With the NFL draft in the rearview mirror, Around The NFL will project starting lineups with tasty position battle nuggets for all 32 teams. The NFC South is below.
Carolina Panthers
Panthers Projected Starters
Offense
QB Cam Newton
RB Jonathan Stewart
WR1 Kelvin Benjamin
WR2 Ted Ginn
WR3 Devin Funchess
TE Greg Olsen
LT Michael Oher
LG Andrew Norwell
C Ryan Kalil
RG Trai Turner
RT Mike Remmers
Defense
DE Charles Johnson
DT Kawann Short
DT Star Lotulelei
DE Kony Ealy
OLB Thomas Davis
MLB Luke Kuechly
OLB Shaq Thompson
CB1 Bene' Benwikere
CB2 Robert McClain
FS Kurt Coleman
SS Tre Boston
» The NFC champs will roll out an almost identical roster to the one they employed in the Super Bowl. The glaring change is Josh Norman no longer anchoring the secondary. I don't have any rookies slated to start at the moment, which is a great sign for the Panthers' chances of repeating. Getting Kelvin Benjamin back in the lineup in it of itself is a huge boost to Cam Newton.
»Brandon Boykin will play the slot corner. Robert McClain was picked on heavily opposite Norman last year, but is likely to keep his starting spot -- at least until the rookies have some seasoning. James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez should all get a chance to steal playing time after the first month, especially if offenses continue to take advantage of McClain. This all assumes Bene' Benwikere will be fully healthy after a broken leg ended his 2015 campaign.
» Dave Gettleman has been bullish about Mike Remmers after a disastrous Super Bowl. Daryl Williams will have to thoroughly beat out Remmers in training camp to leap the incumbent.
»Mike Tolbert is essentially a starter. The bowling ball fullback should spell Stewart between the tackles with Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne as scat backs. If injures to J-Stew crop up, it could spell trouble.
» There isn't a better defensive front seven in the NFL. The Panthers boast the best sideline-to-sideline tackling linebacker trio in the NFL in Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson -- expect Shaq to play an even bigger role this season. First-round defensive tackle Vernon Butler seems like a luxury in his first year, giving Carolina a dominant rotation. Paul Soliai could even play a role if injures crop up. SO. MANY. HOG. MOLLIES.
Atlanta Falcons
Falcons Projected Starters
Offense
QB Matt Ryan
RB Devonta Freeman
WR1 Julio Jones
WR2 Mohamed Sanu
WR3 Justin Hardy
TE Jacob Tamme
LT Jake Matthews
LG Andy Levitre
C Alex Mack
RG Chris Chester
RT Ryan Schraeder
Defense
DE Vic Beasley
DT Ra'Shede Hageman
DT Grady Jarrett
DE Derrick Shelby
OLB Philip Wheeler
MLB Deion Jones
OLB Brooks Reed
CB1 Desmond Trufant
CB2 Robert Alford
S Keanu Neal
S Ricardo Allen
» The lack of a third wideout is a theme in the NFC South. Justin Hardy doesn't instill confidence after just 21 catches as a rookie. Mohamed Sanu is a decent second fiddle, but the Falcons' passing game is shaping up to be Julio Jones-or-bust once again.
» Nothing against Jacob Tamme, who has found his niche in the NFL, but I expect rookie Austin Hooper to play a major role in the passing game from the tight end spot, even if he doesn't leap into the starting gig.
» Second-round pick Deion Jones is on the small side, but I'm sliding him right into the Falcons' starting lineup, because the other options made me want to yak on my computer screen. Jones should provide much-needed speed to Atlanta linebacker corps.
» Speaking of linebackers, it's interesting the team's official website now lists Vic Beasley as an OLB. Given that he's a candidate to break out rushing the passer this season, I don't expect coach Dan Quinn to drop him in coverage. When getting to the quarterback is your biggest need, you don't put your most talented rusher in space.
» The Falcons boosted the defensive front this offseason and rookie safety Keanu Neal should start in the secodary, but this group still appears wanting looking at it on paper. (Yes, Mr. Internet Troll, I'm fully aware NFL games aren't played on paper; save your angry keystrokes.)
