The NFC South came down to the final weekend of the 2025 NFL season, with the Carolina Panthers clinching the division by defeating the New Orleans Saints. After that result kept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the playoffs, the division appears poised for another tight race in 2026, especially after each team added key talent in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jordan Tyson, Ruben Bain Jr., and Monroe Freeling headline the first-round talent entering the division, but several Day 2 and Day 3 selections also have the potential to make a major impact. NFL Mocks highlights one non-first-round rookie from each NFC South team who could become a difference-maker and give division rivals plenty to worry about.
Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia (No. 79 overall)
The Falcons had an effective draft without having a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With their top pick, they added Avieon Terrell to pair with his brother A.J. Terrell in the secondary. On the offensive side of the ball, they dipped into the Georgia Bulldogs talent train with the selection of wide receiver Zachariah Branch with the 79th overall pick.
This is a great match for the player and the team as Branch gets to stay in the state of Georgia and he will add another dynamic weapon alongside Drake London. With his elite speed, Branch has great playmaking ability from the slot and can also be used as a kick returner. He does not project to be the No. 2 receiver the Falcons are looking for, but with his speed and lateral agility, he is going to be a handful in the NFC South. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is going to love finding ways to get Branch the ball in Atlanta’s offense.
Carolina Panthers: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee (No. 83 overall)
Speed personified, Chris Brazzell is a rookie that should scare rival NFC South teams based on his deep threat ability and how well he will complement 2026 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. Selected with the 83rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Brazzell not only brings great speed, but he also has tremendous size at 6-foot-4, which gives the Panthers’ offense a group of receivers standing at 6-foot-3 or higher.
While creating buzz prior to the 2026 NFL Draft due to his explosiveness and big-play ability at Tennessee, Brazzell did slip to the third round which could turn into a steal for the Panthers, especially if he takes snaps away from Xavier Legette and takes over the WR3 role. With his combination of size and speed, the exciting rookie is poised to give opposing secondaries something to think about whenever he shares the field with McMillan.
New Orleans Saints: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia (No. 73 overall)
The Saints added more offensive weapons in the 2026 NFL Draft to both build around second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and complement star wide receiver Chris Olave. In selecting Jordyn Tyson with the 8th overall pick and then adding Bryce Lance in the fourth round, the Saints added a WR2 to their offense and depth with Lance. The sneaky good pick is the selection of tight end Oscar Delp with the 73rd pick in the draft.
Delp may not have posted eye-popping production at Georgia, but his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame and natural pass-catching ability give him intriguing NFL upside. While Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant currently headline the Saints' tight end room, Delp has an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role as a rookie. If he does, he'll quickly become another weapon NFC South defenses must account for.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri (No. 46 overall)
The Buccaneers got an absolute steal in the first round with the selection of Ruben Bain Jr. with the 15th overall pick. Did they get another steal in the second round with the selection of Josiah Trotter?Â
After Lavonte David retired, the team needed to fill a gap at inside linebacker. Although they signed Alex Anzalone as a short-term solution, the Buccaneers are The Buccaneers are looking for their linebacker of the future. Trotter fits the profile of an inside linebacker who excels as a downhill tackler and demonstrates excellent field awareness. As the son of Jeremiah Trotter, the new Buccaneers rookie has elite run defense in his bloodline. His instincts, physicality, and fit in Tampa Bay's defensive scheme could make him one of the most impactful second-round defenders in the division.
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