The NFC South division has no doubt been the most winnable division in the NFL in the last couple of seasons, despite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking home the division crown in the previous three years. In 2022, the Buccaneers cruised to the top with an 8-9 while the NFC South’s other three teams, the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, all finished with a 7-10 record. Once again the division is up for grabs and all four teams, including the Panthers after a proactive offseason, could challenge for the NFC South’s top spot.
With NFC South Up For Grabs Can The Carolina Panthers Turn Things Around In Charlotte?
The Carolina Panther will be heading into the 2024 season with their third full-time head coach in three years. New head coach Dave Canales, who played a pivotal role in helping Baker Mayfield secure his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023, brings optimism for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. The 2023 number one overall pick has reason to be excited, with the addition of wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette. Canales aims to establish a balanced offense while leaning on a heavy run game.
Another huge question is can Bryce Young bounce back from a horrific rookie season? His first year, following his selection as the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft, was a worst-case scenario for the young quarterback. The outlook for the Panthers this season isn’t bright, and they are projected to finish at the bottom of the standing. However, there’s a silver lining if they do hold a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, so there’s that.
What Can The Saints Do In The Upcoming 2024 Season
The New Orleans Saints find themselves in the worst cap situation in the NFL, and they desperately need to reign in their spending instead of signing pricey players and pretending they’re actually a legit contender. The acquisition of quarterback Derek Carr hasn’t yet provided any results, however, he did catch fire toward the end of the 2023 season. The Saints’ offense boasts talent with Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, a super-talented duo at wide receiver.
Defensively, the Saints are decent, especially with the addition of Kool-Aid McKinstry and Chase Young. They didn’t end up re-signing Andrus Peat, who posted most of his snaps at left tackle last season, while right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is on the mend. This could be another mediocre season for the Saints before they finally decide to give up and work on their cap space situation.
Can Bucs Remain The Dominate Team In The NFC South?
Now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised a lot of people last season when they won a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but will we see a regression in 2024? They have put all trust in Baker Mayfield signing him to a deal along with wide receiver Mike Evans, which will help their offensive consistency. But the Bucs do lose offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers. Now Baker Mayfield had an incredible season last year, but can he repeat that, or maybe better that?
If he can’t get the job done what was the point in giving him that huge payday? That cap space could have been used elsewhere to build a contender, so a lot of pressure on Baker this season. With the offensive imbalance, an obvious issue in pass coverage, and a really, really good secondary, the Bucs might have too many holes at key spots on the roster.
How Do The Atlanta Falcons Stack Up In This Division?
The Atlanta Falcons made waves this off-season from signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a huge deal, to drafting Michael Penix Jr with the eighth overall pick. Despite not making too many moves to bolster the defense, Atlanta should be a strong favorite to cinch this division. The Falcons also have a new head coach Raheem Morris, following the departure of Arthur Smith. Coach Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson have a wealth of talent at their disposal, like Tyler Allgeier, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London.
The Falcons O line is anchored by three former first-round picks. Left tackle Jake Matthews, right tackle Kaleb McGary, and two-time Pro Bowler Chris Lindstrom at right guard. Ranked as the NFL’s third-best pass-blocking unit last season. If Cousins can stay healthy, allowing Michael Penix Jr. to develop from the bench, the Atlanta Falcons could certainly contend for the NFC South title in the upcoming season.
