NFC South stock up, stock down: Bijan Robinson shines, Bryce Young struggles
From Bijan Robinson's outstanding debut to Bryce Young's quiet start, here's a look at whose stock is up and whose stock is down in the NFC South through two weeks of preseason action.
Stock up
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons running back: Robinson looked like a starting running back in his debut in Week 2 of the preseason against the Bengals. He was decisive on his first carry, finding the hole and slipping past defenders for a 12-yard gain.
His modest numbers - five touches, 26 yards - don't illustrate how good Robinson appeared. On the following six-yard reception, he was crisp in his route-running and made a great one-handed grab.
Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver: Tampa Bay needs a receiver to step up in the wake of Russell Gage's season-ending injury and Palmer appears most ready to claim ownership of the opening. Through two preseason games, Palmer has five receptions, 66 yards and two touchdowns, including a 33-yard score in Week 2 against the Jets in a 13-6 win.
Payton Turner, New Orleans Saints defensive end: Arguably the most welcome development for the Saints in their 22-17 win over the Chargers was Turner's strong play. He had two quarterback hits and forced a fumble early in the second quarter.
With former edge rusher Marcus Davenport in Minnesota, Turner is the next man up as the Saints try to find a complimentary pass rusher to all-time franchise great Cam Jordan. The 28th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, injuries have hindered Turner's development through his first two seasons. The former Houston Cougar has played in 13 of a possible 34 regular season games.
Stock down
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers quarterback: The No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Young's stock has slightly declined due to his offensive line. Per data from Pro Football Focus, he's been pressured seven times in 15 dropbacks this preseason and is 2-of-5 for 15 yards with two sacks on those plays. His completion percentage is 71.4 percent when not under duress.
Young's shown that he can get the ball to his playmakers when he has time to throw, but based on the first two games of the preseason, Young likely won't have many clean pockets to throw from during the regular season.
Bryan Edwards, New Orleans Saints wide receiver: Without a guaranteed roster spot, the 2020 third-rounder needed to stand out this preseason to earn a roster spot. He certainly got noticed in Week 2 but in all the wrong ways.
On top of his two offensive pass interference calls, Edwards also dropped a potential touchdown. Among the 11 Saints targeted as a receiver against Los Angeles, Edwards was the only one to fail to make a reception.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons tight end: Pitts is one of two tight ends (Mike Ditka) in league history with 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. He took a step back in 2022 and his preseason usage could be an indication that a return to his rookie form isn't likely this year.
Per PFF, "Pitts played six of the team's first nine snaps, only leaving the field when the team lined up in 21 personnel," a formation with two running backs and one tight end, against the Bengals.
PFF also notes he wasn't on the field in 11 personnel - one running back, one tight end - either, which might be a sign head coach Arthur Smith isn't comfortable using Pitts as a blocking tight end. For a team that is expected to be near the top of the league in rushing this season, that puts Pitts' role in question.
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