No NFL division is set for a more complete overhaul than the NFC South, which was a shambolic mess last season as all four teams finished with losing records. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clawed their way to the division title, albeit behind an 8-9-0 record; while the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints all limped to 7-10-0 marks.
The aftermath triggered wholesale staffing changes at either head coach, offensive, and or defensive coordinator positions in three of the four teams – only the Saints appear to be staying the course with the staff (the top level, at least) that was in place during their forgettable 2022 campaign. This cadence of change (or lack thereof) is bound to have a trickle-down effect on the rosters in question as soon as the NFL opens the free agency door on March 15, 2023.
In this space, we survey the four teams that make up the NFC South. We look at the free agents in each camp that could be strutting their stuff on the offseason catwalk and identify the top needs that are most likely to shape each team’s decision-making during the open market.
Let’s check the latest NFL news, stats, injury reports, and NFL picks for you to consider.
NFL Free Agency NFC South Lookahead
1. Falcons
Top Needs:
- Quarterback
- Wide Receiver
- Edge
- Cornerback
Atlanta needs a quarterback full stop. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, brought in on a 2-year, $18.75 million deal, was nothing more than a placeholder, and after one season with the Falcons, he didn’t do enough to convince the establishment of his merits as a starter. At the same time, the jury is out on Desmond Riddler after a rookie season that left much to be desired.
General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith’s vision won’t be realized without a proper upgrade at the most important position in the game. To be fair to them, they did go after Deshaun Watson, only to be outbid by the Cleveland Browns. Might they try this route again? Probably. They have the second-most cap space in the NFL with $56 million and – dare it to be said – a more palatable selection of veteran signal callers to consider.
Tight end Kyle Pitts is a burgeoning talent, but the Falcons’ offense needs more depth, especially in the passing game. Once upon a time, Atlanta’s wide receiving corps was revered. Talents such as Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Roddy White (to name a few). Today, the talent includes Drake London and Frank Darby, and potentially unrestricted free agent Olamide Zaccheaus – that is, if they decide to re-sign him. But that’s not enough. They need better depth at the position and a solid veteran might be the answer.
On the defensive side of the ball, the priority for GM Fontenot is going to be improving the pass rush and secondary. The Falcons struggled to defend against the pass, finishing 25th in passing yards allowed. They weren’t that great against the run either (ranked 23rd).
Atlanta has the 8th overall pick in the draft, which it might use to target an edge to bolster its defensive front. But the defensive line is begging for top-flight players and veterans, especially at the cornerback position and the answer is likely to be in the open market which appears to be rich in cornerbacks this year.
- Unrestricted Free Agents (23): LS Beau Brinkley, WR Damiere Byrd, OLB Lorenzo Carter, DE Matt Dickerson, OT Chuma Edoga, LB Rashaan Evans, CB Rashad Fenton, TE Anthony Firkser, CB Michael Ford, G Colby Gossett, S Erik Harris, WR KhaDarel Hodge, OT Germain Ifedi, DT Jaleel Johnson, ILB Nick Kwiatkoski, OT Kaleb McGary, CB Isaiah Oliver, P Bradley Pinion, TE MyCole Pruitt, FB Keith Smith, DT Vincent Taylor, G Elijah Wilkinson, WR Olamide Zaccheaus
- Restricted Free Agents (1): DE Abdullah Anderson
- Restricted/ Exclusive Free-Rights Agents (1):LS Liam McCullough
Some say the Panthers are building the best staff in the NFL. That says a lot about Frank Reich – but also about David Tepper and what he’s learned after the Matt Rhule era. #Panthers
🎥 @Queen_City_News pic.twitter.com/DvkYeI52dw
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) February 21, 2023
2. Panthers
Top Needs:
- Quarterback
- Wide receiver
- Cornerback
- Linebacker
- Guard
Carolina’s season was a tale of halves. A terrible start 1-5 start that resulted in the midseason sacking of head coach Matt Rhule. Then, under interim head coach Steve Wilks, a positive run followed, which included four wins in their last six games.
