A quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season, we’re assessing who’s trending up and down in each division.
Here’s the NFC South’s stock report from Weeks 1-4:
Stock up: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is having an even better Year 2 in Tampa Bay than in 2023, when he received his first Pro Bowl honor and finished third in the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year voting.
He quickly put the Bucs’ ugly 26-7 loss at home to the Broncos in Week 3 behind them, throwing for a season-high 347 yards in an easy 33-16 win over the Eagles on Sunday.
Mayfield is completing 70.5 percent of his pass attempts, 6.2 percentage points higher than last season, when he had a career-high completion percentage. His production has been key to Tampa’s 3-1 start and one-game division lead. If he maintains his current pace, the Bucs should win their fourth consecutive NFC South title and Mayfield will be in MVP conversations.
Stock down: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick’s start looks even uglier after two weeks of watching Andy Dalton make Carolina’s offense appear functional.
Young followed a disastrous rookie season with an even worse start to 2024. His completion percentage, yards per game, interception rate, passer rating and QBR were worse in his two starts this season than in 2023.
Carolina averaged 6.5 points and 176 yards (102 passing) per game during its 0-2 start with Young at quarterback.
In Dalton’s two starts in Weeks 3-4, Carolina averaged 30 points and 406 yards per game, including 263 passing.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales made the right call by benching Young, whose trade market has evaporated. Carolina wouldn’t get much in a Young trade, but even a Day 3 2025 NFL Draft pick would be more valuable at this point.
Stock up: New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor
The third-year corner’s outstanding start to the season is drawing rave reviews.
Retired former Steelers safety and current ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark fondly described him as a “menace” during the Saints’ 26-24 loss to the Falcons in Week 4.
