2024 NFC South player, coach rankings: Position-by-position analysis of Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Perhaps no NFL division appears more wide open entering the 2024 season than the NFC South. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quietly dominated the top of the quartet over the past three seasons, multiple coaching staff changes and a major quarterback makeover have fans across the South dreaming of a takeover or at least a significant step forward.

What does the division really look like for 2024? We’ve broken it down one position group at a time, ranking each club from top to bottom, so you can prepare for the next NFC South showdown:

QB

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

Cousins ​​may not be as “safe” as usual, coming off an Achilles injury at age 36, but he’s long been on the fringes of a top-10 play-action signal-caller, pushing Atlanta into the playoff conversation. Mayfield isn’t far behind in that he’s experienced and adventurous, though he doesn’t have that defining “franchise quarterback” vibe on the big stage. Carr is equally flexible, and has shown he can be efficient, but he’s also notoriously streaky. Young perhaps has the most upside of them all, with the greatest chance to jump up the order if his new coaching staff and improved weapons help him accelerate his decision-making to NFL speed.

RB

1. Falcon (Bijan Robinson)
2. Saint (Alvin Kamara)
3. Buccaneers (Rachad White)
4. Panthers (Chuba Hubbard)

Despite inconsistent usage as a rookie, Robinson performed brilliantly as an open-field dual threat, making his case to become the centerpiece of the Falcons’ offense going forward. Kamara still has the potential to be the division’s most dynamic back, though he has also missed multiple games due to injury in consecutive years. White’s best attribute appears to be pass catching, as his rushing marks have been unimpressive. And Hubbard may just be a placeholder until shifty rookie Jonathan Brooks returns from injury.

WR

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

Despite the relatively long season, the Evans-Godwin combo is still top 10, with the former a virtual lock for 1,000 yards on the perimeter. The Saints have arguably the best downfield ability, with Olave quietly rivaling the other young receivers in terms of field-stretching prowess. Durability is a concern in Carolina’s duo, but Thielen remains a high-volume machine, and Johnson at least gives Bryce Young some extra speed. Atlanta’s crop has upside, but this feels more like a pair of No. 2 targets.

They

1. Falcon (Kyle Pitts)
2. Buccaneers (Kade Oton)
3. Saint (Foster Morrow)
4. Panthers (Tommy Tremble)

Like teammate Bijan Robinson, Pitts hasn’t benefited from a go-to role lately, but he’s proven capable of a wide receiver-like impact downfield. Otton isn’t one to stretch the field, but he’s been fairly reliable in two seasons with two different quarterbacks. Morrow is more known as a No. 2, but he has enough experience — and Derek Carr chemistry — to intrigue people. And Tremble is still emerging as a pass catcher.

Official Language

1. Falcon (Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, Caleb McGarry)
2. Buccaneers (Tristan Wirfs, Cody Mauch, Luke Godecke)
3. Panthers (Damian Lewis, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton)
4. Saint (Talise Fuaga, Eric McCoy, Trevor Penning)

Atlanta enjoys Pro Bowl-caliber blocking on both the bookends and interior, which bodes well for new quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​as he settles back into the pocket. Tampa Bay is arguably a close second, with Wirfs carrying a lot of the heavy lifting as one of the NFL’s most respected tackles. Carolina bolstered the interior with a couple of new guards, while New Orleans is still trying to fix the tackle spots.

Daily

1. Buccaneers (Vita Via, Callies Cancí)
2. Panthers (Derrick Brown, Shay Tuttle)
3. Falcon (Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata)
4. Saint (Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd)

Todd Bowles’ stingy defense starts up front, where Vea is a huge gap-plugging player and Kency has the tools to be a Pro Bowl difference-maker. Brown remains a big anchor for the Panthers’ own trenches, recording a career-high 103 tackles. Jarrett may not be that difference-maker at age 31, but Atlanta’s group doesn’t lack experience. The Saints don’t have a proven interior pass rusher.

Edge

1. Saint (Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson)
2. Falcon (Matt Judon, Arnold Abiketi)
3. Panthers (Jadeveon Clowney, DJ Wonnum)
4. Buccaneers (Joe Trion-Shoyinka, Yaya Diaby)

Call it the old guys’ home, where Jordan, Judon and Clowney are all at the top of their respective pass-rushing groups at over the age of 30. The most skilled of the three, Jordan has seen his sack production decline in recent years but is still a strong all-around defender. Judon should benefit from new scenery working under Raheem Morris. The Panthers’ duo might be the most underrated, with Wonnum quietly emerging as a solid No. 2. Diaby alone might be able to move the Buccaneers well up the charts.

