NFC SOUTH TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO THE 2024 NFL DRAFT

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

EDGE - Shaq Barrett is departing for Miami, after allowing 248 passing yards a game (4th most), Tampa Bay should look to add outside pass rushers to the current rotation to help Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Draft fit: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State, 1st round.
Verse is a powerful edge rusher with the most polished pass-rush moves in the class. He may not be as athletic as Dallas Turner from Alabama, but Verse would be a day-one starter with ten-plus sack potential for Tampa if he falls to 26.

CB - After trading Carton Davis to the Detroit Lions, the outside corner position opposite Jamel Dean is a question mark that the Buccaneers could address early in the draft.

Draft fit: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama, 1st round.
McKinstry is a long outside corner who can win in bump-and-run coverage or in zone.

TE - Cade Otton was a serviceable player for the Bucs last year. But adding another dynamic weapon at tight end would help Baker Mayfield continue to flourish after last season's bounce-back year.

Draft fit: Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State, day 3.
Bell will be deployed more as a move tight end or an H back. His tape shows big run-after-the-catch ability with a compact frame similar to Delanie Walker

CAROLINA PANTHERS

WR - The Panthers need to do all they can to surround Bryce Young with talent. The addition of Diontae Johnson is a step in the right direction, but receiver should still be a priority in the draft.

Draft fit: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida, 2nd round.
Pearsall is one of the most polished receivers that we are likely to see drafted on day two. He may start his NFL career lining up mostly in the slot, but he has enough size and athleticism to attack all levels of the field. Pearsall would give Bryce Young a refined pass catcher who can help the team right away.

TE - A tight end to give Bryce Young another weapon to move the chains and convert in the red zone would help improve an offense that only scored 13 passing touchdowns last season.

Draft fit: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State, 3rd round.
Sinnott was an outstanding chain mover and red zone target for Kansas State, he also put up impressive athletic measurables at the combine in the 3 cone and shuttle. He would give the Panthers a much-needed red zone weapon.

Edge - On the defensive side of the ball the Panthers have multiple holes to address but pass rushers should be the main focus. Last year Carolina finished last in the entire league in sacks and Brian Burns is now on the Giants roster.

Draft fit: Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama, 2nd round.
Brasswell is a speed-to-power edge defender coming off an eight-sack season. He still has room to improve his hand placement but he can win with power and length.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

OT - The Saints need to secure the offensive tackle position with the future of Ryan Ramczyk uncertain due to a knee cartilage defect and the disappointing play from Trevor Penning at left tackle this past season.

Draft fit: Troy Fautanu, T, Washington, 1st round.
Fautanu is a polished pass protector with excellent quickness and ability to reset and anchor against pass rushers. He could move to guard, but he should be able to stay at tackle in the NFL.

CB - Paulson Adebo, coming off his best year for the Saints, will pair up with Marshawn Lattimore to man the outside corner positions. But a true slot corner could take the Saints coverage unit to the next level.

Draft fit: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan, 2nd round.
Sainristil was a tremendous nickel for the national championship Michigan team. He is an aggressive run defender and can cover quick slot receivers and big tight ends in the passing game.

D Line - The free agent signing of Chase Young to team up with Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson gives New Orleans a solid edge rotation. Bryan Bresee should be a starter going into his second season, but the Saints could look to get younger in the trenches.

Draft Fit: Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU, Day 3.
Wingo would give New Orleans a designated interior pass rusher. Wingo is a quick twitch pass rusher but he doesn’t bring ideal size to be a full-time starter.

ATLANTA FALCONS

EDGE - The Falcons have a clear need at edge to round out the defensive front with Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata on the interior.

Draft fit: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama, 1st round.
With the eighth pick in the draft, the Falcons will most likely have all the edge defenders on the board to select from. A trade down with a team looking to move up for a quarterback or a wide receiver is a possibility, but taking Turner here would give Atlanta a long athletic specimen for head coach Raheem Morris to line up on defense.

CB - In addition to a need at edge, the Falcons could use a better option opposite stud corner A.J. Terrell and slot corner Mike Hughes.

Draft fit: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo, 1st round.
Depending on how high the Falcons are on Mitchell they could stick and pick him at number eight. But they could also trade down, with a team looking to move up to grab a quarterback or maybe the last of the big three at wide receiver, and still potentially have Mitchell on the board somewhere between pick 10 and 20.

LB - Atlanta has had a very busy offseason that has filled needs at quarterback and wide receiver. Adding an athletic off-ball linebacker to play with Kaden Elliss would be a good move. The shape of the roster should allow for the best player available strategy for the Falcon's front office.

Draft fit: Edgerin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M, 2nd round.
Cooper is an absolute missile on tape that can read and react to blow-up plays in the run game. He also excels at reading and shutting down screen passes.