2024 NFC South participant, coach rankings: Place-by-position evaluation of Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Maybe no NFL division seems extra extensive open coming into the 2024 season than the NFC South. Whereas the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quietly held court docket atop the quartet for every of the final three seasons, shakeups of a number of teaching staffs and one massive quarterback makeover have followers throughout the South dreaming of a takeover, or at the very least a major step ahead.

How does the division truly stack up for 2024? We broke it down one place group at a time, rating every membership from prime to backside, to get you prepped for the subsequent NFC South showdown:

QB

1. Falcons (Kirk Cousins)
2. Buccaneers (Baker Mayfield)
3. Saints (Derek Carr)
4. Panthers (Bryce Young)

Cousins is probably not as “secure” as regular, coming off an Achilles tear at 36, however he is been a borderline top-10 play-action signal-caller for lengthy sufficient to propel Atlanta into the playoff dialog. Mayfield is not far off in that he is seasoned and gutsy, albeit with out a defining “franchise quarterback” stretch on the large stage. Carr is equally resilient, and has proven he may be environment friendly, however can also be notoriously streaky. Younger has maybe probably the most upside of all of them, with the best probability to catapult up the order, if his new teaching employees and improved weaponry helps him speed up his decision-making to NFL velocity.

RB

1. Falcons (Bijan Robinson)
2. Saints (Alvin Kamara)
3. Buccaneers (Rachaad White)
4. Panthers (Chuba Hubbard)

Regardless of inconsistent utilization as a rookie, Robinson dazzled as an open-field twin risk, making his case to be the centerpiece of the Falcons offense shifting ahead. Kamara nonetheless has the juice to be probably the most dynamic again of the division, although he is additionally missed a number of video games on account of damage in consecutive years. White’s finest attribute seems to be go catching, as his dashing marks have been inefficient. And Hubbard could also be only a placeholder till the shifty rookie Jonathon Brooks returns from damage.

WR

1. Buccaneers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin)
2. Saints (Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed)
3. Panthers (Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen)
4. Falcons (Drake London, Darnell Mooney)

Regardless of getting comparatively lengthy within the tooth, the Evans-Godwin combo continues to be borderline prime 10, with the previous a digital lock for 1,000 yards on the perimeter. The Saints have arguably the perfect downfield capacity, with Olave quietly rivaling different younger receivers by way of field-stretching expertise. Sturdiness is a priority with Carolina’s tweaked pairing, however Thielen stays a high-volume machine, and Johnson at the very least provides Bryce Younger some added velocity. Atlanta’s crop has upside, however feels extra like a few No. 2 targets.

TE

1. Falcons (Kyle Pitts)
2. Buccaneers (Cade Otton)
3. Saints (Foster Moreau)
4. Panthers (Tommy Tremble)

Like teammate Bijan Robinson, Pitts hasn’t essentially benefited from a go-to function of late, however he is confirmed able to a large receiver-like affect downfield. Otton is not going to stretch a area, however he is been pretty dependable in two seasons with two totally different quarterbacks. Moreau profiles extra as a No. 2 however has sufficient expertise — and Derek Carr chemistry — to attract appears to be like. And Tremble continues to be rising as a go catcher.

OL

1. Falcons (Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary)
2. Buccaneers (Tristan Wirfs, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke)
3. Panthers (Damien Lewis, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton)
4. Saints (Taliese Fuaga, Erik McCoy, Trevor Penning)

Atlanta enjoys Professional Bowl-caliber blocking on each the bookends and inside, which ought to bode properly for brand spanking new quarterback Kirk Cousins as he settles again into the pocket. Tampa Bay is arguably an in depth second, with Wirfs doing loads of the heavy lifting as one of many NFL’s most revered tackles. Carolina beefed up the inside with a few new guards, whereas New Orleans continues to be taking swings to repair the sort out spots.

DL

1. Buccaneers (Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey)
2. Panthers (Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle)
3. Falcons (Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata)
4. Saints (Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd)

Todd Bowles’ stingy protection begins up entrance, the place Vea stays a mammoth gap-plugger and Kancey has the instruments to be a Professional Bowl difference-maker. Brown stays a big-time anchor for the Panthers’ personal trenches, contemporary off a career-high 103 tackles. Jarrett is probably not the difference-maker he as soon as was at 31, however Atlanta’s group would not lack expertise. The Saints haven’t got a confirmed inside go rusher.

EDGE

1. Saints (Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson)
2. Falcons (Matt Judon, Arnold Ebiketie)
3. Panthers (Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum)
4. Buccaneers (Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Yaya Diaby)

Name it the outdated people’ residence, with Jordan, Judon and Clowney all headlining their respective pass-rushing teams above the age of 30. Probably the most achieved of the trio, Jordan has seen his sack manufacturing dip in recent times however continues to be a stout all-around defender. Judon ought to profit from contemporary surroundings working below Raheem Morris. The Panthers’ pairing is likely to be probably the most underrated, with Wonnum quietly rising as a stable No. 2. Diaby alone would possibly be capable of vault the Buccaneers properly up the chart.

