Best of the NFC South: QB, draft pick, fans and more

The season is creeping closer. Before we know it, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (Aug. 3) will be here. As we speed toward the start of the 2023 season, let's examine the best of the NFC South.

BEST QB | Derek Carr, Saints: Carr claims this title by default. The former Raider struggled last season, but from 2018-21, he was among the NFL's best QBs. During that stretch, he had the second-highest completion percentage (68.7 percent) among quarterbacks with at least 16 starts. Only Saints QB Drew Brees was better (73.2 percent) during that span. 

Some of his struggles last season can be attributed to Carr and Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels differing on offensive philosophies, but the QB should be more comfortable in 2023. Saints head coach Dennis Allen was Raiders head coach when Carr was drafted. New Orleans brought in Carr's former coach from 2018-21, Jon Gruden, earlier this offseason to advise the team on installing an offense around him.

BEST COACH | Frank Reich, Panthers HC: Like Carr, Reich doesn't have much competition. Allen, Todd Bowles (Bucs) and Arthur Smith (Falcons) are a combined 63-108 (.368) as head coaches with one winning season among them. Reich had only one losing season in his first four seasons as Colts head coach before the wheels fell off in 2022. That's an impressive feat considering he never had the same starting quarterback for more than one year. 

As The Ringer's Ben Solak wrote when Reich was fired last season, "Usually, head coaches are fired because they're not good at their jobs. That wasn't the case with Reich." He somehow kept the Colts afloat despite instability at quarterback and should have a better situation in Carolina with former Alabama QB Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

BEST 2023 FREE-AGENT SIGNING | Carr: We can debate New Orleans' approach to the salary cap all we want, but there's no arguing the Saints did the best they could considering the direction they chose. With the front office committed to building a contender around a veteran core, Carr was the best signing.

He should open up the deep passing game for the Saints. Per data from Pro Football Focus, Carr's average depth of target on his pass attempts in 2022 was 9.7 yards. For his career, his average depth of target is 8.2 yards. Even in an off year last season, Carr (33.8 percent) was more accurate on attempts 20 yards or more downfield than 2022 Saints starter Andy Dalton (26.3 percent).

BEST 2023 DRAFT PICK | Bijan Robinson, Falcons, RB: Criticism over Atlanta's choice to spend the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Robinson isn't a commentary on his talent. It's instead based on a fear that Atlanta will squander Robinson's years as a dominant running back by fielding a bad team around him. The former Texas running back was undoubtedly a top-10 talent in this year's draft and is favored to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Robinson is in a great spot to put up big numbers as a rookie. From 2019-20, Smith was offensive coordinator at Tennessee, where he had a run-heavy attack. In four years as either a coordinator or head coach, Smith's offenses ranked in the top three in rushing three times.

BEST FANS | Atlanta Falcons: The Saints have the most passionate fan base and best home atmosphere in the division, but few fan bases have endured what Atlanta's has over the years. Super Bowl LI, in which Atlanta blew a 28-3 and lost to New England, is the tip of the iceberg of heartbreak. And, yet, Falcons fans still root like crazy for their team.

In 2020, the Falcons choked games in back-to-back weeks in epic late-game meltdowns. Last season, Atlanta blew a 16-point in the fourth quarter in Week 1 and lost to the Saints, 27-26. In the offseason, fans endured front-office explanations for why it didn't want to make a run at Lamar Jackson because it wanted to keep Desmond Ridder happy. 

Buy a drink for the nearest Falcons fans in your life. They need it.