LB

1. Saint (Demario Davis, Pete Werner)
2. Buccaneers (Lavonte David, K.J. Britt)
3. Panthers (Shake Thompson, Josie Jewell)
4. Falcon (Kayden Ellis, Troy Anderson)

Davis is a wonder at the center of the Saints’ stout defense, flying down the field with top instincts and physicality even at age 35. David isn’t far behind, still leading Tampa Bay’s front seven at age 34, though he’s got a less-proven partner with Devin White out. Thompson missed all but two games in 2023 after a long run as Carolina’s tackling machine. Jewell should make a solid all-around complement.

CB

1. Saint (Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo)
2. Falcon (A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes)
3. Buccaneers (Jamelle Dean, Zion McCollum)
4. Panthers (Jesse Horn, Dane Jackson)

Lattimore has struggled to stay on the field in recent years, but he’s been a top cover man before; he also has the luxury of starting opposite Adebo, who emerged as a big-time playmaker for the Saints’ secondary in 2023 (four picks, 18 pass breakups). The other three teams each really have only one proven full-time player at cornerback, and they come with questions: Terrell has been more solid than special since his 2021 breakout, and Dean and Horn have both missed time repeatedly because of injuries.

S

1. Falcon (Jesse Bates III, Justin Simmons)
2. Buccaneers (Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead)
3. Panthers (Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller)
4. Saint (Tyran Mathieu, Jordan Howden)

Atlanta got two from one All-Star roamer by adding Simmons late this offseason. Even if the former Denver Broncos star isn’t as fast or durable as he once was, Bates has proven he’s one of the game’s best back-end defenders. Winfield alone justifies the Bucs as a No. 1 candidate here, with a terrific combination of instincts, athleticism and physical edge. Fuller could be an underrated ballhawk for Carolina after coming over from the Los Angeles Rams. Matthews needs a partner in New Orleans.

scheduled tribes

1. Panthers (Eddy Pinero, Johnny Hecker)
2. Falcon (Younghoe Koo, Bradley Pinion)
3. Buccaneers (Chase McLaughlin, Jake Camarda)
4. Saint (Blake Group, Lou Hadley)

Pineiro quietly boasts the third-best career field-goal rate (89%) among all active kickers, while Hekker has been one of the game’s best punters for years. Koo is coming off a poor preseason outing, but has been reliable for half a decade in Atlanta, making nearly 90% of his kicks with the Falcons. McLaughlin was nearly perfect in his debut year for the Bucs, while Gruppe is also new to his team.

Compartments

1. Falcon (Raheem Morris, Jack Robinson, Jimmy Lake)
2. Buccaneers (Todd Bowles, Liam Cohen)
3. Panthers (Dave Canales, Brad Idzik, Ejiro Averro)
4. Saint (Dennis Allen, Clint Kubiak, Joe Woods)

New coach at the helm? Sure, because while Morris may be new to the area, he’s not new to the head coaching game, and in addition to his own well-respected background as a defensive planner, he also brings along a fellow LA Rams disciple in Robinson. Bowles is curiously conservative as a decision-maker, but still deserves credit for defensive acumen. The Canales-Avero duo has the potential to be a long-term hit for Carolina. Meanwhile, the Saints have been pretty flat despite refusing to rebuild the lineup.

Final Number

1. Falcon (6 out of 12)
2. Saint (3 out of 12)
3. Buccaneers (2 out of 12)
4. Panthers (1 out of 12)

By these measurements, oddsmakers are not wrong in calling the Falcons the favorites to capture the South, even though the head coach and quarterback have been replaced after a six-year absence from the playoffs. And the Saints, who were widely overlooked at running back with the Derek Carr-Dennis Allen team-up, may have something to look forward to as they not only outscored the South’s defending champions, but also achieved second-place marks at the key offensive positions: running back and wide receiver.

Still, Tampa Bay’s third-place finish overall is a bit deceiving. The Bucs also had six (6) second-place finishes, including premium spots like quarterback and offensive line, suggesting they’re likely to challenge for another division title. Meanwhile, much of the Falcons’ 2024 chances depend on whether Cousins ​​and Morris are the leaders they were hired to be. Otherwise, Atlanta’s fate, overall projection, may rest on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

One thing is clear, though: Unless Bryce Young makes an even bigger leap than expected under Canales, the Panthers still have a year or two to enter the postseason conversation. And the 2024 race is likely to be a three-horse contest between the Bucs, Falcons and Saints.