NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles is working remotely out of precaution after being a high-risk close contact with someone who’s believed to be a false positive outside the team facility. 
• Bowles is expected to be back for Sunday’s game against the Falcons. 

Falcons

• Per Kelsey Conway of the team website, Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich said second-round CB AJ Terrell, LB Foyesade Oluokun and DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner all exceeded his expectations in 2020. 
• Conversely, Falcons CB Kendall Sheffield didn’t live up to the expectations Ulbrich had for him entering the year, but he remains optimistic on the young corner’s future. (Conway)
• Ulbrich noted there’s “another space he can go to” regarding DE Dante Fowler and taking care of his body next year. (Conway)
• Ulbrich also offered a public recommendation for interim HC Raheem Morris to stay on full-time: “There’s not a better candidate, in my opinion.” (Conway)

Panthers

• Darin Gantt of the team website writes there’s a clear sense from the football operations side that Panthers RT Taylor Moton is the team’s top priority to keep entering free agency.
• The cost of a top right tackle is increasing, with the difference between the right and left side decreasing. Gantt expects the team to engage seriously in talks with Moton with the franchise tag in their back pocket. CBS Sports analyst and former agent Joel Corry projects the tag to cost $13.188 million if the cap in 2021 stays at $175 million. 
• Gantt adds Panthers G John Miller would likely be the next most-likely lineman to re-sign with the team given he’s solid and cheap. 
• As for LT Russell Okung, he’s been solid and Gantt says the coaches have appreciated his leadership. He won’t be nearly as cheap, however, and faces some injury questions. 
• Gantt mentions Panthers C Matt Paradis has been solid in 2020 but he carries an $8 million base salary in 2021 which a new general manager will evaluate to see if it’s worth keeping. 
• Panthers DC Phil Snow said long-term they would ideally like to transition second-round S Jeremy Chinn to a role further beyond the line of scrimmage after he primarily played as a box defender this year in order to increase his longevity. (Joe Person)

Saints

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Saints GM Mickey Loomis is away from the team as a high-risk, close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. He’s working virtually for now.