Tag: carolina-panthers

2026 NFC South Preview

New Orleans Saints

Every season there’s at least one team that goes from last to first in their division and I think the Saints pull it off this season.  The NFC South wasn’t great last year with a 3-way tie at the top with all three teams being 8-9.  The Saints finished 6-11 but I think they look like a team on the rise.  The coaching staff is in year two, the offensive line should be healthier and better, Tyler Shough looked like a legitimate starting QB, and the defense can be a little better. 

Shough turned out to be a great investment of second-round pick.  He wasn’t some all-world QB as a rookie, but he showed plenty of promise to make the team avoid looking for another QB this off season.  The team added players to the offense to help round it out both on the offensive line and at the skill positions.  Kellen Moore knows how to put together an offensive game plan and now they might just have all the pieces they need to really make it work.  They are doing their best to give Shough what he needs to be a good QB, he has the skills, now he just has to put it all together. 

Chris Olave was coming back last season from a number of concussions and no one was real sure what he was going to be last year, turns out, he was really good.  He had 100 catches for over 1100 yards and he was basically a one-man show at WR.  The team still has Devaughn Vele, who they like, but he’s coming off injury.  They drafted Jordyn Tyson in the top ten despite some injury concerns, unfortunately those concerns have followed him and he starts the season on IR.  Their other rookie WR Bryce Lance will start with Olave and Vele.  TE Juwan Johnson is a good pass catcher and proved that last year with 77 catches.  He shouldn’t have to carry so much of the pass game and the team signed Noah Fant and drafted Oscar Delp to remake the TE group overall.  Johnson will still be a big part of the passing offense just hopefully not at such a volume.   

The offensive line was pretty good last year when healthy, but they ran into depth problems when guys got banged up and guard was a sore spot.  They signed LG David Edwards to fill the hole and putting him next to second-year LT Kelvin Banks should do wonders for that side of the line.  Edwards is a reliable veteran presence they didn’t have next to Banks last season.  They need C Eric McCoy and RG Cesar Ruiz to be healthy and be their best selves.  They’re good players when playing at their best.  RT Taliese Fuaga is a good RT, but he’ll be even better with more consistency from the whole group.

The big off season offensive signing for the Saints was RB Travis Etienne coming over from Jacksonville.  Etienne had his best rushing season since his rookie year and looked like a good all-around back.  The Saints still have Alvin Kamara but he’s 31 and just not as effective as he once was.  They also have Kendre Miller as their third back, he’ll fill in fine while Kamara works his way back.  Etienne is going to be an upgrade over what Kamara gave them in the run game last year and between the two of them, they should be deadly as pass catchers.

The defense is better than it gets credit for but it’s not one of the elite units in the league.  If the offense can take a step forward this season, they don’t need the defense to be great, just be solid.  Brandan Staley is the defensive coordinator and did a good job with the players he has to work with.  They didn’t add much in the off season on defense so it’s up to Staley to get more out of the guys he has going into his second year with them. 

Up front, the team re-signed Cameron Jordan who is 37 years old and probably shouldn’t be a full-time player at this point, but he played in 17 games last year and had 10.5 sacks.  It’s hard to argue with that production.  Davon Godchaux is the starting NT and for now Nathan Sheppard or Colby Wooden is the other starter.  Wooden would be some youth up front because everyone is on the wrong side of 30.  Bryan Bresee was the one younger starter but he’s out for season with an injury.  The drafted DT Christen Miller and he should eventually supplant Godchaux as the NT. 

At LB, Demario Davis signed with the Jets so there’s a big change happening inside.  They return Pete Werner, but they also signed Kaden Ellis who comes back to New Orleans after spending a few years in Atlanta.  Ellis is no spring chicken but he’s a talented player who brings a different skill set than Davis had.  Ellis can be an incredibly effective blitzer if used properly.  OLB Chase Young has never been the superstar he was supposed to be after going second overall in the draft, but he had 10 sacks last season and is good pass rusher and underrated all-around edge defender.  On the other side, Carl Granderson is a solid player on the opposite side, but they also signed Anfernee Jennings as depth.  They traded for Tyree Wilson from the Raiders, and he could figure in somewhere on the edge. 

The secondary has some very good young talent.  CB Kool-Aid McKinstry isn’t a top-level CB1, but he’s played pretty well since taking over that spot.  Quincy Riley has potential as the opposite CB and Jonas Sanker was rookie last season who can handle the slot.  Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon are the veteran safeties tying the unit together.  Sanker should see more action this year as he develops.  This group can be pretty good, and they’ll have some depth if Martin Emerson can be healthy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs were a MASH unit last season, and they did bring in some re-enforcements, especially on defense.  On offense, they seem to be hoping they get healthy and that Emeka Egbuka can actually replace Mike Evans since he bolted in free agency.  The Bucs might have the best roster in the NFC South but Todd Bowles as the head coach and Zac Robinson as another new offensive coordinator does not inspire confidence. Bowles seemed to barely survive as the coach last year and if he doesn’t get a Dave Canales/Liam Coen type of offensive player caller season from Robinson, he probably doesn’t survive the year.  I have no reason to believe Robinson is that level of play caller. 

Baker Mayfield started the season on fire last year, but it barely lasted a month and then the wheels came off.  Injuries piled up on the offensive line and at WR and the running game was nowhere to be found after Bucky Irving was hurt.  Mike Evans decided it was time to move on from the Bucs, and it felt a bit like he was bailing on the Todd Bowles experience.  The Bucs may be bailing on the Baker Mayfield experience given their reticence to give Mayfield an extension as he turned 31 this spring and injuries may be catching up with him. 

