As we’ve already detailed, the entire NFC South got better — on paper — this offseason. The Falcons on defense, the Panthers and the Bucs on offense. But the New Orleans Saints made some substantial upgrades to both sides.
Ultimately, I think coaching losses for the Falcons and the Panthers undercut what roster improvements they made. This is particularly true for the Falcons. They still have elite offensive weapons, but they lost one of the most creative offensive minds in Kyle Shanahan. They’re still the team to beat in the NFC South, but their offense won’t be impossible to guard like it was in 2016.