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ESPN Insider - Ranking NFL rosters (NFC South)

iowajerms

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The article does all 32 teams, but I will break it down by division.

Ranking NFL rosters from 1-32: Surprises at the top

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iowajerms

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Atlanta Falcons (NFL rank #1)
Biggest strength: Julio Jones is the most dominant receiver in the league, almost impossible to cover one-on-one. He led the league in 2016 with 3.12 receiving yards gained per route run, the third time in four seasons he has topped that category.

Biggest weakness: There isn't much to dislike about the defending NFC champions, but outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell needs to take a significant step forward in his second NFL season. As a rookie last season, he played 548 regular-season snaps but recorded only 15 defensive stops, less than a quarter of league leader Chris Kirksey's 63. Three different players topped 60 defensive stops in 2016.

By the numbers: Quarterback Matt Ryan had a passer rating of 128.9 when given a clean pocket last season (132.5 if you include the postseason). His overall PFF grade was 93.5, the highest of his career. The team's 2017 fortunes might come down to how close he can come to repeating that.

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iowajerms

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Carolina Panthers (NFL rank #10)
Biggest strength: Linebacker Luke Kuechly is a transcendent talent, but concussions are a lingering concern. Though he has missed nine games over the past two seasons, he has graded as PFF's No. 1 and No. 2 LB during that time.

Biggest weakness: The Panthers have surrounded quarterback Cam Newtonwith a stable of tall receivers, who still haven't been able to elevate the Carolina passing game. Devin Funchess went backward in Year 2, catching just 42.6 percent of his targets and dropping six of 29 catchable passes.

By the numbers: Newton's passer rating under pressure last season was 44.4, which ranked 33rd in the league, one spot behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Newton was much better when given a clean pocket (90.9). That drop of 46.5 is more than 10 points greater than the league average of 34.2.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL rank #13)
Biggest strength: Mike Evans produced his best season in 2016, ranking second among wide receivers with a PFF grade of 93.3. His 2.28 yards per route run ranked sixth in the league, and 12 of his 96 catches went for touchdowns.

Biggest weakness: Moving into a starting role in his third season in the league, guard Kevin Pamphile struggled in pass protection, allowing 37 total pressures last season. Only four starting guards in the league had a lower PFF grade than his 44.7.

By the numbers: The Buccaneers' additions this offseason should give quarterback Jameis Winston even more potential to make plays downfield. Free-agent pickup DeSean Jackson led the league with 579 yards on passes thrown more than 20 yards downfield, while rookie third-round pick Chris Godwin had 504 yards on such passes in his final season at Penn State.

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New Orleans Saints (NFL rank #20)
Biggest strength: Quarterback Drew Brees now has five 5,000-yard passing seasons, more than every other quarterback in NFL history ... combined. He completed 73.5 percent of his passes when he wasn't pressured last season.

Biggest weakness: Cornerback Delvin Breaux came back down to Earth in his second NFL season. He missed 10 games to injury and struggled when he was on the field. For his career, Breaux has allowed 12 touchdowns and a passer rating of 98.1 when targeted.

By the numbers: Pass-rusher Cameron Jordan had 79 pressures in 2016, up nine from his total in 2015. He also batted down four passes at the line and missed only four tackles.

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