The WR group still has plenty of talent even with Mike Evans in San Francisco.  Chris Godwin is trying to come back fully healthy after fighting a few ailments in the last few seasons.  Emeka Egbuka looked like a star for six weeks or so last year and then things went sideways with the offense and he lost his mojo.  That coincided with him having an injury too.  Jalen McMillan is a good player and should get more time in the slot as they use Godwin in different ways.  I even like Tez Johnson after last year and Ted Hurst is a nice pickup from the draft.  TE Cade Otten was re-signed but they didn’t do anything else at TE. 

The offensive line is led by LT Tristan Wirfs, one of the best offensive linemen in the entire league at any position.  Wirfs was a little banged up last year but when he’s on, he has very few peers across the league.  C Graham Barton is developing into a very good player too.  RT Luke Goedeke is good when healthy and the team hopes RG Cody Mauch comes back healthy.  LG Ben Bredeson is fine and holds down his spot for now. 

The run game was a mess last year and a lot had to do with Bucky Irving just never being healthy.  They let Rachaad White go in free agency and picked up Kenneth Gainwell who was excellent last year in Pittsburgh.  He’s not a every down type of RB but he’s a very useful playmaker and will add an element to the run game.  The team needs a better run game if they want the Robinson and Mayfield pairing to help fix the passing game.

The defense needed an influx of talent if they are going to keep running the same thing Bowles has been running for years.  The scheme works but only if you have guys who can get the job done.  I really like three rookies they added, not just for their talent but for the attitude they will bring to the defense.  Bowles needs some tone setters, and they found some in the draft.

NT Vita Vea was unhappy with his contract before training camp and they compromised on a one-year fix but that’s just kicking the can down the road.  Considering how important he is to what they do up front, they need him happy and playing.  Calijah Kancey hasn’t lived up to his billing at this point and a lot of that has to do with injuries.  When healthy, he’s solid.  Logan Hall left in free agency, but they signed A’Shawn Robinson to fill the void.  Robinson is a bigger body who should fill the role nicely. 

The pass rush wasn’t good last year and counting on Yaya Diaby to be your top pass rusher isn’t where you want to be.  The Bucs realized that and drafted Reuben Bain Jr. after he fell to them in round one, that was fortunate for them.  Bain isn’t an ideal sized edge rusher but he’s a relentless player who’s going to be their top guy.  At ILB, Lavonta David finally retired so they brought in some veterans to help fill the void.  They still like SirVocea Dennis, but Alex Anzalone was signed to be the other ILB, and they also signed Christian Rozeboom.  Drafting Josiah Trotter was also a big addition.  He’s one of the tone setters they need.  He’s a run stuffing demon and he’ll be excellent in his role early. 

The secondary got most of its help last season with Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish being drafted in 2025.  Those two should be starters this year and be counted on for bigger contributions.  Zyon McCollum is their top CB and he’s solid if unspectacular.  Antoine Winfield Jr. is the leader of this secondary and really this whole defense now that David is retired.  Tykee Smith will start at the other safety spot; he’s a versatile defender they can use at nickel.  The one draft pick I can see contributing is Keionte Scott from Miami.  He’s not the biggest or fastest DB but he’ll bring an attitude that will fit right in with Bain, Trotter, and Winfield, the guys who have to set the tone if this defense is going to be any good. 

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers won this division last season by winning the lamest 3-way tie in NFL history and taking the division with an 8-9 record.  Then they went into the playoffs and gave the Rams everything they could handle.  They made some very important additions on defense that could have major upside for them.  On offense, this team goes as far as Bryce Young takes them.  That’s the issue, how far can they go with Bryce Young at QB?  They need a clear answer this year, they need to know if they need to move on.  

The good news is that Bryce Young has gotten better each of his first three seasons in the NFL, the bad news is his best seasons was 23 TDs, 11 INTs, and just above 63% completion percentage.  Those numbers are pedestrian at best and even with a star WR like Tetairoa McMillan, he’s still just a guy.  The team seems to win in spite of his limitations and it seems like they are preparing to move on if they don’t see a real leap this season, and I don’t think we get that leap. 

Tetairoa McMillan won offensive rookie of the year with 70 catches and over 1000 yards and everyone understood how good that was considering his QB.  McMillan is a legitimate WR1 and the team also loves Jalen Coker, the 2024 undrafted free agent WR who has been quite good for them.  Former first round pick Xavier Legette has yet to live up to the hype, but he’ll be the other WR because they don’t have great options.  They drafted Chris Brazzell II in round three this year but he’s already out for the year with an injury.  At this point, Legette only has to hold off Jimmy Horn Jr and John Metchie III.  Their TEs are Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and they signed Darren Waller hoping for the best. 

The offensive line is a work in progress.  LT Ikem Ekwonu will miss most of the year coming off a torn patellar tendon.  The team signed Rasheed Walker as a free agent and drafted Monroe Freeling to cover their bases.  Then RT Taylor Moton ended up with blood clots over the summer and he’s out indefinitely.  That means both Walker and Freeling will start, Walker at LT and Freeling at RT.  They get Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt back and guard and need both to be healthy.  Luke Fortner resurrected his career in New Orleans last year as a fill in and now, he’s penciled in to start at center but he’s going to have to hold off rookie Sam Hecht.

The running game has Chuba Hubbard who is one of the more unsung heroes of the league, he’s just a good RB.  He didn’t have a great season last year as he was banged up and they had Rico Dowdle who stepped in and played great.  Dowdle left for Pittsburgh, so the ball goes back to Hubbard full-time.  Jonathan Brooks is a talented back they drafted two years ago but he’s been injured a lot and there’s no guarantee what he can give them.  Trevor Etienne is a nice option as a third-down back.

