What NFL Teams Need/Want In The Offseason: NFC South

Note: This is an eight-part series that will run each day on OutKick, with one division in the NFL covered each day. Find the whole series here.

Buccaneers: Job 1 is to re-sign Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are using the weeks prior to the launch of free agency to negotiate that deal. The Bucs would also like to retain receiver Mike Evans but that's a two-edged sword because he is highly productive but is also 31 next season. So a four-year deal for a 31-year-old receiver? Tampa has significant talent threatening to walk in free agency. That includes linebacker Lavonte David and safety Antoine Winfield. So much of the $48 million in cap space the club boasts may be spent simply retaining guys. So where does the upgrade happen? The Bucs have the 21st pick in the first round and own a full complement of picks except for their fifth-rounder. But it's hard to use lower-third picks to turn a solid team into a great team. 

Re-signing Baker Mayfield should be priority one for Tampa Bay. (Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports) 

Saints: The annual salary cap space clearance exercise was understandable under Sean Payton and Drew Brees when the idea was to maintain a contender. But the Saints are a middling team now so why the constant cap issues at this stage? The club has convinced fans being underwater with the cap before the start of every league year is smart. Fans think juggling contracts to reach cap compliance is amazing. It's not at the level the Saints are forced to do it. The Saints need to let vets walk. Thus, Michael Thomas should go, left tackle Andrus Peat probably needs to graduate, Trai Turner needs to go. All are free agents. Taysom Hill, 34, was a fun hybrid guy once upon a time, but the club can save $10 million by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation. Trevor Penning needs to play (probably at guard) because he wasn't good at tackle despite being drafted to fill that spot. The Saints must add a left tackle, probably in the draft. About that draft: NOLA lacks third- and fourth-round picks. And having 1,230 fifth-round picks doesn't make up for that.

Falcons: The Falcons will be quarterback shopping because the decision to bank on Desmond Ridder last season with no net to save anyone if he faltered cost people their jobs. So do the Falcons go shopping for Russell Wilson or Justin Fields or Kirk Cousins? Or do they draft someone not named Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, who'll already be gone by the time they are scheduled to select at No. 8 overall? The Falcons could try to trade up but that still may not get them high enough to pick Jayden Daniels. The Falcons have approximately $42 million in cap space, per Spotrac, so they should be able to fill in at cornerback, receiver, and maybe even at edge rusher – all areas where they need help. 

Panthers: The order of the day is to help Bryce Young and one does this by giving him playmakers on the outside. The 5-10ish QB could also use better protection up the middle, so interior offensive line help should be another area to address. The Carolina defense should try to keep edge rusher Brian Burns, a pending unrestricted free agent, because he's good. But there must be a limit because he's not exactly Myles Garrett dynamic. The Panthers had the NFL's worst record last season, so the bright side is they have the first overall draft pick. Psyche, that pick belongs to Chicago as part of the 2022 trade to select Young. Sigh. Carolina has nearly $43 million in cap space, so it can be moderately and thoughtfully active if new GM Dan Morgan wishes.