Four NFC South players who will make the biggest leap in 2023

The Falcons, Panthers and Saints will try to supplant the Buccaneers atop the NFC South this season. Here are four players -- one for each team -- who should make big leaps and play key roles. 

Atlanta Falcons

Kaden Elliss, LB: Elliss' three-year, $21.5 million contract suggests the Falcons have big plans for the former Saints linebacker. In a small sample size last season, Elliss performed admirably in relief of Pete Werner but will need to expand upon his career year. After all, he only played 56 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

As Pro Football Focus writer Brad Spielberger noted in a list of "boom-or-bust" free-agency signings, "It's not every day in the NFL that a player with 835 career snaps gets more than $10 million fully guaranteed at signing." 

Atlanta needed to fix its pass rush, and after neglecting to find other edge rushers, Elliss will need to tap into that aspect of his game for the signing to be justified. After recording 20 total pressures a season ago, the Falcons have reason to believe they made a good bet.

Carolina Panthers

Jeremy Chinn, safety: NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha named Chinn one of the biggest benefactors of the 2023 offseason. The team's shift to a 3-4 defensive front with new DC Ejiro Evero should put Chinn in a position to thrive. 

"I'll be a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage again," Chinn said last month on "NFL Now," adding that he was "super excited" about the redefined role. 

Per data from PFF, 45.5 percent of his defensive snaps came in the box from 2020-21 as opposed to 25.4 percent in 2022. He had 24 QB pressures his first two seasons, ranking in the top 10 among safeties both years. In 11 games last season, Chinn only had two pressures.

The four-year pro is entering the final season of his rookie contract, giving him added motivation to make 2023 a year to remember. Chinn has lofty aspirations in 2023, telling NFL.com in late March that he has goals of receiving "NFC Defensive Player of the Week and Month honors, making the Pro Bowl and earning All-Pro" in 2023.

New Orleans Saints

Alontae Taylor, CB: Taylor was selected in the second round (49th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft and showed promise as a rookie. Per PFF, Taylor allowed 29 receptions on 64 targets (45.3 percent), a better mark than Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner (45.9 percent) and Philadelphia's James Bradberry (46 percent), who was named second team All-Pro in 2022.

Taylor's teammate, Marshon Lattimore, is locked in as the top CB on the depth chart. He missed 10 games after suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 5 against Seattle but isn't expected to be hindered this season. 

Taylor should line up against opponents' second options at wide receiver with Lattimore healthy. With a promising encore to a great rookie season, Taylor will join Lattimore to form arguably the best cornerback duo in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rachaad White, RB: Tampa Bay ranked last across the board in rushing last year, finishing 32nd in rush attempts, yards, touchdowns and yards per attempt. Questions along the offensive line mean the odds are stacked against White, but the Bucs cleared the path for the second-year pro to have a big role in the offense by moving on from Leonard Fournette. 

White had 129 carries, 481 yards and a touchdown last season, all numbers he should eclipse in 2023. He is also an asset in the passing game for either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask after recording 50 receptions as a rookie. 

Per JoeBucsFan.com, general manager Jason Licht described White as "a stud" in April. The former Arizona State running back acknowledged his GM's praise later in the month. "That feels good," White said, per Pro Football Talk. "It's just up to me. I've got a great opportunity ahead of me."