Ejiro Evero is a very bright defensive mind and it’s nice that the Panthers finally decided to invest in the defensive personnel to help him out.  Derrick Brown has been very good when he’s been able to play and while the team lost A’Shawn Robinson, they have solid players beside Brown.  Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton were two big free agent signings a couple of seasons ago and it would be nice if they paid off.  However, Wharton is dealing with a neck injury, so rookie Lee Hunter is going to get a look up front.  Cam Jackson is another big body they hope to use more this season.   

The team wasn’t very good rushing the passer last season, and were mostly relying on rookies they had just drafted.  This season they went out and spent big money to bring in Jaelen Phillips. Phillips has had his injury issues but he generates pressure and that is something this team needs, even if his sack totals aren’t great.  Nic Scourton was supposed to be the other edge rusher, but he tore his ACL and is out for the year.  That leaves Patrick Jones II and second-year man Princely Umanmielen trying to be the other guy.  The team also invested heavily at ILB by signing Devin Lloyd.  Lloyd is a massive upgrade.  It looked like Claudin Cherelus was going to be the other ILB until the team signed Bobby Okereke just before the season.  He’s a veteran who should play quickly once he picks up the system. 

CB Jaycee Horn got a big contract extension before last season and he basically lived up to it, that’s some good news.  The better news was that bargain veteran signing Mike Jackson played great at the other CB spot too.  Horn and Jackson are an excellent duo, and they hope they have upgraded the safety spots to complement the CBs.  Tre’von Moehrig was very good last year but they had a big hole next to him.  The team signed Nick Scott as a veteran to play opposite Moehrig.  They also drafted Zakee Wheatley, and they hope Lathan Ransom takes a step this season.  Chau Smith-Wade handles the nickel duties, but the team also drafted Will Lee III in the draft and he’s the type of late round flyer who could really pay off.  He’s an excellent outside CB and that could allow Horn to play some in the slot. 

Atlanta Falcons   

The Falcons season was all over the place last year and the organization made some wholesale changes in the off season.  Matt Ryan is the new team president while Ian Cunningham is the new GM.  Cunningham has a great reputation as a talent evaluator so that should help.  They hired Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach; he’s a guy who did more with less in Cleveland and did the best he could with a bad QB situation.  His QB situation in Atlanta isn’t much better, but they aren’t locked into anything long-term.  It’s a transition year for the offense; the defense is looking to build on a solid year last season but it’s not off to a great start. 

Michael Penix Jr. was a high draft pick for the previous regime and he’s coming off an ACL tear, he’s not exactly set up for the long haul in Atlanta.  The team signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal as a stop-gap measure.  He’s been banged up in camp too and he’s not exactly the picture of health.  Stefanski knows what it’s like to have a bad QB situation but at least he’s not locked into either one of these guys like he was to Deshaun Watson in Cleveland.  The Falcons will muddle through this season and figure out QB in the off season.  For now, it looks like Tua was so bad in training camp that he may have lost the starting job to Penix, who didn’t really practice until about a week ago.    

The team does have a legitimate WR1 in Drake London and they can build the passing game around him, but it would be nice if he had some help.  When London goes crazy this season because his QBs suck, everyone give him a little grace.  TE Kyle Pitts had a good year, and they brought him back and they need him to be a playmaker opposite London.  The rest of the WR corps is suspect to say the least.  They signed Jahan Dotson and brought back Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, they don’t exactly scare anyone.  Zachariah Branch was drafted in round three and should bring a nice speed element to the offense.  He’s not very big and he’s not the most refined WR but he can make things happen with the ball in his hands. 

LT Jake Matthews is 34 years old but he’s still the rock this offensive line is built around.  He’s never been the flashiest player or the most dominant, he’s just always been good.  LG Matt Bergeron is an emerging talent and just got an extension, he’s a good, young player.  Ryan Neuzil is a guy they developed at center, and he does a good job.  RG Chris Lindstrom is one of the highest paid guards in the league and he’s been very good in Atlanta.  Kaleb McGary retired this off season after dealing with a lot of injuries throughout his career.  They started Elijah Wilkinson last year when McGary missed the season, but he left for Arizona.  They signed Chiefs castoff Jawaan Taylor, he’s not great but he’s not a terrible alternative.  He should be at least as good as Wilkinson was and that’s at least playable. 

The running game is in the very capable hands of one of the best RBs in the league, Bijan Robinson.  They gave him a new contract, and he should be ready to go.  They did lose Tyler Allegier who was a great short-yardage guy for them.  They replaced him with Brian Robinson who spent last season in San Francisco.  He didn’t play much behind Christian McCaffrey but maybe will get more carries in Stefanski’s offense.  Tyler Goodson is a guy to watch out for, he outplayed Brian Robinson in the preseason and he signed to their practice squad. 

Stefanski brought back defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after he did a really good job with an undermanned defense last season.  They were hoping to build on the young talent they drafted last season, but they are off to a tough start.  James Pearce Jr. led the team in sacks last year as a rookie after they traded a first-round pick to move up to get him.  He’s facing a lengthy suspension from his off-season criminal issues, and they could lose him for half the season. Then early in training camp, LB Jalon Walker tore his ACL and is out for the year, he was their other first-round pick that year and was another pass rusher they can’t afford to lose. 

Up front, the team made an off season trade to pick up Maason Smith from Jacksonville to play NT, that’s probably not going to solve any problems.  Then later in camp, they traded for Gervon Dexter from Chicago, he’s a talented player who can help once they get him up to speed.  D’Shawn Hand is a good veteran to have around and Brandon Dorlus has looked solid in camp. 

