NFC South: Buccaneers’ Brady is back, Saints’ Payton is gone, and Falcons and Panthers rebuild
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS
Coach: Arthur Smith (second season in Atlanta, 7-10 in the regular season).
Last season: 7-10 (third in the division).
Key additions: QB Marcus Mariota, WR Drake London, LB Lorenzo Carter, RB Tyler Allgeier, LB Arnold Ebiketie, LB Rashaan Evans, CB Casey Hayward Jr.
Key subtractions:.QB Matt Ryan, DT Tyeler Davison, CB Fabian Moreau, LB Steven Means, S Duron Harmon, WR Russell Gage, LB Foye Oluokun, long snapper Josh Harris.
Looking ahead: Mariota is on his third team in eight nondescript seasons, sort of a Lesser Carson Wentz. Mariota is holding the seat until 2022 draftee Desmond Ridder (or a 2023 draftee) can take over. Meanwhile, Falcons fans can enjoy Cordarrelle Patterson injecting excitement into the losses with his returns, runs and catches. The 6-2 Patterson is part of a big receiving group that will give Mariota plenty of margin for error. The Falcons know nothing about rushing — not rushing the passer, running the ball, stopping the run — although they clearly tried to upgrade the linebacking group.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Coach: Matt Rhule (third season in Carolina, 10-23 in the regular season).
Last season: 5-12 (fourth in the division).
Key additions: QB Baker Mayfield, OT Ikem Ekwonu, OG Austin Corbett, P Johnny Hekker, DT Matt Ioannidis, S Xavier Woods.
Key subtractions: DE Haason Reddick, LB Jermaine Carter, DT DaQuan Jones, C Matt Paradis, DE Morgan Fox, G Jon Miller.
Looking ahead: Matt Rhule needs a winning season to save his job, and new starting quarterback Baker Mayfield does commercials better than consistency. Backup quarterback Sam Darnold stunk after starting 3-0 in 2021. Each got drafted by and traded from perpetual screw-up franchises, the Browns and Jets. Will they save Rhule while salvaging their careers? There’s skill position talent if it can stay healthy, which RB Christian McCaffrey hasn’t. And there’s a remade line. WR D.J. Moore is looking at a big-time second contract soon, and WR Robby Anderson needs to play up to his big-time second contract. The defense gave this team a chance through 10 games, then collapsed during the last seven.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Coach: Dennis Allen (first season as New Orleans head coach, 8-28 previously).
Last season: 9-8 (second in the division).
Key additions: WR Chris Olave, OT Trevor Penning, QB Andy Dalton, S Tyrann Mathieu, S Marcus Maye, WR Jarvis Landry.
Key subtractions: OT Terron Armstead, S Malcolm Jenkins, S Marcus Williams.
Looking ahead: Either Jameis Winston takes advantage of a pretty good defense, RB Alvin Kamara and the return of WR Michael Thomas to lead the Saints into the playoffs or he sinks to the level of his backup, nomadic former starter Andy Dalton. The last time the Saints had a head coach other than Sean Payton, the city was in Hurricane Katrina recovery. Allen steps up from defensive coordinator, but in the draft, New Orleans did what Payton would have loved — traded up and used two first-round picks on a wide receiver and a left tackle. What you got, Jameis?
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Coach: Todd Bowles (first season with Tampa Bay, 24-40 in the regular season as an NFL head coach).
Last season: 13-4 (first in the division), lost in the NFC Divisional Round to the Rams.
Key additions: WR Russell Gage, G Luke Goedeke, DE Logan Hall, G Shaq Mason,
Key subtractions: S Jordan Whitehead, TE Rob Gronkowski, TE O.J. Howard, LB Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Ndamukong Suh, G Alex Cappa, G Ali Marpet.
Looking ahead: So, turns out the quarterback didn’t retire, but the head coach did. Tom Brady teams have been at their best, especially in the playoffs, when he hasn’t had to throw 40 times a game (42.3 last year). Defense warms Todd Bowles’ heart, so in addition to a defense that delivers sacks, fumble recoveries and interceptions, he will pound the rock with Leonard Fournette behind a mighty offensive line. In the two seasons since Brady transplanted from New England, the Bucs won the Super Bowl and lost to the Super Bowl champs by three points.