LB

1. Saints (Demario Davis, Pete Werner)
2. Buccaneers (Lavonte David, K.J. Britt)
3. Panthers (Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell)
4. Falcons (Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen)

Davis is an ageless surprise on the coronary heart of the Saints’ robust protection, flying across the area with elite instincts and physicality at age 35. David is not far off, nonetheless main Tampa Bay’s entrance seven at 34, although he is bought a much less confirmed operating mate after Devin White’s exit. Thompson missed all however two video games in 2023 after a future as Carolina’s sort out machine. Jewell ought to make for a stable all-around complement.

CB

1. Saints (Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo)
2. Falcons (A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes)
3. Buccaneers (Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum)
4. Panthers (Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson)

Lattimore has struggled to remain on the sphere in recent times, however he is been a prime cowl man earlier than; he additionally has the luxurious of beginning reverse Adebo, who emerged as a big-time playmaker for the Saints secondary in 2023 (4 picks, 18 go breakups). Every of the opposite three groups actually solely has one confirmed full-timer at nook, they usually include questions: Terrell has been extra stable than particular since a 2021 breakout, and each Dean and Horn have repeatedly missed time on account of accidents.

S

1. Falcons (Jessie Bates III, Justin Simmons)
2. Buccaneers (Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead)
3. Panthers (Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller)
4. Saints (Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Howden)

Atlanta went from having one all-star roamer to 2 by including Simmons late this offseason. Even when the ex-Denver Broncos star is not as quick or sturdy as he as soon as was, Bates has confirmed to be one of many recreation’s rangiest back-end defenders. Winfield alone justifies the Bucs as candidates for No. 1 right here, possessing a killer combo of instincts, athleticism and bodily edge. Fuller may very well be an underrated ballhawk for Carolina after coming over from the Los Angeles Rams. Mathieu wants a accomplice in New Orleans.

STs

1. Panthers (Eddy Pineiro, Johnny Hekker)
2. Falcons (Younghoe Koo, Bradley Pinion)
3. Buccaneers (Chase McLaughlin, Jake Camarda)
4. Saints (Blake Grupe, Lou Hedley)

Pineiro quietly boasts the third-best profession field-goal fee (89%) of all lively kickers, whereas Hekker has been a mainstay among the many recreation’s finest punters for years. Koo is coming off a tough preseason outing however has been dependable for a half-decade in Atlanta, hitting nearly 90% of his kicks with the Falcons. McLaughlin was nearly excellent in his debut 12 months for the Bucs, whereas Grupe can also be newer to his workforce.

Coaches

1. Falcons (Raheem Morris, Zac Robinson, Jimmy Lake)
2. Buccaneers (Todd Bowles, Liam Cohen)
3. Panthers (Dave Canales, Brad Idzik, Ejiro Evero)
4. Saints (Dennis Allen, Klint Kubiak, Joe Woods)

A brand new coach up prime? Certain, as a result of whereas Morris is contemporary on the scene, he is not new to the top teaching recreation, and apart from his personal well-esteemed background as a defensive schemer, he brings with him a fellow L.A. Rams disciple in Robinson. Bowles tends to lean curiously conservative as a decision-maker however nonetheless deserves credit score for defensive prowess. The Canales-Evero pairing has the potential to be a long-term hit for Carolina. The Saints, in the meantime, have been too flat regardless of a refusal to rebuild the lineup.

Ultimate tally

1. Falcons (6 of 12)
2. Saints (3 of 12)
3. Buccaneers (2 of 12)
4. Panthers (1 of 12)

By these measurements, the oddsmakers aren’t flawed to name the Falcons the favorites to assert the South, regardless of turning over head coach and quarterback after a six-year absence from the playoffs. And the Saints, who’ve extensively been shrugged off whereas operating it again with the Derek Carr-Dennis Allen team-up, would possibly warrant an extra look contemplating they not solely edged out the reigning South champions but additionally had a few second-place marks at key offensive spots: operating again and extensive receiver.

Nonetheless, Tampa Bay’s third-place whole is a bit deceiving. The Bucs additionally had six (6) second-place marks, together with at premium spots like quarterback and offensive line, suggesting they’re simply as prone to problem for an additional division title. A lot of the Falcons’ 2024 probabilities, in the meantime, hinge on Cousins and Morris being the leaders they had been employed to be. In any other case Atlanta’s destiny might relaxation on the shoulders of, say, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a complete projection.

One factor is obvious, nonetheless: Until Bryce Younger takes a fair larger leap than anticipated below Canales, the Panthers nonetheless really feel a 12 months or so away from coming into the postseason dialog. And the 2024 race is more than likely to be a three-horse contest between the Bucs, Falcons and Saints.