Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree or Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin, or maybe a left tackle to protect his blind side.

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As much as they need a receiver, the Titans haven’t taken one in the first round since Kevin Dyson in 1998. Still, there’s a chance they could get a good one at No. 30, especially if a pass catcher such as North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey or Rutgers’ Kenny Britt is still around. Tennessee could use a linebacker or two, and some help in the secondary.

* Tomorrow: East divisions.