Losing Jalon Walker for the season and James Pearce Jr. for at least some part of the season puts the Falcons in a bind.  Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari, and Cameron Thomas are veterans they signed in the off season to give them depth, Ebukam will start with Thomas as a backup. Ojulari didn’t make the team.  They signed Za’Darius Smith, who was retired last season, and he’ll start opposite Ebukam. Divine Deablo was a solid addition last year at ILB and this year they signed Christian Harris to be the other ILB.  Both are undersized but are athletic and can run.  They’re going to need the defensive line to keep them clean if they’re going to be effective.  Without Walker and Pearce, rookie Harold Perkins could become an interesting piece.  He was a pass rushing star early in his career at LSU, but he doesn’t have much size.  If Ulbrich needs to be creative to create pass rush, Perkins may be the guy he looks to. 

The secondary should be the strength of this defense.  CB AJ Terrell is a legitimate CB1 in the league and he’s not even the best player in the backfield.  SS Jessie Bates III is a star and one of the more underrated players in the league.  They got him an excellent running mate in last year’s draft, FS Xavier Watts.  Those two make life difficult for opposing QBs.  The other CB spot was capably played by Mike Hughes last season but he’s just a solid veteran.  The team drafted Billy Bowman to be their slot guy last year, he was playing well until he got hurt.  They also drafted Avieon Terrell this year, he’s AJ’s brother and a very talented CB himself.  He’s a bit undersized but he doesn’t back down from anyone.  This group could be really great if the pass rush can help them out just a little.  

2025 NFC South Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Todd Bowles is back as the head coach but this team is changing offensive coordinators again after Liam Coen got the Jacksonville job.  The new OC is Josh Grizzard who was on the staff last season so they hope he can keep things going with Baker Mayfield and this offense.  The defense returns most of their guys and Bowles knows how to put that side together with his DC Larry Foote.  The Bucs keep winning this division so it’s hard to pick against them especially when the rest of the division has some serious questions. 

Baker Mayfield reignited his career two years ago under Dave Canales and then kept it going under Liam Coen.  I believe there is a rule that says Mayfield can’t have an offensive coordinator for more than one season so he gets Grizzard this year.  He’s so used to it at this point I can’t even hold it against him.  Any passing game that has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Tez Johnson should be good.  Evans is the definition of consistency, and high-level consistency. Godwin is coming back from injury but he’s done it before so I’m not counting him out.  McMillan stepped in for Godwin as a rookie last year and held his own, but now he’s hurt so they need Godwin back.  Egbuka was a surprise pick in round one but he’s a very talented player who can fill in at any WR position, and he will step in for Godwin for now.  Tez Johnson is a small but talented player they may need in the slot until Godwin and McMillan get healthy.  TE Cade Otten is a underappreciated member of this offense too. 

The running game was taken over last season by RB Bucky Irving.  No one is mistaking Irving for Saquon Barkley but he put together a very good season as a rookie last year.  He gives them a more dynamic runner than Rachaad White so that’s helpful.  The offensive line was one of the healthiest units last year and they were excellent.  LT Tristan Wirfs is arguably the best LT in football and unfortunately, he’s starting the year hurt.  He had knee surgery in July and they are hoping he makes it back early in the year.  LG Ben Bredeson was an afterthought starting last year but had a good season and they re-signed him.  C Graham Barton came in as a rookie and took the starting job immediately and never looked back.  He’s an ascending player.  RG Cody Mauch had his best season and RT Luke Goedeke did the same.  It’s a good unit and if Wirfs is healthy, they have potential to be great. 

The defense returns almost entirely intact, that’s both a good thing and a bad thing.  The defense wasn’t elite but they are solid across the board. The one problem is they are getting a little older in some key spots and it’s not clear they improved any deficiencies.  DEs Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey are good and they do their jobs.  Neither one is a superstar but both can be disruptive.  NT Vita Vea is 30 and you can tell he’s not quite what he was in his prime but he’s still one of the better NTs in football.  The pass rush needs some juice but all they did was add Haason Reddick at OLB.  He didn’t really play last year after some contract issues and he’s also 30.  Yaya Diaby is the other OLB and he’s young and could develop into a better player.  Lavonte David is 35 and returns as a starter.  He’s a Bucs legend at this point but he’s definitely lost a step.  SirVocea Dennis is the likely other staring ILB.  Dennis is young and athletic so he’s got that going for him.

The secondary was an issue last year with the CB position one where they were looking for upgrades.  Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum are the starters but they need some help.  They took a second-round flyer in Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame who’s coming off an injury.  He’s an excellent talent but it’s a hip injury he’s coming back from so that could be tricky.  They also drafted Jacob Parrish to give them some depth and he can start at nickel.  Tykee Smith was the nickel last year and he was very good but they need him to play more safety this year.  Antoine Winfield Jr. comes back for one safety spot but they don’t have someone locked into the other one.  If Parrish can give them a nickel back then Smith will slot in at safety. 

Atlanta Falcons

Raheem Morris goes into his second season as the head coach but he’s already made a coaching change.  He’s moving on from Jimmy Lake at DC and he hired Jeff Ulbrich who was the DC and then interim head coach of the Jets last season.  It’s once again a change in defensive philosophy for this unit so it could be a bumpy ride.  Zac Robinson is back at OC with Michael Penix Jr. installed as the QB.  They still have Kirk Cousins as their backup QB and I’m sure that’s not weird at all. 

