The dynamics of the NFC South appeared poised for a shift last season, catalyzed by Kirk Cousins’s impressive early performances for the Atlanta Falcons and a spate of injuries among Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receivers.
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Cousins led the Falcons to a season sweep over the Buccaneers, highlighted by an exhilarating overtime victory in October where the seasoned quarterback amassed 509 yards and four touchdowns. This propelled the Falcons to a significant early lead in the division, particularly as the Buccaneers were without key players Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for much of the season.
However, Cousins’s performance dipped as the season progressed, with Atlanta losing four consecutive games. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay rallied to clinch the NFC South title for the fourth straight year. In response, the Falcons proactively addressed their quarterback situation by drafting Michael Penix Jr., although this decision came at the cost of neglecting their defense.
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The Falcons may have bolstered their defense enough this offseason to potentially usurp the Buccaneers, who have prepared for another potential injury crisis by drafting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round.
The Carolina Panthers, too, have assembled a formidable team that could turn the divisional race into a three-way contest in 2025. The New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, still exhibit numerous weaknesses after the free agency and draft periods.
Here’s a breakdown of the NFC South team rosters.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have constructed a formidable offense around Baker Mayfield, who excelled in his debut season in Tampa Bay, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. The team boasts a solid offensive line, anchored by Tristan Wirfs, and a talented group of receivers, including the ever-reliable Mike Evans.
Egbuka, despite being a rookie, will need to prove his worth, but his presence adds depth, especially given the injury histories of Evans and Godwin. The team has also found success with Jalen McMillan, a third-round pick in 2024, and tight end Cade Otton, who has emerged as a clever and underestimated asset.
While the offense is deep, the defense lacks similar depth but has potential in its secondary following the drafting of Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, who join existing talents like Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. The pass rush should improve with newcomers Haason Reddick and draft picks David Walker and Elijah Roberts, while the interior defense remains strong with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Veteran linebacker Lavonte David continues to defy age as he enters his 14th season.
2. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have significantly enhanced their edge rushing capabilities, potentially equipping them with a well-rounded roster capable of contending for the NFC South crown. With a youthful and skilled offense, the team traded their 2026 first-round pick to secure edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26, shortly after picking Jalon Walker at No. 15. These highly-rated newcomers will need to make an immediate impact to help end the team’s eight-year playoff drought.
While the team lacks young talent in the interior defensive line, it hopes to maintain a solid rotation with veterans Morgan Fox and David Onyemata. Second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro could see significant improvement this season. The linebacker group remains strong with Kaden Ellis and Divine Deablo, and although the Falcons did little to bolster their cornerback position, safety Jessie Bates III continues to excel.
The offensive lineup is promising, featuring wide receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson, and quarterback Michael Penix, who showed potential in his three starts after replacing Cousins. However, the center position may pose a challenge if Ryan Neuzil cannot effectively replace Drew Dalman, now with the Chicago Bears. Additionally, the team could face depth issues at receiver if tight end Kyle Pitts does not find more consistency.
3. Carolina Panthers
Following a lackluster 2023, the Panthers have shown marked improvement since Bryce Young returned from his temporary benching to finish his second season strongly. Despite a 5–12 record, the team displayed competitiveness in the latter part of Coach Dave Canales’s inaugural season. The offensive line emerged as a key strength, allowing the team to retain its starting lineup. Additionally, the running game thrived behind Chuba Hubbard, and the team also welcomed Trevor Etienne to a backfield that includes Rico Dowdle, though Jonathon Brooks may miss much of his second season due to injury.
Young, selected first overall in 2023, now has a robust set of tools to advance as a franchise quarterback. The Panthers drafted 6’4″ receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth pick, strengthening a receiving corps that includes Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Adam Thielen. However, the team lacks a proven receiving tight end; projected starter Tommy Tremble has averaged under 200 receiving yards across four seasons.
The defense is still a work in progress, but significant additions upfront could lead to substantial improvements. Derrick Brown returns from an injury-plagued season to potentially form a formidable duo with free agent Tershawn Wharton in the defensive interior. The team has also added depth at edge rusher through draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, alongside the signing of Pat Jones II. While there are vulnerabilities in the secondary, the acquisition of safety Tre’von Moehrig should bolster the unit, aiding star cornerback Jaycee Horn.
4. New Orleans Saints
It’s challenging to justify a higher ranking for the Saints given the ongoing uncertainty at quarterback. Even if Derek Carr remains with the team, his performance has been inconsistent over the last few seasons in New Orleans, and it’s uncertain if he can regain form in his 12th NFL season. Should the team move on from Carr, second-round pick Tyler Shough may face similar challenges as Spencer Rattler did during his lackluster rookie year in 2024.
New coach Kellen Moore may steer the team toward improvement, but the Saints desperately need a new core group, a challenge GM Mickey Loomis has struggled with since the departures of Drew Brees and Sean Payton. The team’s recent first-round offensive linemen have not met expectations, and the pressure will be on Kelvin Banks Jr. and last year’s first-round pick, Taliese Fuaga, to deliver standout performances. The wide receiver group, led by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, needs to rebound from injuries, and while Alvin Kamara remains productive heading into his ninth season, he approaches the age at which many running backs decline.
The defense, although aging, hopes to remain competitive in the NFC South. Cameron Jordan may need to reduce his role as he approaches his 36th year, requiring other defensive linemen like rookie Vernon Broughton and the inconsistent 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee to step up. The edge rushers, including Chase Young and Carl Granderson, could be effective, and the secondary is bolstered by new safety Justin Reid.