This is it.
Sure, teams can still add talent through the draft and free agency — undrafted, unrestricted or guys on the street — but for the most part, rosters are what they will be in 2016.
When we last checked in on the NFC South last month, it appeared that Tampa Bay's Lovie Smith-for-Dirk Koetter surprise was the division's biggest move this offseason. Honestly, it still seems that way.
The Falcons, Bucs and Saints have each doled out at least $62.9 million on free agents the past few weeks. Meanwhile, the 3-time defending division champion Panthers have spent less than $12 million.
From injuries to changes in luck, anything can happen over the next nine months. But despite the division's attempt to play catch up, it's still hard to peg the Panthers as anything but a heavy favorite to keep their crown.
Carolina Panthers
- DT Paul Soliai
- OL Gino Gradkowski
- P Swayze Waters
- CB Brandon Boykin
- CB Josh Norman (franchise tag)
- DE Charles Johnson
- FB Mike Tolbert
- DT Kyle Love
- P Brad Nortman
- DT Dwan Edwards
- $9.46 million
- $18.13 million
Atlanta Falcons
- C Alex Mack
- DE Derrick Shelby
- WR Mohamed Sanu
- DE Adrian Clayborn
- LB Paul Worrilow
- S Charles Godfrey
- WR Roddy White
- DT Paul Soliai
- $25.65 million
- $8.17 million
New Orleans Saints
- DT Nick Fairley
- LB James Laurinaitis
- TE Colby Fleener
- LB Craig Robertson
- WR Marques Colston
- G Jahri Evans
- TE Ben Watson
- $31.33 million
- $3.60 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Head coach Dirk Koetter
- DE Robert Ayers
- G J.R. Sweezy
- P Bryan Anger
- CB Brent Grimes
- CB Josh Robinson
- RB Doug Martin
- LB Daryl Smith
- Head coach Lovie Smith
- G Logan Mankins
- LB Bruce Carter
- $390,237
- $14.52 million
*according to Spotrac **as of Apr. 13, via NFLPA
Atlanta got a little better offensively, Mack was s monster pick up. NO is going to be better just for dropping Ryan.
Atlanta will be some better and if Josh Norman doesn’t come back the Panthers will be lucky to win the South for a fourth time in a row. What can the Panthers stop Atlanta’s high powered passing game with? Little is left in FA and a drafted rookie CB isn’t likely to have starting talent.
Something usually happens to teams trying to make it back to the SB for consecutive times and this may be Carolina’s Achilles Hill.