[2023] Division Preview: NFC South

[Piercewise1]

NFC SOUTH
 

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Year: 11-6 (division champion)

Additions:

N/A

Departures:

N/A

Key Progressions:

QB Gregory Taphorn +4 (73, 4)
OG William Chittum +6 (84, 5)
ILB David Stowell +5 (68, 4)
CB Andrzej Harris +4 (79, 5)
SS Jan Miller +5 (71, 4)

Rookie to Watch:

OT Damien Knebel

Overview:

Tampa Bay lives off its offensive line, which now features 3 players of 80+ OVR (for context, there are 28 linemen in the entire league with a rating that high) and added a 1^st round pick in Knebel. It’s unclear how much of a buff Taphorn will get from the engine update, as he’s primarily a runner and doesn’t have a great WR corps to pass to. But with Max Smith and Donald Johnson in the backfield, why would you even bother to throw?

Strengths:

Offensive line
Running back / fullback

Weaknesses:

Wide receiver
Inside linebacker

Outlook:

The Buccaneers’ one-dimensional offense wasn’t a problem last year as they rolled to a division title, and they’ve kept that group intact. But the defense has some soft spots, especially in the middle, so it will be up to the offense to rack up the time of possession and keep opponents off the field.

 

Team: New Orleans Saints
Last Year: 8-8-1 (2^nd in division)

Additions:

OLB Ricardo Szura (77, 8 )

Departures:

N/A

Key Progressions:

WR Walter Nwachukwu +4 (75, 4)
DT Duane DePaula +5 (59, 2)
CB Arthur Medrano +5 (79, 4)
SS Daryl Lee +4 (81, 5)
RB Stacy Moton +3 (61, 2)

Rookie to Watch:

DT Preston Miller

Overview:

The Saints are the model of a .500 team: almost every position group features at least one talented star, but few look truly menacing top-to-bottom. One exception is the defensive backfield, where all four presumptive starters are 73+ OVR. Their biggest weakness was defensive tackle, so Miller was a perfect draft pick for them; he could start right away. 

Strengths:

Cornerback
Safety

Weaknesses:

Tight end
Defensive tackle

Outlook:

The Saints were only a half-game away from the playoffs last year, so there’s plenty of excitement for the new season. But a 2^nd-place schedule brings its own challenges, like road games against the Rams and Eagles and a week 18 matchup at Tampa Bay. If the team can weather these obstacles, they might be able to push their way into the postseason.

 

Team: Atlanta Falcons
Last Year: 6-11 (3^rd in division)

Additions:

WR Rafael Rosario (68, 3)

Departures:

DT Timothy Taylor (83, 10)
C Scott Bianchi (76, 7)

Key Progressions:

QB Chris Frazier +5 (60, 2)
OG Kyle Schneider +5 (74, 4)
OLB Jason Gregory +6 (74, 5)
FS Timothy Monahan +5 (81, 5)
DE Ray Jackson -4 (79, 12)

Rookie to Watch:

WR Richie Igwebuike

Overview:

The Falcons are building up their offense, adding Rosario and Igwebuike as new targets for 2^nd-year QB Chris Frazier, whom they drafted last year along with starting tackle Ulrick Philips. Their defense is more experienced, and Atlanta dropped a huge sum of money this offseason to keep several playmakers around for years to come. But age is starting to become a factor in that area, as with Ray Jackson who is entering his 12th season. 

Strengths:

Defensive end
Linebacker

Weaknesses:

Wide receiver
Offensive line

Outlook:

I see a lot of potential in the Falcons roster; it might not be ready for the postseason quite yet, but there’s a solid core forming for the coaching staff to build around. I think the Falcons improve on their win total this year and then become a trendy pick for a big leap forward in ’24.

 

Team: Carolina Panthers
Last Year: 4-13 (4^th in division)

Additions:

OG Paul Caruso (86, 5)
OT Peter Smith (77, 5)
DT Steven Kapfhammer (74, 5)
WR Russell Barnes (75, 4)

Departures:

N/A

Key Progressions:

QB Dekoda Link +5 (66, 2)
C Kenneth Eggleston +5 (68, 3)
QB Myron Everett +3 (66, 4)

Rookies to Watch:

TE Don Scott
DT Caleb Suarez

Overview:

The great experiment continues! After some massive trades last year, the Panthers made four 1^st round picks in the 2023 draft. Both Scott and Suarez look to be instant difference-makers on the field, while Trawick and Thompson can’t be far behind. And with the trades’ $100M cap hit now a distant memory, Carolina had funds to spend big in free agency and bring in several new starting linemen.

Strengths:

Future draft picks

Weaknesses:

yes

Outlook:

Carolina’s rebuild has barely begun; they’ve got three more 1sts next year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they flipped Myron Everett to a pipe-riddled team before the trade deadline. The focus this year will be on getting snaps for all their future talent and hoping for big progression jumps in the offseason. But they’ll still be playing on Sundays, and they’re a better team than the one with 4 wins last year. 

[Rocketcan]

I once again will profess my interest in the great experiment that the big dumb idiots in Carolina are performing!

[Sarge]

Absolutely devastated we've already lost Barnes for the first 5 weeks of the regular season but I'm excited to see how our guys do.