Are you ready for some football? We are going to blink, and the 2025 NFL season will be upon us as training camps for all 32 teams have started. There is plenty to dive into this year with quarterbacks switching teams, major coaches making a return, and plenty of teams getting much better, while some probably needed some more help. Here is our 2025 NFC South preview.
Last Year
This division didn’t blow anyone away in 2024 but the race for first was at least halfway interesting. In the end, the Buccaneers edged out the Falcons and won the division for a third straight season. But they suffered a heartbreaking end to their season to the Washington Commanders in the opening round. Baker Mayfield is a very efficient QB, and they loaded up on offense for him by bringing back Chris Godwin and drafting Emeke Egbule. The Falcons finished with eight wins and had an interesting year that consisted of a QB switch up from Kirk Cousins to Michael Pennix Jr. In an awkward turn, Cousins is still on the roster. The Panthers were also a nightmare but a late surge from Bryce Young saved Dave Canales’ first season in Carolina with five wins. The Saints were the biggest disappointment. Derek Carr went down with an injury which forced him into retirement this offseason. Spencer Rattler didn’t really impress and now New Orleans seems to have very little direction or hope.
Favorite to win in 2025
Tampa Bay enters the season as the betting favorites in Vegas but not by much. Tampa and Atlanta will certainly battle throughout the season. Raheem Morris is entering year two in charge in Atlanta and that should bring some much-needed experience and learning from mistakes a year ago. While Tampa is much more established on both sides of the ball, Atlanta likely brings more potential to the table, but they must find a way to prove they are capable of it. Carolina would be an outside option to win this division but maybe they have a Washington-Esque turnaround from last year to this year and run the table. It would all come down to how Young and this offense play and whether they can put up points.
Offensive Player to Watch: Bryce Young
Young looked destined for the bench or another team halfway through the season last year, but it turned out that benching him and trying to start fresh halfway in was the best move for Young. It seemed like he legitimately learned and grew in 2024 and that’s all you can ask for from a franchise QB on a really bad team. This is the year where Young must prove that he can be a starting QB in this league.
Defensive Player to Watch: Lavonte David
This is by no means the sexiest answer here or the one that turns heads in 2025, but this is probably it for Lavonte David. He is a Hall of Famer in my mind. He is quietly fifth all-time in tackles in NFL History. He’s been around since 2012 and been an All Pro three times, enjoy it while you can.
Prediction
Tampa is going to win a fourth straight division. Baker Mayfield played like a legit MVP candidate for most of the season and the Bucs only got better on offense. While I worry about their secondary, no one in the South is enough to worry about. Record (10-7)