NFL free-agency grades: NFC South
With the most important transactions now complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during free agency.
NFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH
AFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH
Atlanta Falcons
| Additions | Losses |
|---|---|
| G Jamon Brown | RB Tevin Coleman |
| G James Carpenter | DE Bruce Irvin |
| OT Ty Sambrailo (re-signing) | CB Brian Poole |
| RB Kenjon Barner | CB Robert Alford |
| WR Justin Hardy (re-signing) | OT Ryan Schraeder |
The Falcons were pressed up against the salary cap and not expected to be major players in free agency. That inflexibility bodes poorly considering the team's downward trajectory over the past two years. General manager Thomas Dimitroff overpaid for a pair of interchangeable guards in Brown and Carpenter, and he failed to get creative with impact moves.
Losing Poole and Alford leaves voids at cornerback, and the upcoming draft isn't particularly deep at that position. Atlanta seems content to roll out a similar roster to the one that disappointed in 2018, hoping a new staff around head coach Dan Quinn can make more of a difference than free-agent signings.
Grade: C-
Carolina Panthers
| Additions | Losses |
|---|---|
| C Matt Paradis | C Ryan Kalil (retirement) |
| DE Bruce Irvin | OT Matt Kalil |
| OT Daryl Williams (re-signing) | LB Thomas Davis |
| DE Julius Peppers (retirement) | |
| WR Devin Funchess |
Carolina swooped in to claim Paradis, one of the top centers in the league, when all signs pointed to him landing with the Buffalo Bills or New York Jets. In signing him and bringing back Williams, the Panthers stabilized their offensive line, a critical move with quarterback Cam Newton recovering from shoulder surgery.
None of Carolina's losses should significantly hurt the team. Ryan Kalil's play had slipped, while his brother spent 2018 on injured reserve. Davis' snaps were reduced over the past several seasons, Peppers lost his effectiveness before retiring, and Funchess was benched last year.
Grade: B+
New Orleans Saints
| Additions | Losses |
|---|---|
| QB Teddy Bridgewater (re-signing) | RB Mark Ingram |
| RB Latavius Murray | C Max Unger (retirement) |
| DT Malcom Brown | TE Ben Watson |
| C Nick Easton | |
| TE Jared Cook | |
| K Will Lutz (re-signing) |
The Saints' largest splash was inking Cook, but re-signing Bridgewater was the franchise's most important move. In keeping the 26-year-old, New Orleans retained a potential successor to Drew Brees, who turned 40 in January. If nothing else, the Saints ensured they'll have the league's best backup quarterback in 2019, preventing a doomsday scenario if an injury bug bites Brees.
Murray, Brown, and Easton joined New Orleans on reasonable contracts, and they should give the team adequate play. The Saints were already Super Bowl contenders before free agency, and now they look like favorites. An extension for receiver Michael Thomas would've resulted in a perfect grade.
Grade: A-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Additions | Losses |
|---|---|
| LB Shaq Barrett | WR DeSean Jackson (trade) |
| LT Donovan Smith (re-signing) | LB Kwon Alexander |
| WR Breshad Perriman | DE Vinny Curry |
| K Cairo Santos (re-signing) | WR Adam Humphries |
| LB Deone Bucannon | QB Ryan Fitzpatrick |
| LB Adarius Taylor |
It's never good when the three most important transactions involving a team are all in the departures column.
Jackson forced his way out of town, while Humphries - one of the league's ascending slot receivers - signed with the Tennessee Titans and Alexander left for the San Francisco 49ers, adding holes to a Bucs roster that already featured too many. Inking the franchise-tagged Smith to an extension was a much-needed move, but it was slight overpay and not significant enough to balance out the losses.
Tampa's outside additions were underwhelming, to say the least. There are no long-term building blocks among Barrett, Bucannon, or Perriman. Reckless spending in previous years prevented general manager Jason Licht from retaining or acquiring top talent. Instead, the Bucs had to stroll through the discount aisle and pursue cast-offs from other teams.
Grade: C
NFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH
AFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH