The NFC South is setting up for another knife-edge race in 2026, and the rookies who didn’t come off the board in the first round may end up making just as much noise as the headline names. Jordan Tyson, Ruben Bain Jr., and Monroe Freeling bring the top-end star power, but the real trouble for the rest of the division could come from the Day 2 and Day 3 picks who fit their new homes perfectly.
Atlanta’s best sleeper might be Zachariah Branch, the Georgia wideout taken No. 79 overall. The Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick, but they still came away with a draft that added real juice, including Avieon Terrell in the secondary.
Branch, though, is the one who can tilt games on offense. He stays in Georgia, joins Drake London, and gives Atlanta a true speed threat from the slot.
He can also help as a kick returner, and while he is not built to be the Falcons’ answer at No. 2 receiver, his quickness and lateral burst make him a problem. New head coach Kevin Stefanski should have plenty of fun finding ways to get him the ball.
Carolina’s version of that kind of problem is Chris Brazzell II, taken No. 83 overall out of Tennessee. He brings exactly what you’d expect from a player described as speed personified: vertical stress, big-play punch, and the kind of size-speed blend that makes corners uneasy.
At 6-foot-4, Brazzell gives the Panthers another towering target next to 2026 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, and that’s before you factor in the rest of the receiver room, where Carolina now has a group of wideouts standing at 6-foot-3 or higher. Brazzell had plenty of buzz before the draft thanks to his explosiveness at Tennessee, and slipping to the third round could make him an even better value if he takes snaps from Xavier Legette and claims the WR3 role.
New Orleans found one of its quieter additions in tight end Oscar Delp, selected No. 73 overall from Georgia. The Saints spent big on offense, taking Jordyn Tyson with the 8th overall pick and later adding Bryce Lance in the fourth round to help second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and give Chris Olave more support.
Delp doesn’t come with huge college production, but his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame and natural receiving ability give him real NFL upside. With Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant currently ahead of him, he still has a path to meaningful snaps right away.
If he earns them, he becomes yet another target defenses in the NFC South have to track.
And then there’s Tampa Bay, where Josiah Trotter could end up being the kind of second-round find that changes the feel of a defense. The Buccaneers already hit it big with Ruben Bain Jr. at No. 15 overall, and Trotter, picked No. 46, may have given them another immediate answer.
After Lavonte David retired, Tampa Bay needed help at inside linebacker, and while Alex Anzalone arrived as a short-term fix, Trotter is the longer look. He plays downhill, tackles with force, and shows strong awareness in space.
As the son of Jeremiah Trotter, he brings elite run defense in the bloodline, and his instincts and physical style fit what Tampa Bay wants to do. That combination could make him one of the most impactful second-round defenders in the division.
In Other News...
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Tight End Answer For Bryce Young
The Panthers have spent years trying to patch together a tight end room that never quite gave Bryce Young the kind of reliable middle-of-the-field answer every young quarterback needs. Since 2019, no Carolina tight end has gotten to 500 receiving yards, which helps explain why the position keeps coming up whenever the roster is discussed and why potential fixes tend to draw so much attention.
A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to make the roster sturdier around Bryce Young, adding help on defense with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and giving the future a little more upside with rookies like Monroe Freeling and Chris Brazzell II. The next obvious step is finding more reliable production at tight end, a spot that can make life easier for a young quarterback by cleaning up the middle of the field and giving him another dependable outlet when plays break down.
That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]