The 2026 NFL season is right around the corner, and it's time to make some bold predictions for every team across the league, starting with the NFC South.
After a four-year run at the top of the division and a strong start to their 2025 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a late-season collapse that allowed the Carolina Panthers to sneak ahead of them and end their streak of NFC South titles. Baker Mayfield and company will be highly motivated to get some measure of revenge and return to the top of the standings this year, but Bryce Young and the Panthers will do everything they can to repeat in the top spot.
The Atlanta Falcons have some talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, but could struggle to maximize them if they can't find consistency at quarterback with either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa, both of whom have to prove they can stay healthy. The New Orleans Saints showed flashes of promise down the stretch last year, and could build on that success while proving to be a frustrating stumbling block for the rest of the division.
Here are four things I think will happen in the NFC South this season:
Zachariah Branch Makes an Instant Splash
The Falcons already had some dynamic offensive weapons heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, but they added another dangerous one in the third round with Branch, a transfer from USC who finished his collegiate career at Georgia. An undersized but explosive playmaker, Branch's role was limited mostly to quick throws and gadget plays in the Bulldogs' offense, but he's capable of being a more complete receiver, and Kevin Stefanski should be wise enough to put him in position to reach that lofty ceiling.
While opposing defenses are worried about slowing down the likes of Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Branch should have plenty of room to work at all levels of the field, taking full advantage of 1-on-1 opportunities and creating splash plays both downfield and after the catch. Throw in his potential impact in the return game, and you've got a recipe for an instant-impact player who will be on the highlight reel early and often.
Jonathon Brooks Finally Arrives
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The Panthers spent an early second-round pick on Brooks in 2024, but injuries have limited him to just three games over his first two years in the league. Still, having just turned 23 years old, Brooks appears to be finally healthy and ready to deliver on the promise we all saw from him at Texas, where he averaged over six yards per carry for his career.
Chuba Hubbard has proven he can be a featured back, which is why Carolina gave him a big contract extension after a breakout season in 2024, but he took a back seat to Rico Dowdle last year. Dowdle's in Pittsburgh now, which should open up an opportunity for Brooks to push Hubbard for at least a true time share in the backfield. If he's able to stay healthy, Brooks still has the talent that made him the first running back off the board in 2024, and the Panthers' offense should benefit greatly if he's finally able to put it on full display.
Travis Etienne Jr. Steals Alvin Kamara's Job
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Kamara has been the focal point of the Saints' offense for a generation, handling a massive workload and putting up big numbers on the ground and through the air. He's back on a reworked contract for the 2026 season, but New Orleans paid big money for a younger player at his position this offseason, bringing Etienne back home to Louisiana after an impressive career at Clemson and with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kamara is still a fan favorite in New Orleans, and rightly so, but the Saints didn't pay big money for Etienne just to make him Kamara's relief in the offensive backfield. While Kamara will certainly still have a role in the offense on any and all downs, it should be Etienne who gets the lion's share of the touches moving forward, proving to be the new lead back and pushing Kamara down the depth chart.
Jalen McMillan Becomes a Household Name
Even without Mike Evans, the Bucs have a ton of talent at wide receiver heading into the 2026 season. But while the national focus remains on what should be a fantastic second season from Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin Jr. finally being back to full strength, it's McMillan who could emerge as a big-time playmaker for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay.
A third-round pick out of Washington in 2024, McMillan was primed for a breakout campaign of his own in 2025 before a scary neck injury in the preseason sidelined him for most of the regular season. Now back to full strength, McMillan should benefit from opposing defenses' focus on Egbuka and Godwin, with plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities. McMillan caught seven touchdown passes over the final five games of his rookie season, and he can make that kind of impact with the benefit of more experience and chemistry with Mayfield this year.
