The NFC South didn’t settle anything until the final week of the 2025 regular season, when the Carolina Panthers finished on top at 8-9. And with the division again looking messy enough to go either way, the rookie class in 2026 could end up carrying real weight.
Tampa Bay might be the most complete team in the group, but the Buccaneers still had to patch some holes after losing two longtime pillars. Mike Evans left in free agency, and Lavonte David retired after the 2025 season. Their answer came in the draft, where they used their first pick on Rueben Bain Jr.
That was only one part of a division-wide search for answers. Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans all head into 2026 with quarterback uncertainty, which makes the rookies they added in other spots even more important.
The question isn’t just who drafted well. It’s who drafted the player most likely to matter when this thing gets tight again.
For Atlanta, that player may not even be one of the team’s draft picks. It’s Jack Strand, the undrafted quarterback out of Minnesota State University Moorhead who has gone from little-known name to a possible lifeline. He entered the NFL as an NFL Mocks favorite before the draft, and while his slide out of the draft wasn’t shocking, what’s followed has been.
Strand turned heads in the preseason by going 24-of-36 for 305 yards, keeping the offense moving and giving head coach Kevin Stefanski something to think about while Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa dealt with injuries. Tagovailoa was named the Week 1 starter, but an oblique injury pushed Stefanski to turn to Cooper Rush instead of Strand.
Now listed as the QB2, Strand is one injury to Rush or one bad stretch away from real playing time. If Atlanta needs him, the way he handles that chance could be the difference between staying afloat and sinking.
In Carolina, the most important rookie is Lee Hunter, not top pick Monroe Freeling. Freeling will help the offensive line, sure, but Hunter is the one who can change the defense faster. Taken No. 49 overall out of Texas Tech, he brings the kind of run-stopping ability that can let Derrick Brown focus more on rushing the passer.
Hunter’s size and profile matter here too. At 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds, he gives the Panthers a physical anchor in the middle of a defense that needs both identity and presence.
He’s known for a high motor and a bruising style, and if he can consistently shut down the run, Brown should benefit from cleaner chances as an interior pass rusher. That pairing could make Hunter one of the more impactful rookies on Carolina’s defense this season.
New Orleans has a different setup entirely. The Saints used the No. 8 overall pick on Jordyn Tyson, but fans will have to wait before they see him. Tyson was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the first four games because of a right hamstring strain.
Even with the delay, his importance is clear. He looked strong in camp before the injury and was expected to be a top-tier complement to Chris Olave.
Once he returns, Tyson’s biggest job will be becoming that second option for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. The hamstring issue adds to the durability questions he already carried into the draft, but the upside is obvious.
If he settles in and finds his place, the Saints could walk away with a dynamic receiver tandem.
Then there’s Tampa Bay, where Rueben Bain Jr. looks like the rookie most ready to hit the ground running. The Buccaneers got a player with top-10 talent at No. 15 overall, and Bain arrives with extra motivation after criticism over his arm length helped push him outside the top 10.
At Miami, Bain was a dangerous edge rusher, winning with explosiveness and technique. Tampa Bay needed help there, and it also needed a new defensive face after Lavonte David’s retirement.
Bain has the talent to grow into that kind of role, and the question now is how far Todd Bowles can push him. With uncertainty at quarterback across the rest of the division, a breakout from Bain could separate the Buccaneers in a race that looks tight again.
The NFC South may not have a clean favorite entering 2026. That’s exactly why these rookies matter so much.
Some are expected to help right away. One, Tyson, has to wait.
But each could wind up shaping which team finishes first when the division goes down to the wire again.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Decision Fans Did Not Expect
The Ravens receiver room took a hit in Week 1, and that has already pushed Xavier Legette into the early trade conversation as a possible name for Carolina to consider. Baltimore lost Ja'Kobi Lane to a fractured wrist, and Zay Flowers also went down, leaving the team with a clear need at wideout and prompting outside speculation about whether the Panthers might listen if an offer came their way.
For Carolina, Legettes underwhelming debut only sharpened the discussion around his place in the offense. He still carries the kind of upside teams keep tabs on, but the question now is whether the Panthers see him as part of their long-term plan or as a movable piece if Baltimore comes calling. No deal has been reported, but the idea alone adds an unexpected layer to what was supposed to be a straightforward start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Is Already Calling Out A Panthers Problem
The Panthers left Week 1 with plenty to clean up, and Dave Canales did not wait long to make the point. After Carolina was tied at halftime against the Bears before the game slipped away badly in the second half of a 59-37 loss, the new head coach said the defense needs to be more consistent. For a team still trying to establish an identity under Canales, it was a reminder that competitive stretches are not enough if the group cannot sustain them.
Canales framed the issue as bigger than one side of the ball, stressing execution and consistency across all phases moving forward. The opener showed flashes of what Carolina wants to be, but it also exposed how quickly a game can turn when the details stop lining up. The challenge now is whether the Panthers can turn that message into something more dependable before the early-season hole gets any deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Added To Panthers Fans Frustration After That Loss
Week 1 brought plenty of frustration for Panthers fans on the scoreboard, but Caleb Williams added a little extra to the mood after Chicagos 59-37 win. The Bears quarterback did his damage through the air and on the ground, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two more while piling up 269 passing yards and 65 rushing yards in a game that never felt under Carolinas control for long.
After the final whistle, Williams was seen shaking hands and offering praise to Panthers defensive coordinator Dave Canales, and the exchange quickly spread across social media. For a fan base already trying to digest a rough opener, the moment only sharpened the sting of a night when Chicago looked poised, efficient and fully in command. [Read more 🡒]