Ranking the most important non-QBs in every NFC South team feat. Falcons' Bijan Robinson 

For two straight seasons, the NFC South has been the worst division in the NFL. In Tom Brady's final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they topped the group despite having a losing record. Last year was scarcely any better, as Tampa Bay finished 9-8 to make it as the NFC South champions.

But the Buccaneers did make it all the way to the Divisional Round after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons have invested heavily in Kirk Cousins at quarterback, with the safety insurance of rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Furthermore, the New Orleans Saints are looking to compete after finishing joint top of the NFC South last season, but missing out on the playoffs on a tiebreaker. The Carolina Panthers will look to give franchise quarterback Bryce Young a better chance of competing under new head coach Dave Canales.

In short, the NFC South could be making a comeback this season. And if they do, here are the rankings of all the players outside the quarterback position, who could end up making all the difference.

NFC South non-QB player rankings for 2024 NFL season

#4. Demario Davis, LB, New Orleans Saints

Demario Davis is seemingly aging like a fine wine. The 35-year-old is perhaps in the best form of his career. He has made the Pro Bowl in the last two seasons and was named the 2024 edition's defensive MVP. He has been named to the Second Team All-Pro for the last four years as well.

And the stats back it up. In 2023, he had 121 combined tackles, the second-highest of his career and the highest since 2017. For the past two seasons, he has also recorded 6.5 sacks, again the most he has had in a year in his career.

With stagnating quarterback and offensive play, it was often the defense that had to bail out the Saints in tough matches inside and outside the NFC South. Even this year, Demario Davis is going to be crucial to ensure that the offense has more of the ball and has a higher chance of scoring points.

#3. Derrick Brown, DE, Carolina Panthers

Talking about making the Pro Bowl, the Carolina Panthers had one representative in the 2024 event. That was edge Derrick Brown. While the focus this season is improving the offense, the defense will have to play its part because the weapons surrounding Bryce Young have not improved significantly.

That is where Brown will be crucial. That is also why the Panthers rewarded him with a four-year, $96 million extension, with $63.165 million guaranteed, earlier in the offseason.

Last season was statistically the best of his career. He had 57 solo tackles, and 46 combined tackles, for a total of 103 tackles, which was the first time he had reached three figures in his time in the NFL. He also contributed with two sacks and an impressive 15 quarterback hits. He will be crucial if the Panthers don't want to finish as the worst team in the league in back-to-back years.

#2. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are looking to break the Buccaneers' hegemony at the top of the NFC South this year. They have brought in Kirk Cousins and have a first-round rookie backup in Michael Penix. Jr. Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore form a great trio of wide receivers. Kyle Pitts is an exciting prospect at tight end.

But if the offense has to be productive, they will need a good run game. He has to do for Cousins in Atlanta, what Dalvin Cook used to do in Minnesota. It takes pressure away from a slinger like him when the running game is going well and allows him to run pass-action fakes.

He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft for a reason. And he showed flashes of his brilliance last year, accruing 976 rushing yards and scoring four running touchdowns. He also added four more scores as a receiver. This season, he needs to take it up a notch.

#1. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2020 and have been the NFC South Champions in the three seasons since. That has remained constant even after Tom Brady retired and much of it comes down to the brilliance of Mike Evans.

Drafted in 2014, he has had ten straight seasons with more than 1,000 yards, an NFL record. His 13 receiving touchdowns led the league last year. He makes the entire offense tick. If Tampa Bay is going to win the NFC South again, he will, as always, be the key.