Buccaneers defense will be a major problem, and Drake London will enter elite territory headline NFC South hot takes for 2025

NFC South Hot Takes

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hot Take: This will be the Bucs' worst statistical defense since Todd Bowles joined Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers' defense is in a tough spot. At CB, they will desperately need one of Zyon McCollum or rookie Benjamin Morrison to develop quickly in training camp to be their number one CB. And their pass rush is as bad as it's been in a while. They signed Haason Reddick this offseason, but he's coming off a one sack season after playing 10 games with the New York Jets. The bright spot of the defense will be their incredible DT duo of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. On paper, this looks like the worst defense the Buccaneers have had since Todd Bowles was hired as their defensive coordinator ahead of the 2019 season. His first year in 2019 has been the worst statistical defense since joining the Buccaneers, but 2025 has all the makings to change that this season. Luckily for him, he just inked an extension ahead of the year, which makes his job seem pretty safe no matter if the defense sinks their season. - Destin Adams

Buying or out on this take: Reluctantly buying 

Destin makes some great points here. Todd Bowles is going to revive the "X's & O's versus Jimmy's & Joe's" debate. How much weight can Todd, who is one of the best defensive playcallers in football, shoulder for himself to cover some of the challenges this group may present to him? Haason Reddick needs to recapture the magic, the young duo of Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish need to be really to roll, Antoine Winfield Jr. must stay healthy and if all of that goes right, this team could be great defensively.

I think it's far more likely that Tampa Bay is "okay" on defense in 2025. How much does star linebacker Lavonte David continue to cover by himself in the middle? When you sprinkle in the rising tides offensively in both Atlanta and Carolina, it seems like the competition in the NFC South will be more challenging, too. I think Tampa Bay, barring a blitz-heavy approach that thrives with turnovers, will be a middle of the pack scoring defense. Bowles' defenses have been top-10 in at least one of yards, points, or turnovers every year from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, they ranked 18th, 16th, and 16th, respectively. I think they'll be similar this year.  - Kyle Crabbs

New Orleans Saints

Hot Take: New Orleasnt finishes with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

Forgive me, New Orleans. I like a number of elements of what the Saints have at their disposal this year, including the offensive and defensive line makeup. But you have a rookie coach coming into the season with a giant question mark at quarterback and a lot of aging players with a lot of weight on their shoulders. Due to the cap restrictions of recent years, I don't think the depth is encouraging across the board, and injuries are an inevitable piece of the puzzle throughout a 17-game season.

That, plus a wide receiver room that has major durability and health questions, could make the ability to play complementary football challenging for the Saints. The arrow is pointing up for the other three teams in the division, plus New Orleans draws the NFC West and the AFC East in 2025, pinning them into matchups with multiple teams that could have major advantages head-to-head with New Orleans. - Kyle Crabbs

Buying or out on this take: I'm buying all the stock I can 

The Saints are in a tough spot on both sides of the ball. On offense, the most important position in football, QB, is gonna be a huge question mark. Will rookie Tyler Shough be given the starting job day one, will someone like Spencer Rattler create a legit competition for the job, or will neither impress and force them to make a move for a veteran elsewhere? And no matter who is under center, they are one Chris Olave injury away from having the worst pass catchers in the league.

On defense, their pass rush is led by an aging Cameron Jordan, who has regressed severely over the past two years, and the duo of Chase Young and Carl Granderson, who both had 5.5 sacks last season. In the secondary, they lost their top CB in Paulson Adebo to the New York Giants in free agency and will need Kool-Aid McKinstry to take a big step forward during his sophomore season. Even with those facts, the defense on paper is undoubtedly the strongest side of the ball for the Saints, but they will be learning a new scheme due to their coaching changes and look destined to be an average unit at best. That seems like a solid recipe to end up with the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. - Destin Adams

Carolina Panthers

Hot Take: Chuba Hubbard does not reach 1,000 rushing yards

Chuba Hubbard has been great for the Panthers over the last two years. In 2023, he set new career highs with 902 yards and five touchdowns after only starting 12 games. This led to an increased role in 2024, and he recorded his first ever 1,000 yard rushing season with 1,195 yards and doubled his previous career high for rushing touchdowns with 10

Even after doing this, the Panthers made a conscious effort to add to the RB room this offseason by signing Rico Dowdle and drafting Trevor Etienne. Dowdle also had over 1,000 yards last year with the Dallas Cowboys, and it seems like the plan in Carolina is for the two to split reps to keep both fresh after both recorded over 230 carries individually last season. I do think Hubbard will still have success in the red zone as he should be the go to back in that area, but I don't see him reaching 1,000 yards again this season. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he falls short of 900 yards either. - Destin Adams

Buying or out on this take: Buying! 

With all due respect to Chuba Hubbard, you don't add two running backs to the stable, including a fellow masher in Rico Dowdle, unless you plan on keeping everyone a little more fresh. Hubbard will still be "the man", I'd assume. That four-year, $33.2 million extension affirms that. But the Dave Canales offense is heavily invested in runs to alleviate time under tension for his offensive line, and the Panthers would be wise to aspire not to run Hubbard into the ground. - Kyle Crabbs

Atlanta Falcons

Hot Take: Drake London goes for 1,500 yards in 2025

Drake London might be the quietest 100-reception player in the league in recent memory. 10 players the feat last season, and London was one of only two who didn't make the Pro Bowl for his efforts. In the last three seasons, there have been 31 single-season performances that totalled 100+ receptions, and 26 of them have gotten at least some form of postseason accolade. Not London!

But that changes this year with Michael Penix Jr. playing quarterback full time. London ran 99 routes with Penix Jr. at quarterback in 2024, got a 40% target share, and averaged 16 yards per catch. Contrast that to a 26% target share and 11.8 yards per catch when running routes for quarterbacks NOT named Michael Penix. The dynamic nature of those targets is going to lead to bigger numbers, and I'd be willing to bet that London finishes in the top-3 in the league in receiving yards this season. - Kyle Crabbs 

Buying or out on this take: I'm out, but I really wish I could buy

I've been a big Drake London guy for a while now, and if I were answering this question with my heart, I would be buying this take. But last season, he set a new career high for targets(158), receptions (100), and yards (1,271). He finished the year with the third most targets of any player in the NFL, only trailing Ja'Marr Chase (175) and Malik Nabers (170). I have a hard time seeing his targets go up much this year, so to hit 1,500, he would need to add to his catch total, or he'd need to add to his 12.7 yards per reception. Hitting 1,500 is a very tough task; only two WRs in the league surpassed that amount last season in Chase and Justin Jefferson. I think London can be awesome in 2025 without hitting that number, and that is the outcome I'm expecting right now. - Destin Adams