The NFC South contains a plethora of talented gunslingers ready to prove they belong.
The quarterback competition in the NFC South is shaping up to be an intriguing battle as the season opener looms in the distance.
New faces in new places and gunslingers looking to lead their team back to the top of the throne, are just the tip of the iceberg of storylines in a division filled with talented signal-callers in 2024.
There are many questions left to be answered this season in the NFC South and each quarterback has a chance to shine on the biggest stage.
Here is where each quarterback in the division ranks heading into the 2024 NFL season:
1. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
One of the biggest and most important trades in the offseason came when the Atlanta Falcons signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Through six seasons in Minnesota, Cousins threw for 23,265 passing yards and 171 touchdowns — while also leading the Vikings to three playoff appearances.
Needless to say, Cousins is no stranger to success.
Undoubtedly, the Falcons have found the missing piece at the helm they have been searching for. Cousins has an incredible supporting cast of athletic wideouts such as Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore and tight end Kyle Pitts who can all create space and make defenses pay.
For Cousins, the key to success in Atlanta this season will be staying healthy and fighting through adversity. With a quarterback like Cousins joining the squad, the Falcons fanbase has high expectations set for the upcoming season.
Can Cousins live up to these expectations and lead the Falcons to the top of the throne?
2. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)
When a team has a down year or fails to meet expectations, it becomes easy to point fingers at the athlete under center. However, Carr has proven his worth on multiple occasions and is not going anywhere.
After spending nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr arrived in New Orleans with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove.
Carr threw for 3,878 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, while only throwing eight interceptions in his first season in the Black and Gold. For the first time in over five years, the Saints have a stable quarterback at the helm who is determined to put the city and the team on his shoulders.
With that being said, there is still much left to prove. The Saints have not reached the playoffs since 2021 and are looking to take the next step under head coach Dennis Allen. It is not going to be easy, however.
Will Carr be able to take the next step and lead the Saints to the playoffs this season?
3. Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
In his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mayfield silenced any doubters with his talented play on the gridiron — leading the Bucs to a division title and a 32-9 playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Since being traded from Cleveland in 2022, Mayfield has been a man on a mission to prove any and all doubters wrong. After short stints with the Panthers and Rams, Mayfield has found his home in Tampa Bay.
In his first season with the Bucs, Mayfield threw for 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He also ranked second in the league with 12 total passing plays gaining 40 yards or more.
Now, it is time for Mayfield to prove he can do it again and continue to build upon his leadership ability on and off the field.
How can Mayfield build on last year’s success in Tampa Bay?
4. Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
Since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the first pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young has faced many obstacles adjusting to playing in the NFL.
The former Heisman Trophy winner threw for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie season. Behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, Young left everything on the gridiron in his first season playing professional football.
He performed many circus tricks and highlight-worthy plays that got those in attendance and watching at home off their feet. Young has all the potential to become an excellent quarterback, but there will continue to be growing pains that all quarterbacks face through their first couple of seasons in the NFL.
While the potential is there, Young still has to battle through the ups and downs that playing professional football will bring. Talented wideouts like tenured veteran Adam Thielen, second-year wideout Johnathan Mingo, and rookie Xavier Legette will help give Young a plethora of targets this season.
Could Young shock the division and continue to flash?
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