Nevertheless, owner David Tepper hit the reset button and hired new head coach Frank Reich for the upcoming 2023 season. Reich inherits a team in shambles and facing a quarterback quandary, with only injured rookie Matt Corral under contract. Sam Darnold is an unrestricted free agent and P.J. Walker is a restricted free agent.
Reich knows only too well the downfalls of poor quarterbacking (hi, Matt Ryan!). Finding a legitimate starter is sure to be his No. 1 priority. Carolina could target one of the coveted veterans in Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo or take a placeholder approach in the interim with a view toward the draft for a long-term solution. After all, they have the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Whichever quarterback Carolina takes into 2023, he’ll need a dynamic pass-catcher. Wide receivers Rashard Higgins and Andre Roberts are unrestricted free agents and if one or both head to the exit, this group will need to be bolstered.
Arguably, the defense was Carolina’s only redeeming unit in 2022. That’s not to say it didn’t have holes, though. At its core are several intriguing young players such as DE Brian Burns and DT Derrick Brown. But greater depth and experience is needed at the linebacker position, as unrestricted free agents Cory Littleton and/or Joel Iyiegbuniwe could leave a vacancy with their departure.
The cornerback group should be looked at as well, not least because Donte Jackson is recovering from an Achilles season-ending injury. What is a young secondary featuring emergent talent CB Jaycee Horn could benefit from veteran mentorship.
- Unrestricted Free Agents (16): QB Sam Darnold, T Cameron Erving, G Michael Jordan, C Bradley Bozeman, WR Rashard Higgins, WR Andre Roberts, RB D’Onta Foreman, DE Henry Anderson, DT Matt Ioannidis, LB Cory Littleton, LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, CB TJ Carrie, S Sean Chandler, S Juston Burris LS J.J. Jansen (re-signed 2/20), K Eddy Piñeiro
- Restricted Free Agents (3): QB P.J. Walker, S Myles Hartsfield, S Sam Franklin
- Restricted/ Exclusive Free-Rights Agents (2): TE Stephen Sullivan (re-signed on Jan. 9), TE Giovanni Ricci (re-signed on Jan. 9)
Carolina Panthers
7-10 | 9th Pick | HC: Frank Reich• Hired HC Frank Reich after going 6-6 under Interim Steve Wilks, DC Ejiro Evero and OC Thomas Brown
• Notable FA’s: QB Sam Darnold and RB D’onta Foreman
•Possible Cuts: OLB Shaq Thompson ($13.6m), C Pat Elflein ($4.6m) pic.twitter.com/ayYRlMQcZE
— Free Agency Frosty (@FrostyTalksFB) February 22, 2023
3. Saints
Top Needs:
- Head coach(?)
- Quarterback
- Wide receiver
- Running back
- Edge
- Linebacker
- Defensive tackle
Denis Allen’s first year was unmemorable, but the organization, opting for continuity over change, is giving him and his staff another crack at the coaching gig. That same courtesy isn’t likely to be extended to the roster, which is burdened by fading assets.
Just like their NFC South neighbors, the Saints area quarterback-needy team. Allen inherited questionable talent in Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and Jake Luton. Winston lost the starting job to Dalton spelling a likely end to his sojourn in the Bayou. Dalton is bound for the open market unless GM Mickey Loomis re-signs him to a team-friendly deal.
Las Vegas Raiders’ cast-off Derek Carr is an option, but getting Carr (or his equivalent) will require clever maneuvering from Loomis within a limited cap space. It doesn’t help matters when the offense is bogged down by injury-prone Michael Thomas and diminishing star Jarvis Landry. The Saints will need to evaluate the pair (potentially release Thomas) and reload on talent in order to attract the kind of quarterbacking that will make them competitive.
Running back Alvin Kamara’s legal troubles, following a Las Vegas nightclub attack, could see the Saints shorthanded on an already underperforming backfield to start 2023. In anticipation of his possible suspension, it would be smart to add fresh legs to the run game.
The defense needs a good overhaul. Cameron Jordan is under contract, but the soon-to-be 34-year-old defensive end isn’t what he once was. With Marcus Davenport eyeing up the open market, depth at the edge position is going to have to be addressed. At linebacker, DemarioDavis is no spring chicken either, while Pete Werner’s and D’Marco Jackson’s injury woes are a concern. Thus, adding depth here is imperative as well.
