The Carolina Panthers recently made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by trading for New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. In the division’s arms race, where does Darnold rank in a group that includes Tom Brady, Jameis Winston and Matt Ryan?
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offensive free agents
QB Ryan Griffin
QB Blaine Gabbert
C A.Q. Shipley (retired)
LG Aaron Stinnie
LG Joe Haeg
RG Earl Watford
RT Josh Wells
RB Leonard Fournette
RB Lesean McCoy
RB Kenjon Barner
RB T.J. Logan
TE Rob Gronkowski (re-signed)
TE Antony Auclair
WR Antonio Brown
WR Jaydon Mickens
WR Chris Godwin (Franchised)
WR Cyril Grayson (re-signed)
Defensive free agents
ILB Deone Bucannon
ILB Jack Cichy
ILB Kevin Minter (re-signed)
OLB Shaquill Barrett (re-signed)
OLB LaVonte David (re-signed)
DT Ndamukong Suh
DT Steve McLendon
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DE Pat O’Connor
CB Ross Cockrell
CB Ryan Smith
S Andrew Adams
Special Teams
LS Zach Triner (re-signed)
2021 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Re-signed DE Shaq Barrett to a four-year deal, LB Lavonte David to a two-year deal, LB Kevin Minter to a one-year deal, TE Tanner Hudson, TE Rob Gronkowski, DE Pat O’Connor, WR Cyril Grayson, DE Jeremiah Ledbetter, LS Zach Triner
- Placed the franchise tag on WR Chris Godwin
- Lost OC A.Q. Shipley (retired)
Atlanta Falcons
Offensive free agents
C Alex Mack (Agreed to terms with the 49ers)
G Justin McCray (Agreed to terms with the Texans)
G James Carpenter
RT John Wetzel
RT Matt Gono
RB Todd Gurley
RB Brian Hill
QB Matt Schaub
QB Kurt Benker
TE Luke Stocker
WR Laquon Treadwell
WR Brandon Powell
WR Christian Blake (re-signed)
WR Greg Dortch
Defensive free agents
DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (re-signed)
DE Charles Harris
DE Allen Bailey
DE Steven Means
LB Edmond Robinson
LB LaRoy Reynolds
FS Ricardo Allen
S Keanu Neal
S Sharrod Neasman
S Damontae Kazee
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
CB Darqueze Dennard
CB Tyler Hall (re-signed)
2021 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Re-signed K Younghoe Koo, CB Tyler Hall, WR Christian Blake, DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, TE Jaeden Graham
- Re-worked contract of DT Tyeler Davidson
- Released S Ricardo Allen, DE Allen Bailey, OG James Carpenter
- Lost G Justin McCray (Texans), OC Alex Mack (49ers)
Carolina Panthers
Offensive free agents
C Tyler Larsen
G Chris Reed
LG Michael Schofield
RT Russel Okung
RT Trenton Scott
RG John Miller
RB Mike Davis
FB Alex Armah (Agreed to terms with Saints)
TE Chris Manhertz
TE Seth Devalve
TE Collin Thompson
WR Curtis Samuel (Agreed to terms with the WFT)
WR Pharaoh Cooper
WR Brandon Zylstra
WR Keith Kirkwood
Defensive free agents
DE Efe Obada
DE Stephen Weatherly (agreed to terms with Vikings)
DT Kawann Short
DT Woodrow Hamilton
FS Tre Boston
S Kenny Robinson
CB Corn Elder
CB Rasul Douglas
CB Natrell Jamerson
ILB Adarius Taylor
OLB Julian Stanford
2021 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Re-signed WR Keith Kirkwood, WR Brandon Zylstra, WR Ishmael Hyman, RT Trenton Scott, TE Colin Thompson, K Joey Slye
- Agreed to terms with OT Cam Erving (Cowboys), OG Pat Elflein (Jets), TE Stephen Sullivan (Seahawks), OLB Haason Reddick (Cardinals), LB Denzel Perryman (Chargers), CB Rashaan Melvin (Jaguars)
- Placed the franchise tag on OT Taylor Moton
- Lost DE Stephen Weatherly (Vikings), P Matt Palardy (Dolphins), WR Curtis Samuel (WFT), FB Alex Armah (Saints)
- Traded a 2021 sixth-round pick, and second and fourth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to the New York Jets in exchange for QB Sam Darnold
New Orleans Saints
Offensive free agents
QB Jameis Winston (re-signed)
RT James Hurst (re-signed)
C Will Clapp
C Cameron Tom (agreed to terms with Dolphins)
LG Nick Easton
RB Ty Montgomery (re-signed)
RB Dwayne Washington (re-signed)
FB Michael Burton
TE Josh Hill (agreed to terms with the Lions)
TE Jared Cook (Agreed to terms with the Chargers)
TE Cole Wick
TE Jason Vander Laan
WR Emmanuel Sanders (Agreed to terms with the Bills)
WR Bennie Fowler
WR Austin Carr
Defensive free agents
DT Sheldon Rankins
DE Noah Spence (re-signed)
DE Trey Hendrickson (Agreed to terms with the Bengals)
LB ILB Kwon Alexander
LB Craig Robertson
LB Alex Anzalone
CB Janoris Jenkins (Agreed to terms with the Titans)
CB P.J. Williams
S Marcus Williams (re-signed)
S D.J. Swearinger
S J.T. Gray
CB Johnson Bademosi
CB Ken Crawley
CB Justin Hardee (Agreed to terms with the Jets)
2021 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Re-signed RB Ty Montgomery, RB Dwayne Washington, DE Noah Spence, S J.T. Gray, DE Marcus Willoughby, QB Jameis Winston
- Placed the franchise tag on S Marcus Williams
- Agreed to terms with FB Alex Armah (Panthers)
- Lost QB Drew Brees (retired), TE Josh Hill (Lions), WR Jake Kumerow (Bills), DE Trey Hendrickson (Bengals), CB Justin Hardee (Jets)
- Released WR Emmanuel Sanders (Bills), CB Janoris Jenkins (Titans), LB Kwon Alexander, P Thomas Morstead, TE Josh Hill (Lions), OG Nick Easton
- Traded DT Malcom Brown to the Jacksonville Jaguars
