Fixing the salary cap, signing big-play receivers, and selecting a new quarterback are top priorities for the Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers.
Thanks to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s comeback, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a great job representing the NFC South by making it to the divisional round of the playoffs
Although Tampa Bay Buccaneers appears to be the long-term home for the 2018 No. 1 selection, Dave Canales, the offensive coordinator for the team in 2023, has taken over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. But the Bucs still have access to a crucial component that helped Mayfield establish consistency in the previous campaign.
Regarding the Panthers, Canales’ presence will help Bryce Young, but when free agency begins next month, the team will need to acquire more weapons for Young.
Conversely, the New Orleans Saints lack the funding to sign elite free agents. For the next season, they’ll need to find alternate ways to become younger and acquire skills.
The Atlanta Falcons’ evident need at quarterback makes him a top priority for the offseason.
This is one off-season move that every NFC South club ought to make.
Atlanta Falcons
One action they ought to choose a quarterback at number eight.
After settling for poor signal-callers over the last few years, the Falcons are almost certain to choose a quarterback with their first-round selection. Coach Arthur Smith was fired after three seasons by the Falcons due to his inability to maximize the potential of their great skill players, which included players such as Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, and an already-past-his-prime Matt Ryan. After working with quarterback Matthew Stafford for the last three years in Los Angeles, new coach Raheem Morris is aware of the value of a dependable quarterback.
Although Caleb Williams of USC, Drake Maye of North Carolina, and Jayden Daniels of LSU were the top three selections in Luke Easterling’s most recent mock draft, Atlanta may have other alternatives with the eighth pick. Even if that happens, the Falcons should still give quarterbacks top priority since Michael Penix Jr. of Washington and Bo Nix of Oregon both can start quickly with a team that also includes tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson. J.J. McCarthy of Michigan may have great potential even if he lacks the experience of Penix and Nix.
Carolina Panthers
One action they ought to take is to put your signature on WR Tee Higgins.
To support the 2023 No. 1 selection Young, who had a difficult rookie season due in part to Carolina’s dearth of playmakers, the Panthers sorely need a No. 1 wide receiver. The Panthers should make every effort to sign the 6’4″, 219-pound wide receiver from the Cincinnati Bengals if Higgins decides to enter the free agent market.
While collecting passes from Joe Burrow and partnering with standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins has displayed glimpses of being a genuine No. 1 target. The Bengals still have financial room, but they also have to pay Chase, and they have already given Burrow a huge deal extension to lock him down. Carolina has to ensure that Higgins uses his potential to be the odd man out in Cincinnati.
New Orleans Saints
Fixing the pay cap is one action they ought to do.
The Saints must adopt the Los Angeles Rams’ 2023 strategy, which involved cutting a large number of veterans while keeping just three essential veterans (Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald) to fix the salary cap. To go back to the postseason last year, the Rams relied on that trio, but more significantly, they hit on draft selections. The Saints should release or trade several important veterans, including Derek Carr, who will probably return for another season.
According to OvertheCap.com, New Orleans is now the worst in the league at $83.6 million above the salary cap. In addition to removing Michael Thomas and Demario Davis, the team should consider dealing with Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and Alvin Kamara. There are more items on the list. With significant salary cap difficulties, the Saints are an aging squad. After Sean Payton and Drew Brees left a few seasons ago, they have accrued debt that they cannot continue to ignore. Since the 2020 campaign, the Saints have not advanced to the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One action they ought to take is to sign Mike Evans again
The Bucs made the playoffs in their first season without Tom Brady in large part because of Evans having one of the most successful seasons in his illustrious career. During his first season in Tampa Bay, Evans’s ability to spread the field assisted Mayfield in reviving his career. The Buccaneers seem intent on re-signing Mayfield, but it would only be a smart move to do so by also signing Evans, who is expected to have several suitors on the open market.
The Buccaneers will likely be disappointed that they did not sign Evans before the 2023 season began, as his explosive season—79 receptions for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns—pushed up the price tag. Evans may go to Carolina to aid Young and rejoin Canales if the Bucs don’t bring him back.
