Most of the NFC South will be experiencing a bit of a facelift under center in 2023. But according to NFL.com contributing columnist Adam Schein, it’s not a particularly pretty one.
On Wednesday, Schein ranked the league’s eight divisions by their collective groups of (projected) starting quarterbacks. Bringing up the rear, similarly to 2022, is the NFC South.
As of now, the Atlanta Falcons are sticking with Desmond Ridder, the New Orleans Saints are transitioning to Derek Carr, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are likely opting for Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers have entered a new era with Bryce Young. While Schein wasn’t exactly bullish on Ridder or Mayfield, he did have this to write about this year’s No. 1 overall pick:
Now, I’m confident Young will live up to his draft pedigree as the No. 1 overall pick sooner than later. He’s a beautiful mind at a cerebral position, a resilient gamer with immense toughness that belies his slight frame. Not to mention, the Panthers have surrounded him with a spectacular coaching staff that understands the position, including head coach Frank Reich, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and senior assistant Jim Caldwell. This is going to work, even if/when Young suffers some rookie growing pains.
Even though Carolina’s depth chart is currently headed by veteran Andy Dalton, who was in New Orleans last season, Young is expected to be the team’s Week 1 starter. Per MMQB’s Albert Breer, the organization is just waiting on the new coaching staff to get up to speed with the inherent growing pains of their own.
So, perhaps Young can eventually help up the passing profile of the NFC South. But, for now, their low-ranking status isn’t much of a surprise.
What else do you expect when a second-year third-round pick is the longest tenured quarterback in the division?