Penix stepped in last year and started the final three games after the wheels came off for Cousins.  Cousins wasn’t bad to start the year but it started to go bad around November and he threw nine picks in his last five starts.  Penix looked better in his three starts and the team decided to move on but failed to find a trade partner for Cousins.  Cousins isn’t the type of guy to rock the boat but if Penix has some early season struggles, things will get testy in Atlanta.

Penix has the luxury of having a legitimate WR1 in Drake London, he was excellent last season.  Darnell Mooney proved to be solid #2 also but he’s starting the year injured with a shoulder issue.  Ray-Ray McCloud III did fine as the third WR last year but they have no depth and McCloud isn’t really a proven commodity.  TE Kyle Pitts will once again tantalize everyone with his athleticism; the question is will he actually do anything with it.  They need his potential playmaking to add a dimension to the passing game. 

Speaking of dimensions, RB Bijan Robinson had a breakout season with over 1400 yards rushing and he had 61 catches.  He’s the engine of the offense and he’ll keep defenses honest for Michael Penix Jr.  Robinson runs behind a sold offensive line that was set to return all five starters from the end of last season.  LT Jake Matthews is 33 but he’s as reliable as they come.  LG Matthew Bergeron is a good player next to him.  RG Chris Lindstrom is one of the best guards in the league and you know that because you never hear about him.  C Ryan Neuzil returns after stepping in for the injured Drew Dalman last year.  Dalman got a big contract in free agency but Atlanta didn’t even try to re-sign him because they have confidence in Neuzil. The only problem is at RT where Kaleb McGary went down late in camp and is out for the season.  Elijah Wilkinson is penciled in to start because they have other injuries there too.  It’s going to be an issue if they don’t find a suitable replacement. Michael Penix Jr. is a left handed QB so the RT is his blindside protector and entrusting that to Elijah Wilkinson, Michael Jarrell, or Jack Nelson seems like a bad idea.   

The biggest issue with the Falcons is going to be the defense.  Once again, they are changing defensive coordinators and once again it means a change in the scheme and that means some guys already on the roster are odd fits for the new defense.  The biggest issue is in the front seven and most importantly it’s the defensive line.  DT Ruke Orhorhoro probably works fine inside at tackle and not as a nose tackle or 3-4 end.  DE Zach Harrison was drafted to a 3-4 end and he’s not a good fit as a 4-3 DE or as a DT but they are playing him at DT.  David Onyemata has played in various fronts in his career so he can probably make it work but he’s also going to be 33 this year. 

At DE, they signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, drafted Jalon Walker with their first-round pick, and then traded up to get James Pierce Jr. in the first round too.  Walker is practicing exclusively as a pass rusher even though he was a LB at Georgia.  They are hoping Pierce can live up to the trade value they gave up for him.  They also have Arnold Ebikite who was drafted a few years ago to be an OLB.  All four of these guys are undersized DE but they hope to get some edge rush out of them.  Walker and Pierce are especially important given they were first-round picks.    

At LB they are counting on free agent Divine Deablo to man the middle.  He was an underwhelming player for the Raiders; they hope a new system unlocks something.  Kaden Ellis is an excellent pass rushing LB even though he isn’t an OLB.  He’ll likely play the weakside in the new defense but they would be wise to find ways to blitz him and let his natural pass rushing ability shine. 

The secondary is an interesting group.  CB AJ Terrell is not one of the elite cover guys in the league but he’s definitely a CB1.  He holds up well against most of the top WRs.  The other outside CB spot is likely Mike Hughes, he’s a replacement level guy.  They continually try to make Clark Phillips III that guy but he should probably be slot guy.  Dee Alford is their slot guy and he’s fine except they drafted Billy Bowman Jr. who seems to have won that spot.  SS Jessie Bates III is one of the best safeties in football but it’s been a revolving door opposite him and he could use a good partner.  Enter, Xavier Watts, a rookie out of Notre Dame who is a better football player than he is an athlete and that should be music to Bates’ ears.  Watts could help level up this secondary if he plays like I know he can. 

Carolina Panthers

For the first time in a while the Panthers aren’t going in to the season as the worst team in their division and that’s thanks to head coach Dave Canales.  He benched Bryce Young early last season and even though a weird injury to Andy Dalton put Young back in at QB, it jump started something in Young.  Give Canales credit for finding ways to help Young succeed.  Now it’s up to him to keep the offense moving forward and for Ejiro Evero to fix the leagues worst defense.  They got him some help, the question is, is it enough? 

Young seemed more confident after he got his starting job back last season.  They did things that took advantage of his abilities and some of the guys around him stepped up.  Xavier Leggett wasn’t a star but he made some plays. Even Jalen Coker found some success and made the team think he can actually be a part of the future.  It was still obvious the team needs a WR1 and that’s why they drafted Tetairoa McMillan in round one.  McMillan gives them a legitimate outside playmaker who is some sort of cross between Tee Higgins and Mike Evans if he reaches his potential.  He makes Young’s life easier just by being on the field.  The team did trade Adam Thielen back to Minnesota and then they lost Jalen Coker to an injury to start the year.  They brought back Hunter Renfrow after cutting him initially.  He gives them a slot guy until Coker returns.  TE isn’t a great position for them but they can still hope Ja’Tavion Sanders develops into something.  He’s only 22 and going into his second season.  For now, Tommy Tremble holds down the spot. 

