2024 NFL Draft: what does each team in the NFC South division need? Projected picks

Atlanta Falcons: edge rusher the priority

One of 12 NFL franchises never to have won the Super Bowl, the Atlanta Falcons haven’t topped the NFC South since 2016 - the year of their historic meltdown in the championship game - and haven’t made the playoffs since 2017. In 2023, the Georgians finished up with a 7-10 record, leaving them well outside of the postseason places.

Under newly-appointed head coach Raheem Morris, who was also in charge when the team lost Super Bowl LI to the New England Patriots, Atlanta prepare for the 2024 season having strengthened at quarterback in free agency. With former Washington and Minnesota signal caller Kirk Cousins joining on a four-year, $180 million contract in March, the Falcons’ most urgent need in the Draft now appears to be at edge rusher.

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Sports Illustrated’s Scott Kennedy notes: “That the Falcons doubled their sack total from 21 to 42 in 2023 and still finished 21st in the NFL in total sacks illustrates just how poor Atlanta has been in getting after the quarterback.” Falcons Wire’s Deen Worley tips Atlanta to go for Alabama’s Dallas Turner with their No. 8 pick. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Florida State’s Jared Verse are also being highlighted as potential first-round selections for the franchise.

Carolina Panthers: WRs wanted

Like the Falcons, the Carolina Panthers have never lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy and have been absent from the playoffs since 2017. The North Carolinians last won the NFC South title in 2015 - a season in which they went on to lose Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos. In 2023, the Panthers finished the regular season with a pitiful 2-15 record, the worst in the league.

High on the list of priorities at Carolina, who hired Dave Canales as their new head coach in January, is bolstering their options at wide receiver. However, their prospects of enjoying a successful Draft are damaged by the fact that they won’t be involved in the first round. Under normal circumstances, they would get the first overall selection as 2023′s worst team, but they traded their opening-round pick to the Chicago Bears last year.

“They’re probably drafting one, if not two, [WRs] this weekend and likely in the early stages,” says Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt. “This year’s class is deep at the top, and, in general. Between six and eight receivers could go in the first round. That leaves a bit of a waiting Game to see what’s left when they pick first on Friday night, but this will definitely be a position they take a close look at.”

Gantt picks out South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Texas’ Xavier Worthy, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Florida’s Ricky Pearsall as attractive prospects who may still be up for grabs in the second round.

New Orleans Saints: OT the focus

Super Bowl winners in the 2009 season, the New Orleans Saints haven’t been in the playoffs since 2020, which was also the most recent occasion on which they won the NFC South. In their second campaign under head coach Dennis Allen, the Saints just missed out on the postseason in 2023, losing out on tiebreakers to the Green Bay Packers after ending up with a 9-8 record.

Ahead of the 2024 Draft, New Orleans are most in need of fresh talent at offensive tackle, ESPN’s Katherine Terrell says. “Quarterback Derek Carr was sacked 17 times in the first six games last season,” she explains. “New Orleans figured out some solutions to the protection issues, as Carr was sacked 31 times total, but he still left three games with injuries during the season.”

Terrell tips the Saints to use their No. 14 pick to draft Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who is on AS USA journalist Gustavo García’s list of the stand-out OTs who have declared for the 2024 Draft. García’s top five also includes Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and Alabama’s JC Latham.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: several needs

Super Bowl winners in 2002 and 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dominated the NFC South in recent times, claiming the division title in each of the last three seasons. In their second year under the stewardship of head coach Todd Bowles - and their first without legendary quarterback Tom Brady - the Buccaneers were the NFC South’s only playoff team in 2023, making it to the divisional round before being beaten by the Detroit Lions.

According to ESPN expert Jenna Laine, Tampa Bay have a number of Draft needs - most notably at offensive linebacker, center and guard. She predicts that the Bucs will use their No. 26 pick to draft Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson. “Robinson might be the most boom-or-bust prospect in this first round,” Laine writes. “His get-off and explosiveness are terrific, but the production in college wasn’t there with 11.5 sacks in three seasons.”

Meanwhile, Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith tips Tampa Bay to end up with Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. “JPJ would give the Bucs a wide body for interior rushers to get around, and his easy lateral movement would make him an asset in combo blocks and pulling plays,” Smith says. “Plus, Powers-Johnson plays with a nasty streak that the Bucs enjoyed in their last Pro Bowl center, the now-retired Ryan Jensen.”

When is the NFL Draft?

Held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan, the 2024 NFL Draft is to take place from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 April 2024. Thursday’s first round is scheduled to get underway at 8pm ET/5pm PT.