In this series, I examine which fantasy-relevant 2025 dynasty rookies will be good fits on each NFL team. This week, I’m wrapping up the series by looking at the teams in the NFC South. In this series, I’ll be highlighting how much of a need each offensive skill position is for each team. I’ll provide a rating out of 10 for how much of a need each position is. Then, I will identify the best (and most realistic) fits among 2025 prospects.
Below are the other NFC Division that I’ve highlighted already in this series.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback - (0/10)
It’s hard to blame Baker Mayfield for disappointing first round elimination this year. He was great all season long, including in the playoff game – outside of one mistake. While Mayfield’s position is safe, there may be a conversation eventually about his ability to elevate this team in the playoffs. If he keeps getting the team to the playoffs, it’ll be hard to move into the desperate group of teams searching for a franchise passer.
Running Back - (1/10)
Raachad White’s tenure as a workhorse back was always a tenuous situation. It didn’t take long for rookie Bucky Irving to take the job away from him. With Irving’s breakout season and White still around as a good backup, the Buccaneers can look to address needs elsewhere this offseason.
Wide Receiver - (3/10)
Mike Evans continues to do Mike Evans things. He’ll be 32 heading into next season though and finding his future replacement should certainly be in mind for the Buccaneers front office. While rookie Jalen McMillan looked great over the 2nd half of the season, he’s more likely to replace Chris Godwin, who many expect to leave Tampa Bay in free agency.
Tight End - (1/10)
With a number of injuries at wide receiver, Cade Otton showed what he can do in the receiving game with more opportunity.
Best Fit – Jayden Higgins
(Wide Receiver – Round 3)
The Buccaneers have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball, so I don’t expect them to use one of their top two picks on a skill position. In the third round though, one target for the Buccaneers to keep an eye out for is Jayden Higgins. Higgins provides good size on the outside and very reliable hands.
While Higgins is 6’4, he’s not much of a 1 to 1 replacement for Mike Evans as a downfield threat. That’s not much of a knock on Higgins though, as few project to be as consistently dominant as Mike Evans has through his career. With Higgins the Buccaneers would have a high floor prospect that’s shown he can find space and be a reliable contributor to an offence. He may not have elite athleticism, but he showed off some of his skills recently at the Senior Bowl.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback - (0/10)
Michael Penix is still very much an unknown after only starting three games in his rookie season. The Falcons have shown nothing but confidence in the young passer though. The Falcons will more than likely give Penix the next two seasons to prove whether he can be the new franchise passer they’ve been seeking since the days of Matt Ryan.
Running Back - (0/10)
Bijan Robinson is a top 5 running back in the league. Tyler Allgeier is a top 5 backup running back in the league. No need to add to an already stacked unit.
Wide Receiver - (1/10)
2024 was a great year for the wide receiver position in Atlanta. Drake London broke out as many projected in his 3rd season in the league. New signing Darnell Mooney saw a resurgence that left him just shy of a 1000-yard season after back-to-back campaigns where he didn’t crack the 500-yard mark.
Even Ray-Ray McCloud, in his 7th NFL season, had a career year with 62 receptions and 765 total yards. While the Falcons may add some depth in the back half of the draft, the position is well set for 2025.
Tight End - (4/10)
While the wide receiver room exceeded all expectations, Kyle Pitts’ season had the opposite result. After significant offseason hype surrounding his potential with a more effective quarterback and fully healthy, Pitts had another disappointing season.
While Pitts is an athletic marvel, he’s translated that into very little production at the NFL level. Barring a remarkable turnaround in 2025, it’s very likely Pitts will seek the opportunity that a change of scenery offers. The Falcons may want to get ahead of the need in a draft with a number of options.
Best Fit – Harold Fannin Jr
(Tight End – Round 2)
With only 4 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s very possible that the Falcons draft no skill position players at all. Harold Fannin Jr. is one player that could force their hand in the 2nd round.
Fannin had a record-setting 2024 season. His 1555 receiving yards and 117 receptions were both FBS records for a tight end. The reason he’s projected to be available in the 2nd round though, is that he did this playing in the less competitive Mid-American Conference.
That doesn’t mean he can’t produce against tougher competition though. In two games against Power 4 conference teams, including Penn State, the six seed in the CFP, he averaged 9.5 receptions, 141 yards, and a touchdown.