The running game really improved last season with a career year out of Chuba Hubbard and the improvements on the offensive line were noticeable.  Hubbard finally got his chance to be the main back when Miles Sanders failed to be the guy and they never got Jonathan Brooks going.  Hubbard had a great year after the team fixed the interior of the line with new guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt.  They added a level of physicality they didn’t have before and that helped Austin Corbett at center.  LT Ikem Ekwonu played a lot better and RT Taylor Moton was his usual consistent self.  Keeping the running game going is paramount because it takes pressure off Young at QB.  That’s why the team signed Rico Dowdle to be the back up RB, he had over 1000 yards last year in Dallas.  They also drafted Trevor Etienne to give them a pass catching third-down back and even more depth. 

The defense was atrocious last year and it all started up front.  It didn’t help that their best DL Derrick Brown was hurt last year.  He should be back healthy and that will help but that wasn’t the whole issue.  That’s why they are making wholesale changes across the entire front seven. Brown gets two new starters next to him on the line with Bobby Brown III at NT and Tershawn Wharton taking the other end position.  Those guys are upgrades for sure and having Brown at NT should help the run defense. 

They didn’t stop there; the LB corps gets a facelift too.  They signed OLB Patick Jones II to pair with DJ Wonnum as their pass rushing ends but they also drafted Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on day two of the draft.  If that doesn’t juice the pass rush, nothing will.  On the inside they signed Christian Rozeboom to pair with Trevin Wallace as they replace Josey Jewell and long-time stalwart Shaq Thompson at ILB.   

The secondary got some help but still needs some work.  They signed Tre’von Moehrig from Las Vegas and he’s a big upgrade.  The other safety spot is still a work in progress with Nick Scott, Demani Richardson and maybe rookie Latham Ransom as possibilities.  At CB, Jaycee Horn got a huge contract extension and now they need him to be a top-flight CB who stays healthy.  He has the talent, now he needs to show up every week and play to it.  Mike Jackson is just a placeholder at the other spot while they have high hopes for Chau Smith-Wade in the slot. 

New Orleans Saints

Kellen Moore gets his first shot to be a head coach and unfortunately for him, this could be the worst team in the league.  It may largely depend on what they get out of the QB position but I’ll get to that in second.  One of the more curious choices or Moore as first-time head coach was picking Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator.  Failed head coaches get hired as coordinators all the time but Staley’s defenses for the Chargers were bad. It will be an interesting year in New Orleans.

For now, Spencer Rattler seems to have held off rookie Tyler Shough at QB.  I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.  Either one is likely overmatched.  Rattler was pretty bad last year when he stepped in for the injured Derek Carr but Shough hasn’t been good enough to beat him out.  The team drafted Shough in the second round hoping to catch lightening in a bottle but it doesn’t look good at this point. 

There are some talented players on this offense if they’re healthy.  WR Chris Olave is a legitimate WR1 but he’s been dealing with concussion issues and he’s one bad hit away from being done.  Rashid Shaheed missed most of last season with a meniscus tear and they hope he rebounds with the same speed he brought before.  They signed Brandin Cooks as a solid veteran presence after the WR group turned into a MASH unit last year.  They turned over the back half of the WR corps when they traded for DeVaughn Vele from Denver and picked up Trey Palmer after he was cut from Tampa Bay.  Solid additions but it might not matter. TE Juwan Johnson is a solid pass catcher but Taysom Hill is going to be 35 and is coming off an injury too so they shouldn’t count on him too much. 

The offensive line had injuries last season too and they need everyone to get healthy and settle into their new positions.  They drafted Kelvin Banks and are installing him at LT which means Taliese Fuaga is flipping over to his more natural RT spot.  That in turn moves last year’s RT Trevor Penning to LG, a position he’s never played.  He’s probably better suited for the interior but it will be a transition.  Both C Erik McCoy and RG Cesar Ruiz had various injuries and missed games last season.  They need both to stay healthy this year and play their best football.  RB Alvin Kamara missed a few games last season but he was still easily their best offensive weapon.  He’s been a mainstay on this offense for years and while this is his age 30 season, they need him to be the main piece again.  They have more depth at RB but no one who moves the needle like him. 

The defense underwhelmed last year and they are downgrading from Dennis Allen’s defense to Brandon Staley calling things.  They are running out the same front as they have been using with the only addition up front being Davon Godchaux, a DT the Patriots jettisoned. Godchaux brings some size on the inside but he’ll be 31 this year and his play wasn’t great last year.  They still have Bryan Bresee but he hasn’t had any kind of breakout season yet.  DE Nathan Shepard and the Saints legend himself Cameron Jordan return too.  Jordan is 36 and this group doesn’t inspire confidence.  They re-signed Chase Young as one of the edge rushers and it will be interesting to see how he fits in Staley’s defense.  Carl Granderson also returns at edge and we will see how it works for him too. 

Again, they are counting on an aging veteran at ILB in Demario Davis, he’s also 36, he was still good last year but that age cliff could hit at any moment.  Pete Werner is the other ILB and we will see if Staley can get something out of a young guy like rookie Danny Stutsman.  The secondary is facing almost a whole facelift.  They traded Marcus Lattimore at last year’s trade deadline, they let Paulson Adebo leave in free agency, and both starting safeties are gone.  That means Kool-Aid McKinstry goes from backup CB to CB1.  They signed veteran Isaac Yiadom as the other starter, that’s not great.  Alontae Taylor returns as the nickel, he’s fine.  The safety spots should be fine after they signed Justin Reid from Kansas City and then picked up Julian Blackmon later in free agency.  The safety spots have a chance to be good if those two play their usual football.  The depth in the secondary are CB Quincy Riley and S Jonas Sanker.     

