The NFC South enters preseason Week 1 with four teams at very different spots, and each one already has a storyline worth watching.
In Tampa Bay, the big question is whether the Buccaneers can put last season’s disappointment behind them. They were supposed to be the division’s surprise team, but instead the year unraveled as injuries piled up and the offense slipped after OC Liam Coen left in the offseason.
Now the pressure is on to rebound in 2026, even as some early warning signs are already flashing. Contract disputes with Baker Mayfield and a trade request from Vita Vea could complicate everything.
Still, the preseason opener offers a chance for new faces to make noise. First-round EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. has the kind of talent that could change the defense quickly, and third-round pick Ted Hurst has a real opportunity to step into the “Mike Evans replacement” role after Evans left in free agency.
Their snaps may be limited, but the Buccaneers will want to see something real from both.
Carolina comes into the preseason from a very different place. The Panthers were the division’s shock winner last season, though their run ended with a first-round playoff loss.
After one of their better seasons in years, the next step is clear: get better and make more of a playoff push in 2026. Bryce Young sits right in the middle of that plan, and the pressure on him is only growing, especially with a contract extension possibly looming soon.
Carolina has already logged preseason action, too, with the Hall of Fame game against the Arizona Cardinals. It was a tight win, and rookie QB Haynes King delivered the final play that sealed it.
The game also brought bad news, as rookie WR Chris Brazzell III suffered an injury that ended his season, while first-round pick Monroe Freeling did not play.
Atlanta is in a more unsettled spot. With new HC Kevin Stefanski in place, the Falcons are leaning into a roster that is heavy on youth and upside, but there are still major questions to answer.
Michael Penix Jr. has to show the staff they can trust him, and the team entered 2026 without a first-round pick because of the James Pearce Jr. trade. That deal carries more baggage, too, since Pearce Jr. may be suspended for part of the season.
On top of that, fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker is out for the year with an injury. There is talent in the draft class, but this is still a roster with plenty to prove.
New Orleans may be the most intriguing team in the division heading into the season. Even after finishing last year in 2025, the Saints have some real momentum.
Tyler Shough gave the coaching staff enough to believe he can be the starter, the offense has been rebuilt, and the defense has pieces worth getting excited about. Add in a fourth-place schedule, and the setup looks favorable for a season that could resemble what the Panthers pulled off last year.
But the Saints are not cruising into August without problems. Injuries have already hit several key veterans, and that has become the first major obstacle.
The good news is that the rookie class brings plenty of energy, and the preseason opener against the Jaguars could be a chance for those young players to make an immediate impression.
In Other News...
Barion Browns Fast Rise Could Change The Saints Offense
Barrion Browns training camp climb has already put him in a better spot than many expected when camp opened. The Saints first unofficial offseason depth chart shows the rookie with a foothold in the receiver room, and his work has carried him well beyond the early idea of being just a return option. He has impressed enough to put himself in the mix for a real offensive role, giving New Orleans another player to monitor as the preseason moves along.
Browns rise matters because it hints at a broader plan for how the Saints want to use him, not just on special teams but in the passing game as well. The upside is obvious for a team always looking for more speed and depth at receiver, and the next question is how far that role can grow once the staff starts layering in more of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Finally Get Another Drew Brees Celebration
Drew Brees is headed back to the spot where he became a defining figure for a generation of Saints fans. The team will induct him into its Ring of Honor at halftime of the Oct. 11 game against the Vikings, adding another layer to a career that already includes a recent Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement and a legacy that stretched well beyond Sundays in the Superdome.
The recognition matters because Brees was never just the quarterback who piled up wins and numbers for New Orleans. He was the face of the franchise during its rise, and the honor also reflects what he meant to the city itself, from his play on the field to his work in the community. He becomes the ninth person to receive the distinction, with a familiar celebration now set to give Saints fans another chance to salute one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Rookie Brock Rechsteiner May Already Be Facing A Different Future
Brock Rechsteiners path in New Orleans was already going to be an interesting one after the rookie wide receiver drew a six-game suspension for the start of the 2026 season. The Saints added him as a developmental bet, but the early setback only added to the uncertainty around a player trying to carve out a role in a crowded professional setting.
Now the bigger question may be whether his football future lasts long enough to matter. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Rechsteiner is viewed as a long shot to stick on the Saints roster and is expected to move toward WWE, following a family path that already includes cousin Bronson Rechsteiner, who had a brief NFL run before making the jump to wrestling. [Read more 🡒]