NFC South Rankings: DL
In an ongoing summer series, Pewter Report looks at and ranks each position group in the NFC South. So far, we’ve chronicled and ranked the NFC South quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive lines. Now, it’s on to the NFC South’s defensive lines.
Tight Ends Offensive Line For the purposes of this series, I will qualify the defensive line as including traditional pass rushers. Within the NFC South, Saints defensive ends like Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson and Payton Turner will be evaluated in line with the Bucs outside linebackers Shaq Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, etc. The NFC South features a solid defensive front overall, with there being very little separation between the four teams. With the Falcons remaking their line through free agency, the Bucs’ draft investments and the Saints re-tooling their interior, this is an interesting group for the division.
Tampa Bay Bucs
The Bucs lead off the rankings for the NFC South with a strong combination of youth and experience. Starting on the edge, the Bucs have hedged their bets at the starter position by investing in depth. Shaq Barrett has been a top-20 edge rusher over the past four seasons, but is coming off of an Achilles tear that usually takes two years to recover and return to form from. Barrett’s 234 pressures from 2019-2021 was a top ten mark in all of football. If Barrett can return to his pre-injury form, he is the best edge rusher in the division by a small margin.