New Orleans Saints
Saints Projected Starters
Offense
QB Drew Brees
RB Mark Ingram
WR1 Brandin Cooks
WR2 Michael Thomas
WR3 Willie Snead
TE Coby Fleener
LT Terron Armstead
LG Tim Lelito
C Max Unger
RG Andrus Peat
RT Zach Strief
Defense
DE Cameron Jordan
NT John Jenkins
DT Sheldon Rankins
DE Hau'oli Kikaha
OLB Dannell Ellerbe
MLB James Laurinaitis
OLB Stephone Anthony
CB1 Delvin Breaux
CB2 Keenan Lewis
S Kenny Vaccaro
S Jairus Byrd
» Where Andrus Peat will play this season remains a question entering the summer. At this stage I'm sliding him into guard, with the Saints hoping to eke out one more year of Strief. New Orleans doesn't have a better option at guard in the present. Getting the five best blockers in front of Drew Brees is vital, even if Peat's future is at right tackle.
» The Saints hope rookie wideout Michael Thomas can immediately fill the Marques Colston role. With a wide radius, Thomas should be an immediate red-zone threat.
» I'm not buying any Saints tight end hype this year. Coby Fleener didn't pop in Indy and Josh Hill has been more projection than production. Benjamin Watson's 2015 season feels like less evidence Fleener and Hill will have bust-out seasons and more like an anomaly predicated on a quarterback's trust of a seasoned vet.
» I'm not a huge James Laurinaitis fan, but his signing gives the Saints flexibility to reshuffle the linebacker corps, pushing Stephon Anthony to the outside. It also allows Hau'oli Kikaha to move to defensive end. He'll be undersized as a pass rusher, but as a rookie Kikaha was much better getting after the quarterback than dropping in coverage. The Saints have a need at pass rusher and shifting Kikaha to end could be an in-house solution.
»Nick Fairley has proven he's best deployed a situational pass rusher. Rookie Sheldon Rankins should beat him out for a starting gig in the defensive tackle rotation.
» I'm not ready to snipe Jairus Byrd yet. Vonn Bell might possess some of the same characteristics, but a team devoid of defensive talent isn't likely to toss aside potential playmakers -- especially ones who offer no cap relief if cut. We could see some three-safety sets with Kenny Vaccarro playing a hybrid role if Bell forces his way onto the field.
» What will the backfield look like behind Mark Ingram? Tim Hightower was a revelation late last season, but can he be counted on for a full season? C.J. Spiller was a huge disappointment after major hype. Perhaps rookie Daniel Lasco could supplant Spiller as a cheaper satellite back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers Projected Starters
Offense
QB Jameis Winston
RB Doug Martin
WR1 Mike Evans
WR2 Vincent Jackson
TE1 Austin Seferian-Jenkins
TE2 Cameron Brate
LT Donovan Smith
LG J.R. Sweezy
C Joe Hawley
RG Ali Marpet
RT Demar Dotson
Defense
DE Noah Spence
DT Gerald McCoy
DT Akeem Spence
DE Robert Ayers
OLB Lavonte David
MLB Kwon Alexander
OLB Daryl Smith
CB1 Brent Grimes
CB2 Alterraun Verner
S Chris Conte
S Bradley McDougald
» The third wideout spot behind Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson remains unaddressed. Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Cameron Brate offer a solid pass-catch tight end duo -- health permitting -- and better options in space than the spare-part receivers on the roster. I'd like to see Charles Sims motion to the slot more to help bridge the gap in the receiving corps for Winston.
» First-round pick Vernon Hargreaves will get a chance to earn a starting gig, but corners notoriously struggle out of the gate. He should push Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes at least by mid season and perhaps Jonathan Banks off the roster.
»Chris Conte is a subpar safety, but unless rookie Ryan Smith lights the world on fire in training camp, he's the best option currently. Perhaps defensive coordinator Mike Smith will utilize more three corner sets, given his depth at cornerback and talent-lacking safeties.
» Could the Bucs run more 3-4 fronts in 2016? The move would get rookie Noah Spence and Lavonte David on the edge rushing the passer, with Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers pushing from defensive end spots. Kwon Alexander and Daryl Smith would then clean up the middle. Tampa has struggled to get to the quarterback in recent year, necessitating creativity with the front seven.
