1 / 4 of the way in which by the 2024 NFL season, we’re assessing who’s trending up and down in every division.
Here is the NFC South’s inventory report from Weeks 1-4:
Top off: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is having a fair higher 12 months 2 in Tampa Bay than in 2023, when he obtained his first Professional Bowl honor and completed third within the Related Press Comeback Participant of the 12 months voting.
He shortly put the Bucs’ ugly 26-7 loss at residence to the Broncos in Week 3 behind them, throwing for a season-high 347 yards in a straightforward 33-16 win over the Eagles on Sunday.
Mayfield is finishing 70.5 p.c of his go makes an attempt, 6.2 proportion factors increased than final season, when he had a career-high completion proportion. His manufacturing has been key to Tampa’s 3-1 begin and one-game division lead. If he maintains his present tempo, the Bucs ought to win their fourth consecutive NFC South title and Mayfield might be in MVP conversations.
Inventory down: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Younger
The 2023 No. 1 general decide’s begin seems even uglier after two weeks of watching Andy Dalton make Carolina’s offense seem purposeful.
Younger adopted a disastrous rookie season with a fair worse begin to 2024. His completion proportion, yards per recreation, interception price, passer ranking and QBR have been worse in his two begins this season than in 2023.
Carolina averaged 6.5 factors and 176 yards (102 passing) per recreation throughout its 0-2 begin with Younger at quarterback.
In Dalton’s two begins in Weeks 3-4, Carolina averaged 30 factors and 406 yards per recreation, together with 263 passing.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales made the best name by benching Younger, whose commerce market has evaporated. Carolina would not get a lot in a Younger commerce, however even a Day 3 2025 NFL Draft decide could be extra worthwhile at this level.
Top off: New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor
The third-year nook’s excellent begin to the season is drawing rave critiques.
Retired former Steelers security and present ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark fondly described him as a “menace” through the Saints’ 26-24 loss to the Falcons in Week 4.