- Unrestricted Free Agents (17): QB Andy Dalton, DE Marcus Davenport, OLB Kaden Ellis, S Justin Evans, SS J.T. Gray, OT Ethan Greenidge, WR Deonte Harty, RB Mark Ingram, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, WR Jarvis Landry, DT David Onyemata, CB Bradley Roby, SS Daniel Sorenson, DE Kentavius Street, DT Shy Tuttle, RB Dwayne Washington, CB P.J. Williams
- Restricted Free Agents (2): WR Marquez Callaway, WR Juwan Johnson
- Restricted/ Exclusive Free-Rights Agents (5):OT Calvin Throckmorton, DT Albert Huggins, LB Andrew Dowell, LB Chase Hansen, P Blake Gillikin
On this day in 2021 Tom Brady & the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV pic.twitter.com/JhkPOd9csc
— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) February 7, 2023
4. Buccaneers
Top Needs:
- Head coach (?)
- Quarterback
- Running back
- Edge
- Cornerback
- Guard
A head coach isn’t a top need, but maybe it should be – after a season that saw the Buccaneers fall well below the lofty expectations they themselves had set after two years under Bruce Arians.
Arians and Tom Brady won Super Bowl 54 in 2020 and the NFC South title in 2021, and combined for a 24-9-0 record over two regular seasons. That’s not including Brady’s individual accolades, smashing just about every single record in the game during his time in Tampa Bay.
Instead of building on that success, what does Todd Bowles do but turn it squarely on its head. He showed a surprising reluctance to adapt his coaching philosophy, resulting in not only a disappointing 8-9-0 run but one of the statistically worst seasons in Brady’s career. (Is it any wonder he retired?)
Granted, the Buccaneers did clinch the NFC South title for a second straight season. But winning a title when you are the best of a bad bunch is hardly cause for celebration. And so it wasn’t, with the Bucs bowing out of the postseason in an unedifying 31-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round.
Obviously, there’s a quarterback vacancy now that Brady’s hung up his cleats (for a second time). But with one of the worst cap situations in the league, finding a quality signal-caller is going to be a challenge for general manager Jason Licht.
The offense could need upgrading, too. Wide receiver Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, Julio Jones, and tight end Kyle Rudolph are just some of the players that are slated for the open market, and knowing especially they won’t be catching passes from Brady anymore could propel them to greener pastures elsewhere. The backfield was a letdown, prompting many to believe RB Leonard Fournette is up for the chopping block. And with Giovani Bernard becoming a free agent as well, they will need to fill the room with new bodies.
Arguably, the offensive line was the weakest link. Guard Alex Cappa left for Cincinnati during the 2022 free agency window, Ryan Jenson suffered a season-ending knee injury and Ali Marpet suddenly retired in 2022 after seven seasons with Tampa Bay. Finding a top-notch guard to strengthen the offensive line is going to be a priority this offseason, surely.
The secondary is in danger of being trimmed if Tampa Bay doesn’t re-sign unrestricted free agents CB Sean Bunting, CB Logan Ryan and CB Jamal Dean. As well,with unrestricted free agent LB Davonte David aging (33) and safety Mike Edwards also hitting the open market, the Bucs will have to address the exodus. They can’t afford to lose all these key players at once.
- Unrestricted Free Agents (24): DE Genard Avery, RB Giovani Bernard, QB Tom Brady, CB Sean Bunting, ILB Lavonte David, CB Jamel Dean,, S Mike Edwards, QB Blaine Gabbert, DE William Gholston,, DE Akiem Hicks, WR Julio Jones, WR Scotty Miller, DE Carl Nassib, SS Keanu Neal, OLB Anthony Nelson, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DE Pat O’Connor, WR Breshad Perriman, TE Kyle Rudolph, CB Logan Ryan, DT Deadrin Senat, G Aaron Stinnie, RT Josh Wells
- Restricted Free Agents (1): LB Cam Gill, CB Dee Delaney
- Restricted/ Exclusive Free-Rights Agents (1): G Nick Leverett
