North Charlotte Today

When Bryce Young and Michael Penix faced off in a thrilling season finale, it hinted at a more competitive future for the NFC South. The young quarterbacks are seen as potential catalysts for balance within the division.

While the NFL combine focuses on quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the NFC South appears content with its current roster of quarterbacks. Tampa Bay and New Orleans have veterans Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr, while Carolina and Atlanta have promising young talent.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales remarked on the excitement and challenge presented by Penix's performance against them. "That was exciting, but it was also pretty scary," he said. Canales emphasized the need to meet new challenges within their division.

Historically, the NFC South has struggled to post strong records since 2017 when Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan led their teams to playoff appearances. Recent seasons have seen combined records of 28-40 last year, 27-41 in 2023, and 29-39 in 2022.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht acknowledged the rising competition posed by young quarterbacks like Young and Penix. "You know, in Carolina, Bryce Young really came on this year," Licht noted.

The Falcons' decision to start Penix over Kirk Cousins marked a significant shift towards long-term stability. General manager Terry Fontenot expressed confidence in Penix as a future franchise player. "That's the vision for that," Fontenot stated.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan is focused on building a competitive team regardless of changes within the division. "Our goal every year is going to be to win the division," Morgan said.

Canales praised Young's qualities: "Just toughness...mental toughness, emotional toughness." He expressed excitement about building around Young and other emerging talents like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.

Both Carolina and Atlanta are optimistic about challenging Tampa Bay for the division title next season. Canales sees potential in his team's growth: "Leaving the season talking to Bryce...there was just a mutual respect."