Some folks consider the NFC South to be the best division in the NFL heading into 2017. We’ll be taking a look at each position group for each team and ranking them leading up to the season, hoping to give you a better feel for the teams the Panthers will be facing twice on the schedule, as well as the hometown team itself. The NFC South has always been known for dominant defensive lines, from the 2003 Carolina Panthers front four that featured Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Brentson Buckner, to the legendary faces of Warren Sapp, John Abraham, Cameron Jordan and Reggie White. 2017 will be no different for the NFC South, as all four teams boast some of the most feared pass rushers and run stoppers in the league. We break down each teams interior and exterior defensive lines, and grade the overall talent in this edition’s NFC South rankings.

Defensive Tackles:

4) Saints – Tony McDaniel and Sheldon Rankins

The Saints have recently been known for a dominant offense and truth be told – a historically bad defense. While the duo of McDaniel and Rankins isn’t awful, it still holds many question marks entering 2017. With Saints starting DT Fairley being named out for the season with a heart condition, the pressure now lies on Rankings and a young McDaniel to fill the void. Rankins (when healthy) has shown that he can produce at a starting level as well; however, he has struggled through most of his career in the league with injuries. If Rankins can stay healthy and McDaniel can prove that he can play in the league, this could become a solid duo moving forward.

3) Falcons – Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett

The Falcons made perhaps one of the biggest moves this offseason in bolstering their interior line with the signing of Poe, a one man wrecking crew for the Chiefs, who for the past few seasons has been holding down the middle of the line and stifling run games singlehandedly. However, this signing also poses a risk, as the Chiefs had much better surrounding talent in their front seven, which, along with playing in a 3-4, helped Poe wreak havoc in the middle. Meanwhile, Atlanta has a much less impressive defensive line and linebacker group, while playing in the more traditional 4-3 system. If Poe can adjust to the new scheme, and the Falcons can find a way to make him a one man wrecking crew in their system, he could be one of the better signings of the year. When you then throw in a young and steadily improving third year player in Jarrett, who produced three sacks and nearly 50 tackles last year, you may find these two could play well together in the 4-3.

2) Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy and Chris Baker

Tampa Bay’s defensive tackles would be ranked at the top spot in nearly any other division outside of the South, so slotting them at number two is showing no disrespect for the Bucs, just showing how stacked this division is when it comes to defensive lines. Gerald McCoy has been a dominant force for opposing offenses since his first game in the NFL back in 2010, and his production has been steadily elite, producing nearly 8.5 sacks a year, including seven sacks and five pass break ups last season – showing his physical and unique ability as a defensive tackle. The Buccaneers bolstered their already top notch defensive line by signing Chris Baker this past offseason, who had a couple of break out seasons while playing with the Redskins. If Baker can continue his recent success next to one of the best defensive lineman by his side, you can expect the Buccaneers to continue to rely on their stout defense to win games.

1) Panthers – Kawaan Short and Star Lotulelei

The Panthers being at the top of this list is no surprise, as the two young players in Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei, both drafted in 2013, have been dominating offenses every season – and only are getting better. The duo really found their stride in the Panthers Super Bowl run in 2015, and although injuries plagued the two last season, they still accounted for double digit sacks together with ten in just 16 games combined. Lotulelei regularly occupies double and triple teams in the middle, with the other linemen reaping the benefits. After signing a big offseason contract extension, much is expected of Short, and if these two live up to expectations, offenses will have issues all year running up the middle.

Defensive Ends:

4) Saints – Alex Okafor and Cameron Jordan

The Saints may have some nice names on paper when looking at their defensive ends, but unfortunately for them, Cameron Jordan is exiting out of his prime as his numbers are declining every season, and Alex Okafor just can’t seem to stay healthy. If both players can re-emerge to their “prime” status, and stay healthy, this could be a great duo – however, the Saints defense doesn’t offer much help to their defensive line, and that is why the production from these players are and will be low. Not to mention, they have to face Cam Newton, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston two times each. Yikes.

3) Falcons – Brooks Reed and Rashede Hageman/Takkarist McKinley

The Falcons got some much needed help in the 2017 NFL Draft, adding UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley, which is why they rank third on this list. They filled a need and for that, they get credit. However, the teams talent at DE is thin, and after Tom Brady picked apart that defense and seemingly had all the time in the world in the pocket to make the greatest comeback in NFL Super Bowl history, there is much more needed work to be done, before we can truly trust this Falcons defense to be consistently elite. Their cornerbacks and linebackers (Vic Beasley in particular) make the Falcons defensive line appear much more better than they truly are, but if the Falcons would like to truly become elite in pass rushing, they must first find out how well their defensive ends can play together at a high level.

2) Panthers – Mario Addison and Julius Peppers/Charles Johnson

The Panthers had a breakout player in Mario Addison in 2016, accumulating for nearly 10 sacks including a safety and two forced fumbles. Charles Johnson is still playing at a good level despite being on the declining side of his career and will easily get the Panthers anywhere from four to eight sacks a season, while future hall-of-famer Julius Peppers is somehow still producing nearly double digit sack seasons despite entering his seventeenth season. If Peppers can continue to play at a high level, while possibly rotating in with the other “old guy” in Charles Johnson, I can see the two being placed in a perfect role to teach young players like Daeshon Hall and produce good numbers. With Short and Lotulelei taking up so much of the offensive line’s attention and linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis right behind you, you can easily produce good numbers. Anything less than 25 sacks for this trio will be unacceptable.

1) Buccaneers – Will Gholston and Robert Ayers

The Buccaneers have one of the best defensive lines in the league. When Ayers and Gholston are both playing with McCoy in between them, that defensive line can be scary. Unfortunately, last year, both players had some injury problems, but still produced good numbers. Gholston has over 100 tackles and six sacks in the past two seasons despite missing a significant amount of time, and Ayers produced seven sacks in just 10 starts last season. If these two can stay healthy this season, and this is a huge if, can play in all 16 games, I have no doubt in my mind that both players will combine 20+ sacks in 2017.

Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Overall Ranking:

4) New Orleans Saints

Let’s face it, the Saints are still an offensive team trying to find a defensive identity, and as far as I’m concerned – as long as Sean Payton is the head coach there, they will continue to stay at the bottom when it comes to defense.

3) Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are slowly growing into an elite defense. However, the one crucial part that is missing, is their defensive line. I believe that within a few years, they could become one of the best defenses in the league if Poe lives up to expectations, they can put constant pressure on quarterbacks, and McKinley becomes the star they expect him to become.

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have always put a constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and their interior line is near impossible to run against. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the injury bug always seems to bite their defensive line, but if they can put together a full and healthy season, their defensive line can be terrifying for opposing offenses. We could see big things from the Buccaneers 2017 defensive line if they can suit up for all 16 games.

1) Carolina Panthers

A young player who is about to enter his prime on the outside, followed by two All-Pro studs currently in their prime in the middle, ending with two veteran players who can still produce over six sacks a season, and a second unit with talent that eclipses some starters, the Panthers defensive line is a scary thought for opposing offenses.