NFL free agency at time reshapes the balance of power across the league, and this week’s moves across the NFC South provided an early look at who’s improving—and who might still be chasing answers. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the results are a bit mixed compared to their divisional rivals.
Winner: Carolina Panthers
The defending division champions wasted little time reinforcing their roster. The Carolina Panthers made arguably the biggest splash of the week by signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, two defensive playmakers who immediately upgrade their front seven. Carolina clearly prioritized improving a defense that helped carry them to the division title last season. Adding impact talent at multiple levels of the defense sends a message that the Panthers intend to remain the team to beat in the NFC South.
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Winner: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons also had a productive week. Atlanta added quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, perhaps giving the franchise a new direction under center, while surrounding him with additional weapons. The Falcons signed tight end Austin Hooper and wide receiver Jahan Dotson, reinforcing an offense that already has several intriguing pieces. Atlanta’s strategy appears clear: load up offensively and attempt to outscore the rest of the division.
Neutral: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay made several solid value additions but stopped short of the splash moves seen elsewhere in the division. The Buccaneers signed running back Kenneth Gainwell, linebacker Alex Anzalone, and defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. Each player fills a role—Gainwell helps replace departing production in the backfield, Anzalone strengthens the linebacker unit, and Robinson adds depth to the defensive line. However, Tampa Bay still hasn’t addressed its biggest need: a big time edge rusher. At this point, we can stop holding are breath for that. The re-signing of tight end Cade Otton was cool, but losing wide receiver Mike Evans sucks really bad.
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Loser: New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints made respectable additions in running back Travis Etienne and linebacker Kaden Elliss, but the moves feel more like complementary upgrades than game-changing additions. While they improve depth, the Saints still appear to be chasing the more aggressive roster-building efforts happening elsewhere in the division.
For now, the NFC South remains wide open—but with the Panthers and Falcons pushing hard, the Buccaneers may need another big move before the draft if they want to reclaim control of the division. Despite all that, our friends at FanDuel feel differently and still view the Bucs (+165) division favorites followed by the Falcons (+260), Saints (+330), and Panthers (+390).
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