NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans says he’s “excited” to work with new HC Bruce Arians.

“I’m excited,” Evans said, via NFL.com. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. I’m sure he’s going to be ready to work, and I am as well.”

Falcons

Falcons owner Arthur Blank was asked if GM Thomas Dimitroff and HC Dan Quinn were linked together if things didn’t work out soon.

“I don’t know that. That’s a whole year away,” Blank tells Jeff Schultz of the Athletic. “They’re two different people with two different roles. I understand the question, and I understand the answer you would like. But the answer I’m giving is the honest answer, which is that we have a year for things to play out.”

Blank did, however, say that he has a “very high confidence level in the two of them” to work together to fix things.

“They’re tied at the hip in a positive way in terms of their decision-making,” Blank said. “I’ve seen them disagree on things in a respectful way. They definitely have different views on some things, but we encourage that as part of our culture in all of our businesses. Usually, if they disagree on something, they move on and try to find an option they both feel better about.”

• Field Yates reports that the Falcons have hired former Bucs TE coach Ben Steele as an offensive assistant under OC Dirk Koetter.

Panthers

• Joseph Person of The Athletic takes a look at five players in the 2019 NFL Draft who the Panthers should be keeping an eye on, including: Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State DE Gerri Green, Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson, Boston College DE Zach Allen and Old Dominion DE Oshane Ximines.
• According to David Newton, the Panthers signed DE Efe Obada to a one-year deal worth $570,000.