Where does the Bucs DL group rank in the NFC North in 2025?
Where does the Bucs DL group rank in the NFC North in 2025?
We are continuing a Summer series here on Bucs Wire, ranking the position groups across the division.
The major pit stops of the offseason have come and gone, which means rosters are set for the most part. Now, could someone pull off a major trade or sign a veteran free agent down the line? Of course, and they likely will based on our luck to throw things off. Regardless, we wanted to do this exercise just to give you, the reader, a state of the division.
At the end of each article, we will also provide a recap of the scorecards so that we can keep a running tally for you to keep track of and see who has the best roster in the division.
Next up are the defensive lines in the NFC South.
Note: Each group will have varying numbers of players as each team doesn't run the same defense.
4) Atlanta Falcons
Starting Group: Morgan Fox, Ruke Orhorhro, and David Onyemata
The Falcons' defense has been neglected in recent years during the pivotal times of the NFL Draft. In 2024, they were expected to pursue an edge rusher and opted for a quarterback instead. This year, they sured up their linebacker group, but this group remains starving for attention. Ruke Orhorhro is a promising run defender, so if he can get some help from the players on the outside, they may finally have some efficiency from the group.
3) Carolina Panthers
Starting Group: Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, and Tershawn Wharton
Derrick Brown was coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023, so expectations were high in 2024. Unfortunately, injury stopped that halfway through one game of the season, but now he is ready for a rebound. They add another player, Bobby Brown III from the Rams, to be a tag team partner for him to help take some pressure off him.
2) New Orleans Saints
Starting Group: Chase Young, Davon Godchaux, Bryan Breese, and Carl Granderson
The Saints team as a whole is a bit of a disaster in terms of roster building, but the defense has some bright spots, and this group is one of them. Chase Young proved to be a nice find in free agency and is returning to the team with more expectations for 2025. The team added another piece, this time from the Patriots in Davon Godchaux, who comes down to the Bayou with the thought that he can help the interior.
Starting Group: Logan Hall, Vita Vea, and Calijah Kancey
The Bucs have the best defensive line group in the division, far and away, when we look at things. Vita Vea is a perennial All-Pro selection each year he plays all 17 games, Calijah Kancey is on the fringe of becoming a 10-sack-a-season defender, and Logan Hall is starting to come into his own. This group is going to be leading the Renaissance charge for the Bucs defense in 2025.
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