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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (13-4 Won Division, Lost Divisional Playoff to Seattle)- Quite simply put, the Bucs have the most talented roster in the division. The team went 5-1 within the NFC South last year outscoring the division by a whopping 231-136 margin! The offense was pretty good and hopes that Marshall rookie RG Joshua Church can fill a big hole along the OLine. The Bucs already had Cade Otton at TE, but still drafted Louisville's Harold Finnen. The backfield is not particularly fast, but can be effective. QB Bake Mayfield is coming off an outstanding campaign where he threw 38 touchdown passes and 4376 yards while only being picked off 9 times and getting sacked 53 times.
The defense needed help and got it via the draft. Arkansas product Landon Jackson will beef up a defensive line that already features aging, but still impactful, NT Vita Vea and end Calijah Kancey. Jackson, 6'7" 280LBs, gives the trio a massive look. Vea checks in at 6'4" 347 Lbs and Kancey chips in another 281 Lbs with his 6'1' frame! Michigan Wolverine rookie MLB Jaishawn Barham does not possess much speed, but he is a very good run stopper with solid tackling skills and will be tough to impact block (86). The secondary also got an upgrade with the addition of Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane. While lacking the top end speed preferred for most corners, Delane is still seen as an excellent man defender.
Prediction: The Bucs have a very good roster with several game changing type players. The receiving corps is both skilled and experienced and the offensive line is pretty solid. Depth issues could become a factor if the injury bug hits but, overall, the team is set to roll again this year
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-13)- Carolina was a bit better last season than many thought.The club has moved past Bryce Young at quarterback and seems poised to install top rookie signal caller Shedeur Sanders to lead the franchise. Sanders, from Colorado, is superior to Young at almost every category and offers the Panthers serious hope for the future. If Sanders can prove a capable field general, the entire offense should see a major upturn this year. The backfield lacks speed, but second year man Jonathon Brooks could see improved numbers if the passing game improves. The receiving unit did not get any upgrades, but should benefit from the presence of Sanders. The team did snag Syracuse TE O. Gadsen though. The 6'5" Gadsen does not profile as an in-line TE, but his speed and solid route running skills, when spread wide, could stress defenses. A big question mark, however, has to be the play of rookie LT Will Campbell. The LSU product has the tools to succeed, but he has struggled a bit in pre-season and allowed 4 sacks against the Ravens in his week 3 tune-up game.
Texas A&M DE Shemer Stewart could be an instant impact player. At 6'6" 290 LBs, Stewart presents a big bodied end that can get after the quarterback. He will be joined by another rookie, Oregon NT Derrick Harmon and DE Derrick Brown to form an impressive trio. The inside linebackers can all cover, but the Outside backers could be a soft spot. Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler has speed, while Forham CB Duane Rodriguez represents a major upgrade there.
Prediction: The Panthers climbing this high could be a a bit too far of a bridge this season, but it is wholly possible. Obviously, the impact of Sanders will go a long way in determining just how much of a climb the club can achieve this year.
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)- Atlanta has high expectations this season and might very well attain its goals. Much of the success will be determined by how well QB Malik Willis performs. While not playing a full season last year, Willis threw for 11 touchdowns, but also flipped 7 interceptions. HB Bijan Robinson enjoyed a successful year rushing for 1237 yards and 9 scores while averaging a healthy 4.9 YPC. Ex-Cowboy Zeke Elliott could add some power running inside. The receivers have speed, as does the tight-end position. WR Tyquan Thornton caught 119 balls for 1629 yards after being claimed in free agency last season! TEs Kyle Pitts and David Culp both have elite speed there. The offensive line welcomes back G Chris Lindstrom and LT Jake Matthews. However, it is possible that the Falcons could be starting 3 rookies along their line. LG Kendrick Green will probably start over Florida A&M rookie George Payton, but Coastal Carolina C T.J. Watkins and UCF RT Josh Barnett could be pencilled in.
There is much to like about the Atlanta defense. Rugged NT Harold Poindexter was a coveted player prior to the draft. The 6'5" 351 LBs Grambling alum is super strong and should be a tough player to move inside and DE Ruke Orhorhoro has the tools to be impactful. How well the rest of the Dline plays will be a key factor. The OLBs are an interesting bunch although lacking pass coverage abilities. Atlanta tabbed slow, but quick and powerful, Gabe Jacas as an edge rusher. The 6'3" 275 Lbs OLB will be most effective on the end of the line. FSU CB Azareye'H Thomas should start. He does not have elite coverage speed and the Falcons' cornerback position, in general. does not have shut down cover skills.That problem does not exist at the safety spots, however, where FS Jessie Bates and SS JT Woods can get it done.
Predicition: Atlanta could have a great season, but it could also come up a bit short. While the team seems improved in some spots, those upgrades might not be quite enough. The play of the Oline, Willis, and the defense will tell the tale.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-9)- Please welcome QB Jaxson Dart folks! New Orleans could never seem to get veteran signal caller Derek Carr to repeat his Super Bowl performance of a few years back and the club suffered mightily as a result. It seems probable that the Mississippi rookie Dart will be given the reins for this season as the club, apparently, was not sufficiently impressed by what they saw last season from, now backup, quarterback Spencer Rattler. The team seems set on using aging back Alvin Kamara yet again this season. He still has the ability to punish defenses, but he saw regression at the end of last season and that trend is likely to continue going forward. WR Theo Wease could be a sleeper rookie. Taken in the 5th round, the ex-Misouri Tiger looks like he could be slated for #2 duties opposite second year wide Chris Olave. Still, the overall receiving corps is not overly intimidating and the TE spot is getting a bit long in the tooth at the same time. The offensive line should be good enough with the addition of Georgia LG Tate Ratledge to the group. Ratledge is a power type player and his skill set should match up well with the running traits of Kamara.
Chase Young and 36 year old Cam Jordan will probably be the ends on defense. The DT tandem of 31 year old Nathan Shepard and Bryan Bresee might be a bit undersized. The Saints tried to address some concerns at linebacker by drafting Michigan LOLB Josaiah Stewart and Oklahoma MLB Danny Stutsman. Stewart, though, lacks speed or coverage skills. Stutsman looks like a solid overall backer who should work alongside another aging vet in 36 year old Demorio Davis. Stutsman does not have elite speed but has a good, overall skill set. 29 year old CB Marshon Lattimore is the best the Saints have back there. Kool-aide McKinstry does not have elite speed and is not a great defender and #3 CB Alonta Taylor has speed but also has some problems in coverage. 31 year old FS Eddie Jackson and 29 year old SS Ryan Neal will be back. Both have good speed but lack man coverage skills as well. They both can, however, be solid in zone schemes.
Prediction: This is an old team that needs new blood. Dart is a welsome site, for sure, but can he get to the levels Carr was at three years ago? Not only that, is Kamara going to be able to continue his heavy and physical workload and can the defense hold up especially in the secondary?
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