We continue to overview the NFL Divisions as Training Camp nears.
We previously looked at the NFL East here.
NFC South
2023 Standings
Tampa Bay 9-8
New Orleans 9-8
Atlanta 7-10
Carolina 2-15
Tampa Bay beat the Eagles in the Wild Card Round, before losing to the Lions in Detroit in the Divisional Round.
2024 Current Over / Under Projected Win Totals
Atlanta 9.5
Tampa Bay 7.5
New Orleans 7.5
Carolina 5.5
Quick Hits
Falcons – Desmond Ridder isn’t talentless, but his decision making last year was horrific. Nobody has ever regarded Kurt Cousins as elite, but Cousins has thrown for nearly 40,000 career yards, is a 4x Pro Bowler, and is 8th all time in regular season career passing rating. If he’s healthy after last year’s Achilles injury, that’s a significant upgrade. Bijon Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, and Darnell Mooney is a talented group. Unfortunately the Defense doesn’t look good enough for Atlanta to be considered more than a Division contender. Michael Penix was a lot of fun to watch at Washington (and Indiana before that). If Cousins can’t stay healthy, wouldn’t shock me if Penix could be an immediately productive rookie QB. I can see the argument of why Atlanta took Penix; but given the investment they made in Cousins (and Cousins age); it’s still a little surprising they didn’t add a plug-and-play defensive player.
Buccaneers – I’ve tended to like Baker Mayfield more than most. I like the chip on the shoulder he plays with. He had a very solid 2020 with the Browns, and then served as a sacrificial lamb in ’21, when he spent that year playing injured. He’s not great. His ceiling is middle of the back / average NFL QB. But a healthy Mayfield is good enough to give a team most weeks. He was productive last year for the Bucs, with his 4,000 yards, and 28 TD’s. If anything, the Bucs had a bit more bite with Mayfield in ’23, than they did with Brady in ’22. That said, looking at the skill position talent, not sure there is enough around Mike Evans. I think the defense has more interesting pieces overall. Again, if Mayfield is healthy and average ish; that coupled with the defense will have the Bucs in the playoff chase.
Saints – The Secondary is a strength. The O-Line has this year’s 1st rounder (Taliese Fuaga), and 2022 1st rounder Trevor Penning. Penning hasn’t played much. New Orleans needs both to be good. Alvin Kamara misses time every year, but he still puts up numbers when on the field. 700 yards rushing, and 75 receptions in 13 games last year. The yards per carry and reception are down, pointing to less burst though. He turns 29 next Month. Derek Carr is beginning his 2nd year with NO. Last year’s numbers look reasonably enough, but after retirement rumors during his last year with the Raiders, he looked disengaged at times with the Saints. Very similar to TB, in that if Carr is healthy and average ish; that coupled with the defense will have the Saints in the playoff chase. And also similar to TB, I don’t love the offensive cast.
Panthers – I liked CJ Stroud over Bryce Young in the ’23 Draft. I also liked Anthony Richardson better than Young. That isn’t to say I didn’t like Young at all. I thought the rookie contract might be good. That he had a chance to be accurate enough, to help a team when he cost nothing, and the rest of the roster could be built out. But you had to question the size, and the limited arm strength. Unlike Stroud’s situation last year with Houston, where he had a supporting cast that he could use and elevate, Young didn’t have much at all with the Panthers. Carolina has upgraded the weapons (not great, maybe not good, but better), and the O-line. There are always surprises in the NFL, but I can’t see Carolina being good. Everything with the Panthers this year revolves around Young. If he takes steps forward, and the Carolina Front Office feels good about his progression; than another poor season will be a lot easier to live with if you are a Panthers fan. If you end ’24, and he looks like a complete bust, that would be a difficult pill to swallow.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.