Best and Worst offseason moves by every team: NFC South
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Atlanta Falcons
Best: Signing center Alex Mack to help protect Matt Ryan
Finally Matt Ryan has a legitimate, dependable center to lead his line and protect him. Mack earned a reputation as one of the best at his position in his time with the Cleveland Browns and will likely gain more recognition with an improved team. He was one of the top free agents on the market this season and along with signee Mohamed Sanu, should give Atlanta's offense a big boost.
Worst: Drafting safety Keanu Neal 17th overall, ahead of his projected spot
Head coach Dan Quinn has been looking for pieces to replicate his old Seattle Seahawks defense since he got to Atlanta. Neal may be his new Kam Chancellor, but he wasn't projected to go as high as 17 and he doesn't look to be NFL ready. The Falcons could have traded back and probably still landed Neal, while acquiring more picks to fill the multitude of holes in their roster.
Carolina Panthers
Best: Finding cornerback depth with Brandon Boykin
The Carolina Panthers weren't up to much this offseason. They mostly stuck to their guns and made some re-signings, but they did add Brandon Boykin from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carolina had to throw Courtland Finnegan out there against other teams' No. 2 receivers last season and that wasn't ideal. Of course, Boykin will be asked to do more now that Josh Norman is gone, but he was a nice under-the-radar addition for the Panthers secondary.
Worst: Gettleman saying no to Josh Norman, rescinding franchise tag
This was the ultimate surprise move. It was assumed that Norman would at least play the 2016 season under the franchise tag, but Panthers general manager David Gettleman took a moral stand and let him hit the market. It will be very, very difficult for the Panthers to repeat their 2015 success without their best defensive back.
New Orleans Saints
Best: Making their draft picks count, selecting Rankins, Thomas, Bell in first two rounds
The New Orleans Saints have been in salary-cap hell the past few offseasons, making it difficult to fill all the holes necessary through free agency. But the black and gold nailed it at the draft. New Orleans took Sheldon Rankins to create an interior pass-rush in the first round. Michael Thomas was added in the second to replace Marques Colston and the Saints traded back into the second to get a playmaking defensive back in Vonn Bell to help an awful pass defense.
Worst: Not adding any defensive backs to league-worst pass defense in free agency
Obviously the Saints didn't have much to work with in the free-agent market financially, but after giving up 45 passing touchdowns, a defensive back or two would have helped. New Orleans spent money on linebackers James Laurinaitis and Craig Robertson, tight end Coby Fleener, and defensive tackle Nick Fairley, but no corners or safeties. The team reportedly made a stab at Josh Norman, but it never had close to the funds necessary to sign him. Brandon Browner's departure may have been the secondary's biggest improvement.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best: Trading back in the draft and still getting their guy in Vernon Hargreaves III
It seemed like a perfect fit. Hargreaves is from the Tampa area, went to school in the state, and fills a need. So it was a bit of a surprise for the Bucs to trade back out of the ninth overall spot with Hargreaves on the board, but they knew what they were doing and took the cornerback two picks later. Tampa Bay made some nice additions via free agency as well, but this clever move takes the cake for its 2016 offseason.
Worst: Trading back into the second round to draft a kicker
The Bucs seemed to be having a great draft early on this year. Getting Hargreaves and nabbing talented speed rusher Noah Spence with their second-rounder, but it went off the rails later in the second. Tampa traded its third- and fourth-rounders to move up into the second round for Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo. You read that right: a kicker. It was possibly the worst pick of the draft and they traded up to make it.