The NFC South entered the PML Season 3 offseason with a rare opportunity. No clear juggernaut, no untouchable roster, and plenty of room for a team to seize control of the division. Some franchises leaned into that opening with conviction and clarity. One team did not.
Here is how the NFC South reshaped itself, team by team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay made the boldest quarterback decision in the division and did not hesitate. With Baker Mayfield departing, the Buccaneers pivoted immediately to the future, drafting DJ Lagway and surrounding him with protection and skill talent. That is a coherent plan, even if it comes with short-term volatility.
The additions were not limited to offense. Azeez Al-Shaair and Dorian Williams overhaul the linebacker unit, while Noah Fant gives the offense a reliable middle-of-the-field option. Tampa also added depth at edge and safety, quietly building a defense that can stay on the field longer than last season.
The losses were significant. Baker Mayfield and YaYa Diaby leaving removes proven production. Still, Tampa chose direction over comfort, which matters in a division without a clear alpha.
Outlook: Tampa Bay accepted growing pains in exchange for upside. The roster is younger, more athletic, and aligned around a future timeline.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints had one of the cleanest offseasons in the division. They identified weaknesses and attacked them directly. Joey Porter Jr. immediately upgrades the secondary. Alim McNeill solidifies the interior defensive line. Kevin Dotson adds strength and reliability to the offensive line.
On offense, New Orleans replaced speed with versatility. Losing Rashid Shaheed hurts, but adding Ja’Kobi Lane, Duce Robinson, and Calvin Austin creates a deeper, more flexible receiver room. This roster feels built for week-to-week consistency rather than highlight chasing.
The Saints did lose some depth, especially at running back and safety, but none of the departures derail the structure of the team.
Outlook: New Orleans looks stable, physical, and ready to grind. In a division that often collapses under its own weight, that alone makes them dangerous.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina quietly assembled one of the most disciplined offseasons in the NFC South. The Panthers prioritized the middle of the defense and the offensive line, areas that often decide PML games before skill players ever matter.
Arvell Reese and Maverick Baranowski reshape the linebacker group, while Caleb Tiernan and Rahtrel Perry add young, scalable talent up front. The Panthers also added multiple defensive backs, signaling a commitment to depth rather than chasing one star.
The losses were real. Jalen Coker and A.T. Perry departing removes reliable targets, and Cam Robinson leaving creates an immediate hole at center. Still, Carolina replaced roles instead of panicking.
Outlook: Carolina looks like a team that knows who it is. Not flashy, not loud, but built to avoid beating itself.
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta technically made moves. That is the nicest thing that can be said.
On paper, the Falcons added talent. Tyler Linderbaum and Brian O’Neill are elite offensive linemen. Greg Newsome II is a legitimate corner. Carnell Tate is a promising young receiver. The problem is none of it fits together in a way that resembles a plan.
Atlanta invested heavily in the offensive line while simultaneously failing to solve quarterback. Drafting Aidan Chiles as a long-term answer feels less like strategy and more like hope. A 58 overall quarterback entering a roster with playoff expectations is not development, it is negligence.
The skill position turnover only made things worse. Darnell Mooney and Tez Johnson leaving strips proven production, replaced by rookies and projection pieces. The running back room is crowded with low-impact options. The defense lost depth at linebacker and defensive tackle, areas where Atlanta already struggled to stay disciplined.
This roster feels like it was built by collecting names instead of solving problems. Resources were spent. Direction was not chosen.
Outlook: Atlanta enters Season 3 as the most confusing team in the division. Expensive in the wrong places, thin where it matters most, and built around a quarterback plan that does not inspire confidence. If this goes sideways early, it will unravel fast.
Division-Level Takeaway
The NFC South is there for the taking. Tampa chose a future. New Orleans chose stability. Carolina chose structure.
Atlanta chose… well, we’re not even sure Atlanta knows what they chose.
In a division defined by margins, the teams that minimized mistakes improved. The team that ignored them doubled down. PML Season 3 will not be kind to that choice.
