Crystal Ball Predictions: NFC South

The NFC South wasn’t very competitive last year. The Panthers dominated the division, and the NFL, for the entire season. Cam Newton won his first MVP and Carolina emerged as a longterm contender. The Falcons have the tools necessary to be competitive, the Bucs are on the rise, and Drew Brees still might have something in the tank to make this division a little more interesting. Let’s see if the crystal ball thinks those teams can compete.

Best Draft Class: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, I was shocked that Tampa Bay took a kicker in the second round and I still believe it wasn’t the smartest move. The rest of their draft, however, helped sure up some holes on their defense. Many had Vernon Hargreaves as the top corner in the draft. After he gets adjusted to the NFL expect him to be a starter. They also managed to grab Noah Spence in the second round. Spence has first round talent but some off the field issues caused him to slide. The defensive end will most likely be used in passing situations only until he can earn the full time position.

Best Unit: Carolina Panthers Front Seven. This might be the most dominating unit in football. Led by the Swiss Army Knife knowns Luke Kuechly, this linebacking corps can do it all. We see what Thomas Davis can do once fully healthy and Shaq Thompson had a good rookie year. Star Lotulelei heads a defensive line that wreaks havoc anywhere it goes.  

Best Free Agency Pickup: Mohamed Sanu. Last year Roddy White wasn’t a suitable partner for Julio Jones. White had clearly lost a step and didn’t require much attention from defenses. Insert Sanu. The former Bengal should thrive in an offense where Jones is the primary receiver. Atlanta’s balanced attack should keep defenses honest and Sanu will see a lot of one-on-one coverage. Don’t be surprised if he puts up career numbers.

Best Player: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers. Cam is a once in a lifetime quarterback who put it all together last year. After losing Kelvin Benjamin to an ACL tear in training camp Newton led this team to the best record in the league and a Super Bowl berth. Newton’s blend of athleticism, speed, and power scare defenses the most but it’s his intellect that sets him apart.  The MVP rules this division until further notice.

Breakout Player: Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints. Fleener left Indianapolis this offseason to join Drew Brees and the Saints. We all know that Sean Payton loves tight ends so Fleener will have ample opportunities to thrive. He’s no Jimmy Graham but Fleener has the skills to be one of the best pass catching tight ends in the league. As Drew ages look for him to rely more on his tight ends instead of airing it out like he used to.   

Best Rookie: Sheldon Rankins, New Orleans Saints. It’s no secret that New Orleans isn’t known for their defense. In 2015 they ranked 31st in the league in yards (413.4) and rushing yards (129.4) per game. The Saints took a step in the right direction by getting the best defensive tackle in the draft. Rankins will immediately help this atrocious run defense and is a great building block for the future.   

Best Coach: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers. It’s amazing what can happen in a year. After the 14-15 season “Riverboat” Ron was on the hottest of hot seats. His leadership was questioned and he needed a good season in order to keep his job. He responded by leading Carolina to its best record in franchise history and the Super Bowl. Sean Payton once held this title but New Orleans has been on a slide for years and Sean is almost out of a job.  

Interesting Storyline: Carolina’s Encore. Last year the Panthers came out of nowhere and shocked the NFL. This year they’ll be the hunted, instead of the hunter. Carolina will get every teams best shot and more. Cam is expected to carry this team in the same manner Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady carry theirs. Luckily, for them, Kelvin Benjamin is returning. Unluckily, Josh Norman is gone.

Biggest X-Factor: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mike Evans has all the skills needed to be a dominant receiver in the NFL. After a stellar rookie year, Evans went into a slump due to injuries during the 15-16 season. Now that Doug Martin has emerged and Jameis Winston is at the helm, Evans should start taking over as the number one wideout as Vincent Jackson slides to the number two.

MVP Candidates: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints.  

Division Winner: Carolina Panthers. Last year the Panthers dominated this division to the tune of 15-1. The Falcons came in second place at 8-8. No team has improved enough to usurp Carolina even if they have a few more hiccups. Newton now has his number one target back in Kelvin Benjamin and that will make this offense even deadlier. Even though Josh Norman isn’t there the defense will still be a force with Luke Kuechly leading the way.

The crystal ball has decided the NFC South’s fate. Was it correct? Let me know @mattgarrett41.

Check out other divisions: AFC South, AFC West, AFC North, AFC East, NFC West, NFC North, NFC East

As always, thanks for reading.

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