While the seemingly-endless period between the NFL Draft and the preseason can be a boring time for many NFL fans, it is never too early to analyze the best players in the league. This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be compiling a list of the ten best players in each division heading into the 2016 season. The focus now shifts to the NFC South.
The Top Players from the NFC South Heading into 2016
1. Cam Newton
Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers throttled opponents for four full quarters all season long in 2015. Newton himself finished the regular season with 35 passing touchdowns and a sparkling 99.1 passer rating. Ultimately, his MVP trophy and the team’s shiny 15-1 regular season record weren’t enough to get by Von Miller and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Nonetheless, Newton’s meteoric rise to super-stardom and his supreme talent on the field make him a worthy candidate at number one on this list.
2. Luke Kuechly
Essentially, Luke Kuechly is the “Cam Newton” of the Panthers’ defense. He can do it all. A rare breed, indeed, Kuechly can cover the pass with the best of them, and he stuffs the run with elite instincts and quickness to boot. He doesn’t ever react slowly to the ball and very seldom gets blocked one on one by any lineman. Kuechly totaled 118 combined tackles in the regular season and added 29 more during the playoffs. He also finished the regular season with four interceptions and one defensive touchdown. He added to both totals in the playoffs with two more picks and two more scores. Kuechly is what every coach draws up when they are diagramming the perfect linebacker.
3. Julio Jones
Julio Jones is an absolute monster. He has had a few injury bumps in the road throughout his career, but 2015 was his best season yet as a pro. Jones finished the year with 136 receptions, 1,871 yards and 8 touchdowns. Developing a fantastic rapport with quarterback, Matt Ryan (also on this list), Jones has led the Atlanta Falcons in receiving yards each of the past two seasons and will be looking to make it three in a row starting this fall.
4. Cameron Jordan
Cameron Jordan is a freak athlete on the defensive line. If teams are trying to run the ball, he demands a double team when running to his side. When teams want to pass the ball, they almost always need to drop another lineman down to help double team him then, as well. Teams are always aware of where Jordan lines up, especially after he garnished so much attention and still managed to rack up 45 combined tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and 10 sacks last season. Jordan will be a player to keep an eye on for the New Orleans Saints in 2016.
5. Drew Brees
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints weren’t as successful as they had set out to be, but Brees himself had another solid year of production at the quarterback position. Completing 68 percent of his passes, he finished 2015 with 4,870 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns and a 101 passer rating. If Brees can get the Saints back on track and in the playoff hunt he could be higher on this list next year.
6. Doug Martin
Doug Martin had a resurgence in 2015, as he was able to find his rookie form again. The athlete formerly known as the ‘Muscle Hamster’ toted the rock 288 times last season for 1,402 yards rushing, and six touchdowns. He also added 33 receptions for 271 yards and another score. Martin heads into 2016 as a bona fide top-five running back who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope will be able to pick right back up where he left off.
7. Thomas Davis
Thomas Davis’ gritty Super Bowl performance would have been a legendary story that lived on forever had the Panthers pulled off the victory. But as fate would have it, playing in the game with a broken arm held together by metal plates and screws, would yield no glory for Davis and the Panthers. Carolina’s sidekick linebacker had another great season running alongside teammate, Luke Kuechly (listed above). He finished 2015 with 105 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery.
8. Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan and the Falcons started 5-0 last season before losing seven of their final 11 games. Ryan’s 2015 campaign consisted of 4,591 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 66 percent of his passes completed and an 89.0 passer rating. Ryan looks to build on his success with Julio Jones from last fall, hoping to find another trustworthy target at receiver in 2016 to replace Roddy White.
9. Greg Olsen
Olsen was one of the silent leaders of last year’s Panthers team. He always plays hard, and he even wound up as Cam Newton’s go to receiver for most of the year. Olsen may not be a premier deep threat, but his sure hands and precise route running mean he can always be thrown open. It makes sense for Newton’s best year to come on the hinges of losing his number one target at wide receiver and having to depend on the tight end. Olsen finished 2015 with 77 receptions, 1,104 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
10. Devonta Freeman
Hello, Mr. Freeman! Coming out of nowhere in 2015, Devonta Freeman was given the opportunity for starter’s carries in week three against Dallas. He responded with 141 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns. Freeman never relinquished the job and finished the season with 1,061 yards rushing on 264 carries, 578 yards receiving on 73 receptions and 14 total touchdowns. Hopefully, Freeman’s success can carry into 2016 and beyond for the Falcons.
Honorable Mentions: Terron Armstead (Offensive tackle, Saints), Kawann Short (Defensive tackle, Panthers).