Fannin is on the smaller side for a tight end as well. At the senior bowl Fannin did alleviate some size concerns, measuring 6’3 1/8” and 238 lbs. If he’s able to put up a good 40 time at that size then he could gone by the time Atlanta makes their 2nd selection.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback - (0/10)
Early in the season, no one would believe the Panthers are as well off at quarterback as they are now. Bryce Young was benched 2 weeks into the season and it looked like his career may be over before it started, but once he returned to starting in Week 8, he looked like a different player.
I’m not saying Young is now a top 10 quarterback, but he now has promise for the future, and allow the Panthers to look to improve the roster around him rather than look for his replacement.
Running Back - (3/10)
Jonathon Brooks’ rookie season was worse than anyone could have expected. His return from a 2023 ACL tear was much slower than initially expected, with him not returning from injuring until Week 12. Then in Week 14 Brooks tore his ACL once again – just over a year after suffering the same injury on the same knee. At this point, he likely won’t play until 2026.
Luckily for the Panthers, Chuba Hubbard was great in Brooks’ absence. With Hubbard signing an extension to stay in Carolina, he’ll likely continue as the lead back throughout Brooks’ absence and beyond. Beyond Hubbard though Miles Sanders provides little confidence in the running back room, and could be a cap cut this offseason. The Panthers could add another back in a loaded class to help alongside Hubbard, but it’s not a top priority.
Wide Receiver - (7/10)
Adam Thielen is approaching the end of his career, Diontae Johnson is gone. Luckily 2024 saw a couple of young receivers with potential emerge in Carolina. Xavier Legette, while not producing at the level of his fellow 1st round receivers, showed lots of promise in his first NFL season. Undrafted rookie Jalen Coker performed well down the stretch of the season and could earn an expanded role in 2025.
Although the Panthers will be happy that they have two young receivers with promise, they’re going to need to make an investment at wide receiver this offseason to help Young. While the Panthers could look to make a veteran signing, they may be better off continuing the young movement at wide receiver.
Tight End - (2/10)
There’s a certain level of patience needed with young tight ends. Ja’Tavion Sanders showed good signs in his first season despite fairly minimal production.
Best Fit – Xavier Restrepo
(Wide Receiver – Round 3)
Legette is an imposing figure on the outside, and Coker has size and positional versatility. The Panthers could use a reliable slot receiver to come in and replace Thielen.
I’m confident that Xavier Restrepo could make an immediate impact in the slot for the Panthers. He’s a sharp route runner and has great hands. He’d offer a safety blanket for Young in contrast to Legette’s big play ability.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback - (7/10)
Derek Carr is an okay NFL starting quarterback. In the NFL though, where teams are always searching for the passer that can help them through the playoffs, Carr will always be looking over his shoulder. The Saints likely won’t be able to acquire the top tier of quarterbacks with their first round selection, which may leave Carr safe for another year. Still, the Saints should be searching for the future of the most important position.
Running Back - (4/10)
Alvin Kamara still looks great, but his age is catching up to him. Kendre Miller has spent significantly more time on IR than in the lineup. While the Saints could be content heading into 2025 with that duo, an addition to prepare for the future may not be the worst choice.
Wide Receiver - (6/10)
Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed look like they could be a dynamic wide receiver duo – if they could stay on the field. With the injury history of their top receivers, and little depth behind them, the Saints will need to bring in reinforcements to this position group through the draft.
Tight End - (8/10)
With Juwan Johnson a FA and Taysom Hill approaching the end of his career, the Saints will need to address tight end this offseason. With a terrible cap situation, the draft may be their only option.
Best Fit – Emeka Egbuka
(Wide Receiver – Round 1)
This pick would require the Saints to either trade back in the 1st round or trade up from their selection in the 2nd round. The Saints are in a very poor cap situation, so trading back from their 9th overall selection to add multiple cost controlled draft selections may be a prudent move. This move would have a huge impact for 2025 dynasty rookies.
Egbuka would fit perfectly as a larger slot between the two outside speedsters in Olave and Shaheed. Ebuka is reliable, shifty, and would give the Saints one of the fastest wide receiver trios in the league. I love this landing spot for 2025 dynasty rookies.