Are the Buccaneers Set to Repeat in the NFC South? Can They Rise to the Level of Contender?

By the time the draft is over, every team will think that they made the moves necessary to get to the playoffs/contender status; or maybe they'll be sure they have their quarterback of the future; others still might just think they are ready to dig out of the basement.

Hope is the theme, as every franchise has hope that the players they just acquired will help form the core of their next great team. Everyone in the NFC South has hope that they can make a jump of sorts relative to last year's results.

Teams have different goals in the draft depending on where their roster is and how close they are to competing. A successful draft for the Bucs this year doesn't necessarily look the same as a successful draft for the Panthers.

Below are three draft moves for each NFC South team. It will include specific picks, positions to focus on, trades, and anything else that makes sense for the team in question.

Check out our previous divisional rundowns: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North.

Atlanta Falcons – No. 15

1. Draft a pass rusher in the first round, maybe after a trade up the board.

Atlanta was expected to grab someone to get after the quarterback last year in the first round, but they opted for quarterback Michael Penix, who is now the starter. The Falcons were 27th in pass rush win rate and 26th in run stop win rate last year by ESPN's measure.

They signed Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox in free agency, but both Floyd and Fox were middling or worse as both pass rushers and run defenders in 2024. Bringing in another impact veteran on the line would be a good idea, but Atlanta also needs to find a young player with Pro-Bowl upside in the draft.

2. Get a cornerback who can factor into the mix this year.

This might be a nickelback, which would fit the roster. The player currently listed as the starter in the slot is Dee Alford, a fourth-year undrafted free agent who played the second-most snaps among Atlanta corners last season. He rated out below average in pass coverage, so the Falcons might be able to find an upgrade (or at least competition) in the second round or later.

3. Draft a new starting center.

Atlanta has three first-round picks on the offensive line and a second rounder (who was taken at No. 38). They put a clear focus on the offensive line, but there's a major hole at center after Drew Dalman signed with the Bears in free agency. Dalman was a top-10 center last year, so there are big shoes to fill.

With no one on the roster who can be expected to take over and play near that level, an early draft pick might be the best way to fill the hole. Georgia center Jared Wilson is the top-ranked player at his position (other than Grey Zabel, who is more often listed at guard but could play center). Wilson's stock has been rising, and he might go before Atlanta's second-round pick at 46, but if he is there, Wilson would fit perfectly and match the high-pedigree line of the current roster.

Carolina Panthers – No. 8

1. Trade back in the first round.

While swapping up to the top pick from No. 9 to take Bryce Young in 2023, Carolina gave up their second-round pick in 2023, first-round pick in 2024, and second-round pick in 2025, along with top receiver D.J. Moore. That's a lot of premium capital missing from the roster, and it's part of the reason they are in their current state.

I mentioned Atlanta trading up, and maybe we could have a trade within the division. Atlanta giving up the 46th pick would be a fair trade to swap No. 8 for 15 by the Jimmy Johnson draft value chart, which would hurt the Falcons overall in the draft but might secure them a blue-chip pass rushing prospect.

Carolina does own the 57th pick, but this would get them a pick in the first half of the second round, allowing for them to add a top prospect at a premium position. (Atlanta lacks picks and might not be looking to move up, but this is just an example.)

2. Take the best player available at every pick.

There might not be a roster in the league that needs more talent than the Panthers. Their GM is in an enviable position of being able to choose a player at pretty much any position in any round and upgrade the team. That's not a place they want to stay, but it's a circumstance in 2025 that they can take advantage of.

The defense needs talent most, so “best defensive player available” might be the theme of Carolina's draft.

3. Draft an offensive tackle by the end of Day 2.

Right tackle Taylor Moton will be 31 before the season starts, and his contract voids at the end of the season. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was the sixth overall pick in 2022, and he's been OK but not great. Getting a tackle who can play either spot and can be a swing tackle as a rookie then take over one spot (probably right tackle) next year would be a proactive way of filling a premium spot while they have premium picks.

This move could even come in the first round, where Missouri's Armand Membou is a big-time prospect and would fit perfectly at right tackle; he could be available with the eighth pick. With starters in place this year, they could also wait until the second or third round for a guy who needs a little polish, like William & Mary's Charles Grant, who comes from an FCS school and probably needs a year to adapt.

New Orleans Saints – No. 9

1. Draft a quarterback if the value is right, but don't force it.

This means probably not taking a QB in the first round. If Shedeur Sanders falls, it would be defensible to take him ninth. Sanders is seen outside the top-10 prospects this year, but given his position and the Saints' need, that's a match that makes sense.

If Sanders is gone, though, someone like Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss would be a reach in the top 10. There will be a lot of players at premium positions available where New Orleans needs help, including the offensive and defensive lines, wide receiver, and cornerback.

It might make more sense with a later pick, but the Saints took Spencer Rattler in the fifth round last year. While Rattler is far from a sure thing, they don't necessarily need to load up on mid-round QBs unless they plan to let them battle it out for the next few years to help fix the cap.

2. Draft an offensive lineman who could battle for a starting job by the end of Day 2.

On top of the ninth selection, the Saints also pick at 40, 71, and 93 before the end of the third round. They could use both depth and a possible starter on the inside, something that can usually be accomplished in the second or third round.

There's also a major need at right tackle, where 2022 first rounder Trevor Penning just hasn't worked out. He was decent as a run blocker last season but struggled in pass protection, something that won't allow him to thrive on the outside. The Saints took Taliese Fuaga in the first round last year to lock down the left side, and a top-10 pick opposite him would figure to upgrade on a unit that finished 29th in pass blocking and 19th in run blocking last season.

3. Take a defensive lineman in the first round, preferably a pass rusher.

This also is affected by how the top eight picks go. If only one or two pass rushers are taken, there will be value in targeting a group that was 30th in both pass rushing and run stopping last season. The Saints re-signed Chase Young, which is a good move, but Cameron Jordan will be 36 by the time the season starts, and no one else on the line is exciting, particularly not 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee.

If the value isn't there and they instead go in another direction, it wouldn't hurt to grab someone on both Day 2 and Day 3 to add depth and increase their chances of hitting.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – No. 19

1. Be aggressive in upgrading the roster immediately.

This could mean trading up to target a player or even adding veterans during the draft. Tampa Bay has won the division four times in a row, and they are the favorites again in 2025. Even if they don't feel like a contender on the level of the Eagles, making the playoff field is half the battle, and getting immediate contributors will help most in pushing them to the next level.

2. Get a defensive playmaker or two.

The offense has a strong set of talent, but the defense could use some reinforcements. Tampa has been often connected to Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who is a force in the middle of the field and is also expected to help with rushing the passer. Lavonte David is 35, so Campbell could play linebacker but also rush from the edge on third down this year with David doing the heavy lifting at linebacker.

Defensive line could also be a target (they were 11th in pass rush but only 31st in run stopping), as could cornerback. Focusing a lot of their draft on the defense would be a smart move for Tampa Bay.

3. Get a cornerback who can factor into the mix by the end of Day 2.

This could come in the first round, as mentioned above, especially because the value might match up that way. Pass rushers are expected to go in the first half of the first round, while a group of good defensive backs are rated as late-first- or early-second-round picks.

Tampa has more bodies than actual impact players in the secondary, and they could use a guy who might even be ready to start as a rookie.