NFC South Draft Review: 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 Draft is in the rear-view, and you can see what teams did to construct their rosters for this upcoming season. My goal is to review and give some insights into what the teams were thinking. The 2026 NFL Draft will be a fun look back in 3-5 years, because you’re seeing so many big names in media talk about how they’d hear from around the league that this was a wild-wild-west draft, so to see which teams “won” and added core pieces that helped build them into contenders, and which ones didn’t. The NFC South, in a nutshell, did a good job, in my opinion, of addressing needs while adding talent without having to reach too far.

NOTE: I don’t do grades; I find them utterly silly, so I’ll just be talking about whether I liked their draft class and some things I liked or didn’t like about it. 

NFC South Draft Review: 2026 NFL Draft

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When you can draft (arguably) the best player in the class at pick 15, that’s telling you how wild this draft was. A lot was made about arm length, but if Bain’s walkout on the stage tells you anything, the Bucs drafted a DAWG! When you watch his games, you see the dog on full display, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, and I have no doubt he will do the same at the next level. Trotter and Hurst will push for early playing time, but anyone after Bain may have to wait to get significant reps in the NFL. This team is primed for another playoff push, and they did a good job of adding guys who give them meaningful snaps this year if need be. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have a type; they love those corners with the last name Terrell. I really liked the Terrell, Branch, and Perkins picks. I think they can all stick around and be part of the core. The jury’s out on the other half of the class, but this is a team with playoff hopes, and they have the roster to push the NFC South, if they can keep their quarterbacks healthy and upright.

New Orleans Saints

You could tell the Saints wanted to build around Tyler Shough, and they did so in a big way. I could see Tyson, Lance, and Brown all be on this roster come fall, and really could see them all on the field at various points. Tyson’s injury concerns are real, but the talent is undeniable. Lance and Brown will need to develop their route trees, but the hands and the big-play ability are there for both speedsters. Miller, Delp, and Styles are guys I could see starting for them down the road. All have something special about them, and with the Saints still churning some of the aging depth on the roster, there is room for some of these young guys to earn a starting spot.

Carolina Panthers

Their defense really didn’t need a ton of attention early in the draft, but protecting Bryce Young definitely did. They lost Cade Mays, and their tackle play has been up and down. So I figured at least one offensive lineman would be picked by the Panthers, and they grabbed a good one in Monroe Freeling. He has a ton of potential, and I don’t think we’ve seen the best from him yet. Hunter was one of my favorite nose tackles in the class, so it’ll be interesting to see how they use him in this scheme.

Brazzell is a downfield playmaker who is probably just depth and in for some downfield shots in year one (short of injury), but he’s a good pickup. Lee is a better man corner than in coverage today, at least, but from the 4th round on your targeting developmental pieces. Hecht could be a more athletic Mays in time, don’t think he starts day one, though. The theme of the draft for Carolina was athleticism, as the players targeted all tested well in that category, and their last two picks were no different.