Another NFL season has come and gone and now we are just left to count down the days until training camp starts in July. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to make NFL history next season as they will strive for their third straight Super Bowl championship. Each team will take a long, hard look at their roster over the next few months as they try to improve their standing and land a big-time free agent or strike it rich in the draft. Here are the 2024 NFC South Team Needs. All Cap Space amounts are per Over the Cap as of February 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Biggest Needs: C, EDGE, S, WR
- Cap Space: $43.6 million
The Bucs really shocked everyone last season by being competitive with Baker Mayfield under center. The safe assumption is that the Bucs will bring him back on a 3-year deal or so and he is the future in Tampa Bay. After that, Tampa must address the center position as Ryan Jensen retired from injury. Tampa is selecting much later than most of us thought they’d be drafting. I think they go wide receiver late in the first round so they have Mike Evans replacement on lock. They have some money to spend but a chuck of that will go towards extensions for Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Biggest Needs: WR, EDGE, G, CB
- Cap Space: $34.5 million
The Panthers not having the first overall pick (their selection) because they traded it to the Chicago Bears is brutal. Bryce Young has as many questions to be answered as a journalist at a crime scene. Young is the future guy for Carolina, but I am certain the fan base would rather have a shot at Caleb Williams right now. Or wish they had taken C.J. Stroud last year instead of Young. Regardless, this team will have to build through the draft with limited picks and protect Young with upgrades at offensive line, tight end, and especially wide receiver where an aging Adam Thielen led the team last season. The Panthers are in pretty bad shape.
Atlanta Falcons
- Biggest Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, CB
- Cap Space: $38.5 million
The Falcons finally parted ways with head coach Arthur Smith who had stunted the growth of guys like Kyle Pitts and Drake London. They are two generational offensive talents that need a real coach and a good quarterback to reach their potential. The Falcons likely aren’t in the draft range to get a top QB without trading away lots of picks so I assume they will go the free agency route. The most likely scenario that I see playing out is a signing of Kirk Cousins while drafting a mid-round QB to learn from the veteran. Raheem Morris was an excellent hire that will motivate this team like Smith couldn’t, but winning the offseason is paramount.
New Orleans Saints
- Biggest Needs: OT, EDGE, WR, RB, QB
- Cap Space: -$26.2 million
Are the Saints ever in the green when it comes to cap space? They certainly aren’t again this year after signing Derek Carr to a massive contract which honestly already seems like a big mistake for them. Carr was average at best last season and there are still so many holes and needs for this team. The biggest need is to get a legit offensive tackle. Their blocking has been atrocious and has led to a ton of issues on that side of the ball. With virtually no money to spend, the Saints will need to get creative through trades and develop through this draft. Good luck with that.