Atlanta Falcons (6-10):
Offseason acquisitions: [Draft] OLB Vic Beasley (1) CB Jalen Collins (2) RB Tevin Coleman (3) WR Justin Hardy (4) DT Grady Jarrett (5) Free Agency- Leonard Hankerson, Tony Moeaki, Jacob Tamme, Tyler Polumbus, Chris Chester, Mike Person, Adrian Clayborn, O'Brien Schofield, Brooks Reed, Justin Durant, Phillip Adams
Offseason losses: Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Harry Douglas, Bear Pascoe, Sam Baker, Justin Blalock, Gabe Carimi, Corey Peters, Sean Weatherspoon, Prince Shembo, Robert McClain, Josh Wilson, Dwight Lowery.
The Falcons have some very special pieces on both sides of the ball but they need to figure out a way to get the most out of them. Matt Ryan is a good if not great quarterback yet he was sacked 31 times last season and 75 in the last two seasons. If the Falcons want to make the playoffs they need to protect their quarterback. The defense also did the Falcons no favors in 2014. 2015 however looks bright, the Falcons added 3 new offensive linemen, offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus, guard Chris Chester, and guard Mike Person which will hopefully add some depth to what was a pretty awful offensive line. After losing their two main running backs for the past few seasons in Jackson and Rodgers, the Falcons drafted Tevin Coleman with their third round pick and are looking for him to produce in his first year in the offense. He will back up sophomore Devonta Freeman who is looking to leave his mark on this offense. At wide receiver the Falcons lost a staple of their offense in Harry Douglas however are looking to replace him with Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson has already wowed receiving coaches in camp so maybe this is the year he breaks out as a dependable wide receiver.
They upgraded their tight end position with Jacob Tamme who was on the Broncos last year. On the defensive side of the ball the Falcons added a tremendous amount of talent in defensive end Adrian Clayborn, a player who has yet to reach his full potential, Brooks Reed, former Cowboy Justin Durant, and Vic Beasley who was one of the most sought after pass rushers in the draft. The Falcons will not be the best defensive team but they will be way more solid on the back end and defensive line. The key thing the Falcons need to happen is Jake Matthews to produce infinitely more than he did last year, to help protect Matt Ryan's blindside. The NFC South should be a lot better than last year but the Falcons can still win it by having a more consistent defense and O line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14):
Offseason Acquisitions: [Draft] QB Jameis Winston (1) OT Donovan Smith (2) C/G Ali Marpet (3) LB Kwon Alexander (4) WR Kenny Bell (5) Free Agency- Tim Wright, George Johnson, Henry Melton, Bruce Carter, Larry Dean, Sterling Moore, Chris Conte
Offseason Losses: Josh McCown, Anthony Collins, Oniel Cousins, Michael Johnson, Adrian Clayborn, Da'Quan Bowers, Mason Foster, Dane Fletcher, Dashon Goldson
The Buccaneers were pretty horrific last season thus earning them the first overall draft pick in the 2015 NFL draft. That pick was Jameis Winston and he is expected to be the Buccaneers franchise quarterback for a long time. That being said it is completely unknown with how Winston is going to react to the NFL. He could be the greatest quarterback of all time, he could be good, or he could be a bust, but we won't know anything until he gets on the field. No matter how bad last season was Buc's fans are probably happy with the emergence of wide receiver Mike Evans. Evans is a monster pure and simple; he's tall and has breakaway speed an excellent target for Winston. Now Winston also gets the late round draft pick Kenny Bell who will most certainly make an impact this season. Bell was impressive at Nebraska and can absolutely torch defenses.
Put both of those guys together with Vincent Jackson and suddenly this wide receiving core is looking somewhat deadly. The offensive line should be better than it was last year with the addition of second round pick Donovan Smith at left tackle and third round center Ali Marpet. The Buccaneers were an absolute mess last year but they should improve dramatically considering they only won 2 games.
New Orleans Saints (7-9):
Offseason Acquisitions: [Draft]OT Andrus Peat (1) ILB Stephone Anthony (2) DE/OLB Hau'oli Kikaha (3) QB Garret Grayson (4) CB/S P.J. Williams (5) Free Agency- C.J. Spiller, Mike McGlynn, Max Unger, Kevin Williams, Anthony Spencer, Dannell Ellerbe, Brandon Browner, Kyle Wilson
Offseason Losses: Pierre Thomas, Kenny Stills, Jimmy Graham, Ben Grubbs, Jonathan Goodwin, Tyrunn Walker, Curtis Lofton, Patrick Robinson, Corey White, Shayne Graham
The Saints were uncharacteristically bad last season. For a large chunk of the year Jimmy Graham was injured and Drew Brees never had a clean pocket. Everything has changed in New Orleans; their marquee playmaker (Jimmy Graham) has been traded to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger. This blockbuster trade started off a particularly busy offseason, however for the Saints it was all about protection.
The Saints used their first round draft pick on offensive tackle Andrus Peat combining him with Unger should give defensive lines headaches. The Saints will rely heavily on Brandin Cooks to produce in the passing game without Jimmy Graham however Cooks is anything but a sure thing. The Saints will also rely on their ground game with Mark Ingram and newly signed C.J. Spiller carrying the load. Spiller most likely will be the change of pace back but could also line up in the spread formation, screen passes, and on passing downs. The price was high but finally Brees will be safe.
Carolina Panthers (7-8-1):
Offseason Acquisitions: [Draft] LB/S Shaq Thompson (1) WR/TE Devin Funchess (2) OT Daryl Williams (3) Free agency-Jordan Todman, Jarrett Boykin, Jason Trusnik, Charles Tillman, Kurt Coleman, Ted Ginn
Offseason Losses: DeAngelo Williams, Byron Bell, Fernando Velasco, Greg Hardy, Chase Blackburn, Thomas DeCoud
The Panthers are the division champs but after getting blasted in the playoffs I am sure there is a sense that they would like to do better. Cam Newton has a huge, new, target in Devin Funchess to pair alongside Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen. Their running back situation remains a question mark along with their offensive line. The Carolina defense swarmed quarterbacks all season long however that was not enough to get them to the Super Bowl. Shaq Thompson should provide be a coverage linebacker that rarely blitzes giving the Panthers someone to spy on the middle of the field. This season is really all about Cam Newton and his new weapons and how they play together because if they can find some way to become elite they will be able to win this division again.
