The NFC South will look much different from 2022. The Atlanta Falcons are the only team returning their starting quarterback from last year. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers find new quarterbacks in free agency. The Carolina Panthers traded up to ensure they picked Bryce Young in the NFL Draft. The shift should have an impact on the final order of the division.
Last season, the NFC South was a division that was won simply because someone had to win it. Six of the seven other divisions had at least two teams with a better record than the NFC South champions. That team was the Buccaneers. Can they win the division for the third year in a row? Let’s predict how the NFC South will play out this year
1
New Orleans Saints
This is the Saints division to lose. Everything doesn’t have to go right. The team just needs to stay relatively healthy. The addition of Derek Carr gives them the best quarterback in the division. One could argue that was the only thing missing from the Saints the last two seasons. The defense should remain one of the best in the league, not just the division. From a broad view, the Saints have the best or second best unit in the NFC South at most positions.
2
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have invested in the defense with prominent free agent acquisitions, such as Jessie Bates III at free safety. The offense has skill players around Desmond Ridder. Over the last three years, they’ve drafted Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson. If the offense doesn’t perform well, quarterback will be the next offensive position the Falcons draft in the first round. Pressure will be on the passer and defense to improve in 2023.
3
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers come into the season with the high ceiling quarterback in Bryce Young. They had to trade D.J. Moore to get it done, though. Now that leaves wide receiver as a big question mark for a team with a first team quarterback and head coach. Jaycee Horn and Brian Burns are prominent defensive players who should keep that side of the ball strong.
4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were able to win a weak NFC South last year. A losing record isn’t winning the division this season. Baker Mayfield is a drop off from Tom Brady. It’s not that the rest of team is bad, but that drop off will drop them to the bottom of the division.
