2019 NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the NFC South

Dwight Peebles

Continuing our analysis of the top winners and losers from each division post-NFL draft, we’re going to take a deep dive into the NFC South. The Panthers, Falcons, and Buccaneers feature potent offenses and the Saints were arguably the best team in the NFC last season. The draft didn’t bring much to the division with instant superstars and difference-makers but they addressed many glaring needs. Each team made moves to improve via free agency as well.

Which veterans saw their situations improve from the NFL Draft to potentially move into/stay in this group? Conversely, which players saw their potential value this season take a hit? Let’s get into it.

WINNERS

Matt Ryan, QB ATL

Drafting two linemen in the first round addressed a huge need – protecting their aging quarterback. Ryan had a career year in 2018, tossing for nearly 5,000 yards and connecting on 35 scores versus seven interceptions – despite being sacked 42 times in the 16-game season.

Chris Lindstrom from Boston College and Kaleb McGary from Washington may both end up starting by the end of the year – Lindstrom is likely a day one starter. Simply protecting Ryan makes the draft a good draft and we fully expect another big year from ‘Matty Ice’. Calvin Ridley continuing to develop, Julio Jones doing Julio Jones things, and the return of the player featured below all make this offense one of the most potent in the NFL.

Devonta Freeman, RB ATL

The way the media and fantasy football community talk about Freeman, you might honestly think he had never rushed for 1,000 yards, caught more than 20 passes, or scored more than five touchdowns. Freeman returns from injury with an improved offensive line, a quarterback playing as good as he ever has, and a dangerous passing game.

Tevin Coleman isn’t around to steal touches, although the Falcons will likely involve Ito Smith more. Add in a defense that returns with it’s two best players healthy, the game scripts could start to favor running the football and Freeman’s complete game will make him an RB1 again. In his three full seasons, he has averaged 1,452 total yards and over 11 total touchdowns – if he stays healthy, those numbers are easily attainable and I fully believe he will eclipse them and put in his best overall season at the age of 27 for the Dirty Birds.

Alvin Kamara, RB NO

The young back from the University of Tennessee is now fully entrenched in the role of being ‘“The Man” in New Orleans with the departure of Mark Ingram. In four games without Ingram in 2018, Kamara averaged over 150 total yards and scored six times – week four was the only game he eclipsed 100 yards rushing as well. He has been an effective runner inside but thrives in space and will still see the bulk of rushing attempts as well as his lethal pass-catching role.

The Saints signed Latavius Murray and to Dwayne Washington to provide some relief as well as signing undrafted free agent Devine Ozigbo. The backfield is all Kamara’s and he will catch a ton of passes as well – a season with numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey’s 2018, in which he tallied 1,965 yards and 13 touchdowns – is likely for Kamara in 2019 if he stays healthy.

Ronald Jones, RB, TB

The writer of this article has been one of the staunchest detractors of the young back from USC yet the stars are aligning for Jones to have a bigger role in the Bucs offense. Peyton Barber is the starter at this point and is one of the unsexiest but productive backs starting the in the NFL. The Bucs addressed defense primarily in the draft and added offensive guru Bruce Arians as the head coach.

Arians will get the most out of a player like Jones and initially stated Jones was the best running back in camp. He is a decisive one-cut runner who has the speed and burst to take any run to the house – the Bucs would be crazy to not give him a shot to take the starting job and run with it.

LOSERS

Cam Newton, QB CAR

The days in which Newton can rely on his legs to bail him out are coming to an end, a litany of nagging injuries has plagued his effectiveness at times over the past few seasons. The Panthers have not had strong receiving options for Newton since Steve Smith and they didn’t address the position until the seventh round this season, drafting Terry Godwin to fill the slot receiver role. In a draft littered with strong receiver options, it seems like a huge oversight and it’s going to catch up to Superman.

DJ Moore is a solid WR1 and they signed Torrey Smith to add to the receiving corps of Godwin, Curtis Samuel, Jarius Wright, and Chris Hogan. Greg Olsen is back but hasn’t been the reliable Olsen of past for the past few years. Leaning on Newton and McCaffrey will only get the Panthers offense so far, they need depth to decrease the weight each of these superstars shoulder.

DJ Moore, WR CAR

I believe he was the most talented wide receiver of the 2018 draft class and he will not get the opportunity to take a step forward in his second NFL season. Moore will see each opposing defense’s top cornerbacks and attention of the safeties as well and he will still be a factor- but a step forward is unlikely. He would immensely benefit from another strong receiver opposite him and I do not think Smith, Hogan, or Samuel can be enough to draw attention from him.

A statistically similar season to 2018 is likely, although a step forward may still come down the road. The Panthers need to add another top wide receiver and some offensive line help to Newton and then Moore more time to develop into a top duo.

Jameis Winston, QB TB

A defense-focused draft helps Winston in ways. The Bucs need to try not to win every game via 40-point shootouts as the more they rely on the slinging of the young quarterback, the worse off the team is. Winston has had games in which he has played fairly brilliantly and then games where it appeared like he was better off being a career backup or even the waterboy. Putting up yards has never been an issue for him, but neither has throwing the ball to the opposing defense.

If anyone can make the most out of the former number one overall pick, it’s coach Arians. However, they did not draft any offensive line help to address a unit that ranked 22nd in 2017 and 20th in 2018 per Pro Football Focus. The Bucs picked up the fifth-year option last off-season yet the feeling of this being the last chance for Winston is hard to escape.

dwight peebles
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