2025 NFC South Draft Review

Atlanta Falcons

(15) Jalon Walker LB Georgia
(26) James Pearce Jr. Edge Tennessee
(96) Xavier Watts S Notre Dame
(118) Billy Bowman Jr. S Oklahoma
(218) Jack Nelson OT Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: LB Jalon Walker, Edge James Pearce Jr., S Xavier Watts

The Falcons’ defense was not very good last year and they haven’t had a pass rusher in years. They got three starters with their first three picks. Walker is a hybrid LB/Edge player who can step right in as a playmaker they have desperately needed for years. The traded up for James Pearce Jr. because they really liked him and they needed more pass rush, he’s going to start. Xavier Watts was a very good pickup in round three and he will start next to Jessie Bates and form a nice safety duo.

Best Value: S Xavier Watts

Watts isn’t the most physically gifted player you’ll find at safety but he’s intelligent and instinctive. He helps the back end of the defense as much as anyone reasonably could and will hopefully allow Bates to be even better.

Sleeper: OT Jack Nelson

There’s not a lot to choose from given this was a five-player draft. LT Jake Matthews is 33 and RT Kaleb McGary hasn’t always been the picture of health so Nelson could come in handy. He’s an athletic guy who’s 6’7 314 lbs. coming out of Wisconsin where they know how to make offensive lineman. Nelson isn’t going to be some superstar but if he ends up playing for his team at some point, he can hold his own.

Overall Analysis

This draft class will be judged by the impact of James Pearce Jr. The team traded their second-round pick plus a first rounder next year to move back into the first round to take Pearce after already drafting Jalon Walker. It was a bold move and if Walker and Pearce don’t transform the defense this could really backfire. If they end up with a bad record and give up a high pick next year to the Rams, it’s going to cost GM Terry Fontenot his job.

Watts was a great pickup and they must have liked Billy Bowman Jr. enough to think he could help the defense. The safety position isn’t stacked and Bowman can also help at nickel.

Nitpick or Concern: Trading up for Pearce is a big risk. He’s not a perfect prospect and he has had some maturity issues and coachability issues. If he flames out and they gave up future first for a guy who doesn’t work out, it’s going to cost the front office. I don’t think I would have made that big of a bet on a player as suspect as Pearce. Especially when you got good value on a pass rusher in round one to begin with.

Carolina Panthers

(8) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
(51) Nic Scourton Edge Texas A&M
(77) Princely Umanmielen Edge Ole Miss
(114) Trevor Etienne RB Georgia
(122) Lathan Ransom S Ohio St.
(140) Cam Jackson DT Florida
(163) Mitchell Evans TE Notre Dame
(208) Jimmy Horn Jr. WR Colorado

Immediate Impact: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Edge Nic Scourton, Edge Princely Umanmielen

Xavier Legette was a solid rookie WR last year and they like Jalen Coker but they needed a true WR1 and McMillan can be that. Bryce Young needed a real weapon and McMillan is going to be the true downfield asset that could unlock the offense. The Panthers also needed to get better on defense and they chose to pick a couple of pass rushers who will really help that. Scourton and Umanmielen are two different types of edge players but they should complement each other well. They probably won’t start right away but they will both play a ton.

Best Value: S Lathan Ransom

The Panthers signed Tre’von Moehrig to be one safety but they don’t have a lot of great options at the other safety spot. Ransom has a chance to take that other safety spot. He was a very good player at Ohio St. and he can be even better if he works on tackling guys instead of trying to get the big hit. As a fourth-round pick who could take a starting job at a position of need, that’s good value.

Sleeper: TE Mitchell Evans

The Panthers have Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders at TE, not exactly murder’s row. Evans isn’t a surefire player but he is a steady player who offers a little bit of everything. He’s not the most dynamic playmaker but he’s got good hands, runs solid routes, and can block when needed. He could eventually develop into a solid contributor.

Overall Analysis

The Panthers understood the assignment here. They got a real WR1 for Bryce Young and then they started to address the defense. They hit offense here and there throughout the draft and got some solid prospects there too. McMillan was the right choice at #8 overall. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen are going to help the defense and they should be building blocks moving forward. The choice of Trevor Etienne seems a little strange considering they have Chuba Hubbard, signed Rico Dowdle, and should be hoping Jonathan Brooks returns at some point. I didn’t think Etienne was the type of RB you should feel compelled to draft.

Lathan Ransom has starter potential and then they drafted DT Cam Jackson. They have enough depth at DT to not need Jackson anytime soon but he’s a good investment for the future. He’s big, and he can be physical when he keeps his pad level down. He needs to work on that and he has some good veterans around him t learn from. TE Mitchell Evans has potential down the road too. WR Jimmy Horn Jr. is a pretty skinny player but he may have a future as a slot receiver. For now, they have Adam Thielen but he’s an older player and Horn could stick around if he beats out Hunter Renfrow.

Nitpick or Concern: The Panthers hit almost every spot they need to with WR and edge rusher being the primary objective, but also getting a TE, S, and a DT. The one thing they didn’t address was CB. They are paying Jaycee Horn a ton of money but Mike Jackson is a replacement level player at the other outside CB spot. They better hope their pass rush is considerably improved because the secondary is still a little concerning.

New Orleans Saints

(9) Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
(40) Tyler Shough QB Louisville
(71) Vernon Broughton DL Texas
(93) Jonas Sanker S Virginia
(112) Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma
(131) Quincy Riley CB Louisville
(184) Devin Neal RB Kansas
(248) Moliki Matavao TE UCLA
(254) Fadil Diggs Edge Syracuse

Immediate Impact: OL Kelvin Banks Jr, QB Tyler Shough

Banks could end up the LT, the RT, or the LG depending on how they want to deploy Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning. Fuaga is naturally a RT but he played LT last year and Penning played RT. If they want to use Banks at LT, Fuaga goes to the right side, and Penning goes to the bench but then they have to find a LG. Or Fuaga and Penning stay where they are and they plug in Banks at LG. No matter what, Banks gives them the opportunity to play their best five. Tyler Shough might get baptism by fire if Derek Carr’s shoulder injury keeps him sidelined. Shough will be a 26-year-old rookie so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed. The good news is he’s basically the same player as Carr from a skill perspective so the offense doesn’t have to change.

