NFL Predictions 2020: Dark horse picks to win each division

NFC South: Carolina Panthers

Throw the records out from a season ago, the new favorites in the NFC South are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sure, they finished 7-9 and the New Orleans Saints were 13-3 but the Bucs turned everyone around on them when they landed Tom Brady in free agency.

The six-time Super Bowl winner leaves the New England Patriots for Tampa Bay and he was able to get Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement and he was traded to the Bucs as well. Then, they went out and landed Tristan Wirfs in the draft to help protect Brady as he looks to dish the ball out to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate, and Gronk.

Clearly, the biggest challenge for them will remain the Saints, who likely won’t be taking much of a step back, if any at all. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the division won’t be in the mix, and one team that could surprise is the Carolina Panthers.

Entering 2020 with a new head coach in Matt Rhule, the Panthers made some good moves this year. Already armed with Christian McCaffrey as the focal point of their offense, Rhule brought in Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback after he was successful in New Orleans as the backup to Drew Brees. They also added Robby Anderson at wide receiver, giving them a player capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.

Still, Carolina is a team that looks built to win with a good running game, a smart quarterback, and a potentially stellar defense. In the draft, Carolina added Derrick Brown, Jeremy Chinn, and Yetur Gross-Matos, all three of which could start as rookies.

This is with Kawaan Short, Shaq Thompson, and Brian Burns already on the roster. If things go right, they could be a team to look out for. The talent is there and they believe in the coach. It could be a fun season in Charlotte.