2022 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC South

With the NFL Draft right around the corner, FTN is taking a moment to look at each division one at a time. We’re going team-by-team to identify biggest needs and moves the franchises should be looking at before or during the draft, which starts April 28.

Today we visit the NFC South, which saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cruise to a division title in 2021 before coming up short against the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. With a lot of turmoil around this division this offseason, let’s look at what might happen in the draft.

Follow along with our whole 2022 NFL Draft Wish List series:

2022 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC West

Below we’ll take a quick look at each team, their pick haul, and their key needs to address in the draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First Pick: First round, 27th overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total draft picks: 6

Tom Brady retired to start the offseason, but luckily for Tampa he reversed course in short order. His return started a domino effect of free agent Buccaneers returning to the team, but there are still a few spots that require attention if they have designs on another Super Bowl run. The team retained center Ryan Jensen, but the departure of Alex Cappa leaves a hole along the interior offensive line. The team could also use some help at tight end and some running back depth on offense. On the defensive side, the Bucs could use some help in the backfield and in the trenches.

The team would be wise to address the offensive line in the first round, if possible — keeping a quarterback who will be 45 in Week 1 upright needs to be top priority. The Buccaneers will hope that either one of Zion Johnson or Kenyon Green fall to them at 27 — either would be a no-brainer pick if so. If not, they will have an opportunity to address their need on the defensive line. There will be plenty of talent edge rushers or interior linemen available at 27. Either way the smart move is to help bolster their trenches.

New Orleans Saints

First Pick: First round, 16th overall
Total first-rounders: 2
Total draft picks: 7

The Saints are now in a retooling mode after a disappointing 2021. With a new coaching staff in the building, we could see a lot of schematic and personnel change in New Orleans. The good news is that most of the team’s key players have been retained for 2022, leaving relatively few extreme needs come draft day. One need that is glaring, though, is offensive tackle though, after Terron Armstead went to Miami in free agency. The team could also use some help on wide receiver. And of course there are big questions at quarterback — even with bringing Jameis Winston back, the Saints could use one of their two first-rounders to find the new face of the franchise.

Their two first-round picks should hopefully be a quarterback and tackle. With picks at 16 and 19, the Saints could address both. The team could go O-line in this range with Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa. Penning is a big athletic tackle who has some nastiness to his game. If quarterbacks fall (or more accurately, don’t rise), the Saints could also get one of the draft’s signal callers with their other first-rounder. If not, they can also look to address the wide receiver position in a fairly deep class. Ultimately addressing the offensive side of the ball with both of their top picks makes the most sense.

Atlanta Falcons

First Pick: First round, 8th overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total draft picks: 9

Things are looking scary for Falcons fans. After trading away Matt Ryan and losing Calvin Ridley to suspension, the team will certainly have a new look in 2022. Although there are many needs for this rebuilding team, the most glaring ones are wide receiver and offensive line. The team isn’t actually set at quarterback either, but they brought in former Arthur Smith player Marcus Mariota in free agency. If they hope to find any success in 2022, they need to get him a few playmakers. The team also has needs at defense that could be addressed later in the draft — basically there is nowhere this Falcons team is ”set.”

At Pick 8, the Falcons should have many talented options to pick from. The best thing about needing to address so many positions is that they will be able to take best the best player available. They can choose to address the need for a No. 1 wide receiver and take a player like Garrett Wilson or Drake London. On the other hand, if Derek Stingley or Ahmad Gardner are available, they will be hard to pass up. The only mistake the Falcons can make in Round 1 is forgetting they are on the clock.

Carolina Panthers

First Pick: First round, 6th overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total draft picks: 6

Even with so much turmoil around this division, the Panthers may be in the most precarious position. After shipping off draft picks for Sam Darnold last season, they are left with little capital to address some clear needs they have. One of the biggest needs is the quarterback position after the Darnold experiment has seemed to flame out. Aside from trying to find the next franchise quarterback, they also need to find a way to keep him upright — they need to address every position on the offensive line in this draft as well. The list does not stop there, as they need to address many positions on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Due to all the needs the Panthers have, paired with their relatively little draft capital this year — the team doesn’t currently have any picks in the second or third rounds — they are stuck in a hard spot. Do they stay put at 6 and take a shot on Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett or trade back and gain more capital to help address all the other glaring needs? Most likely I see the Panthers staying put and taking a shot on one of these quarterbacks, while hoping they can address other positions much later in the draft with what capital they have. If they even have the smallest thought that one of these guys could be a great NFL starter, they almost have to take a shot. The current regime in Carolina isn’t likely to get many more shots.