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