Best Value: CB Quincy Riley

I had Riley as a boarder line second round pick and the Saints got him in round four. They have Kool-Aid McKinstry as their top CB and Alontae Taylor at nickel but Riley could beat out Isaac Yiadom for the other outside CB spot. He doesn’t have elite size but Riley is a tough player who can hold up.

Sleeper: RB Devin Neal

Obviously, the Saints have Alvin Kamara at RB and he’s an excellent player. However, it might help Kamara be even more effective if the Saints had a RB to take some of the early down work and save Kamara from some of that workload. Neal is that type of RB and could be a guy to help save Kamara’s legs for later in the season. He has starter potential from a talent standpoint.

Overall Analysis

Banks and Shough are likely to either start or get a lot of playing time this season no matter how things pan out. Shough might not be the highest ceiling QB prospect at this point but he’s ready to step in an play. DT Vernon Broughton is an underrated pickup. He was overshadowed at Texas by Alfred Collins but he’s a very effective DT too. The Saints have several veterans at that spot but not a lot of high-end players.

Broughton started a run of four defensive players who might not be starters immediately, but could certainly end up as starters. S Jonas Sanker will back up Tyrann Mathieu who is 33 and not getting any younger. Then LB Danny Stutsman who could eventually make the lineup with Demario Davis being even older the Mathieu. Finally, it’s CB Quincy Riley who will certainly play a lot for this defense even if he isn’t a starter right away. Love the Neal pick up after that too.

TE Moliki Matavao was an interesting selection. They have Foster Moreau and just re-signed Juwan Johnson plus they signed free agent Jack Stoll and still have Taysom Hill. Hill is coming off an injury and is 34 so he’s coming to the end of the line. Matavao may be stashed on the practice squad until the depth chart clears up a bit. DE Fadil Diggs may be in a similar situation given they have bodies at DE but could use some youth.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the same concern every year with the Saints, this roster is expensive, aging, and they don’t seem to have a plan to pivot from it. It all feels like half measures. Taking Tyler Shough, an older prospect who is a more athletic, maybe slight upgrade from Derek Carr isn’t exactly a great plan at QB. Are they moving off aging guys like Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan with Jonas Sanker, Danny Stutsman, and Fadil Diggs? All half measures with no real plan to get difference makers because they have put themselves in a no-win situation with their salary cap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(19) Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio St.
(53) Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame
(84) Jacob Parrish CB Kansas St.
(121) David Walker Edge Central Arkansas
(157) Elijah Roberts DE SMU
(235) Tez Johnson WR Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Benjamin Morrison

I’m struggling with the Egbuka pick because I love the player but him having an immediate impact with this WR corps seems unlikely. Morrison, on the other hand, can absolutely take a major role if not a starting one as long as his hip is healthy. He worked out late in the draft process to show teams he was recovering but still fell to round two. If he’s 100% by training camp, he’s going to give Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum everything they can handle and challenge for a starting job.

Best Value: CB Benjamin Morrison

Again, if he’s healthy, he’s got starting CB ability. Also, if he lives up to his talent level, he has legitimate CB1 ability. They stole him in round two and there are going to be teams that passed on him who are going to regret it.

Sleeper: DE Elijah Roberts

He’s not the flashy edge rusher they probably needed but he’s excellent depth at DE on their three-man line. They have Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey as starters but they have no depth. Also, they are going to have to make a call on paying Logan Hall as his rookie contract comes to an end. Roberts is the type of big, powerful edge setting DE they need and if they prefer to spend money on Kancey, they may let Hall walk in free agency. Roberts gives them that option if he plays well.

Overall Analysis

Emeka Egbuka is an excellent player and a great person to bring onto the team but his path to playing time right away is cloudy. Mike Evans is aging but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Chris Godwin is coming off another injury but the team just re-signed him in free agency. And Jalen McMillan looked good filling in for Godwin after he went out last season. Egbuka can fill in any of the three WR spots but I’m not sure he gets enough time this year to be an impact player. The Morrison pick is boom or bust depending on his hip and I would bet on him being awesome.

The team did a smart thing and doubled up at CB taking Jacob Parrish after taking Morrison. One caveat is that Parrish feels like a nickel more than anything and the team already has Tykee Smith at nickel and he was very good last season as a rookie there. Parrish may have to find his way to play on the outside. Edge rusher David Walker was a menace at the FBS level and has elite pass rushing instincts. The one problem is he is seriously undersized for the NFL and is going to have to find a way to make it work. Elijah Roberts was well worth the fifth-round pick they paid for him and gives them immediate depth at the DE position.

I love WR Tez Johnson and it would be an awesome story if he makes the NFL at his size but he’s fighting a tough battle on this roster. Most teams only keep five or six WRs and they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka who are locked in meaning there’s only one or two spots left. They have Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer as veterans they have had for a few years and that puts Johnson behind the eight ball.

Nitpick or Concern: They probably could have done more at LB and I mean both inside and outside on the edge (David Walker isn’t enough). They certainly needed the CB help but Jacob Parrish’s pick could have been used on LB with Lavonte David aging and them having no depth. Walker is a fun prospect to watch but there were players on the board there who may have been better at helping this team right away.