NFC South: 2018 Offseason Update

ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Devonta Freeman (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

It is officially draft month! Before the Atlanta Falcons get to the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26, let’s look at what the rest of the NFC South has been doing.

Last season, the NFC South was the best division in all of football. Three of the four teams made the playoffs — including the Atlanta Falcons — and finished with at least 10 wins. And this offseason, the division has been busy making moves to improve even further.

As we inch slowly toward the 2019 season, let’s look at the moves each team has made this offseason so far, starting with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Acquisitions

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• DE Jason Pierre-Paul
• DT Mitch Unrein
• DT Beau Allen
• DE Vinny Curry
• K Chandler Catanzaro
• C Ryan Jensen
• OLB Cameron Lynch

Losses

• RB Doug Martin
• DT Clinton McDonald
• DT Chris Baker
• OG Kevin Pamphile

Re-Signed

• QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
• RB Peyton Barber
• WR Mike Evans
• TE Cameron Brate
• OG Adam Gettis
• DE Will Clarke
• OLB Adarius Glanton
• CB Brent Grimes
• SS Keith Tandy

Unsigned

• DE Robert Ayers
• DB Robert McClain
• RB Charles Sims
• OG Ethan Smith
• DB T.J. Ward

Tampa Bay has been busy this offseason trying to revamp their lackluster defensive line, which ranked dead last in the NFL with just 22 sacks in all of 2018. The Bucs signed defensive lineman Vinny Curry, Beau Allen and Mitch Unrein and traded for Jason Pierre-Paul to address the issue.

Curry is fresh off a Super Bowl title with the Eagles and was apart of one of the best defensive lines in the league. Curry totalled 42 tackles and three sacks on the season. His Pro Football Focus rating of 84.8 ranked 21st amongst all defensive ends.

Pierre-Paul lead the Giants in sacks last season with 8.5 and has 15.5 in the past two years. Curry and Pierre-Paul should be the starting defensive ends come September and will give the Bucs’ defensive line a much needed boost.

Allen and Unrein should challenge for the number two defensive tackle spot behind star Gerald McCoy. The two will provide the Bucs with solid depth along the defensive line and will replace McDonald and Baker, who were lost in free agency.

Tampa Bay has re-signed a lot of impact players, but still have a few that are on the market. Secondary pieces T.J. Ward and Robert McClain are still on the market, who both played big roles in the Bucs’ defense. If they choose not to bring these two back, the Bucs could be looking to add some secondary help early in the draft.

The Bucs could also use some help in the backfield, as Tampa Bay ranked 27th in rushing yards in 2017. With the departure of veteran Doug Martin, expect Tampa to also be interested in a running back early in the draft.