NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

• Dan Graziano of ESPN takes a look at some extension candidates for the Buccaneers over the next year so that are worth watching including WR Chris Godwin, LB Lavonte David and DE Shaquil Barrett.
• Regarding Godwin, Graziano mentions that the Buccaneers may want to wait and see how things go after a year of catching passes from Tom Brady before getting an extension in place. The good news for the Bucs from a cap standpoint is that TE Rob Gronkowski is set to come off their books in 2021 and WR Mike Evans‘ cap number will drop by $4.5 million.
• An extension for David would be an easy way for the Buccaneers to free up some available cap space, per Graziano. 

Falcons

Falcons S Keanu Neal says he feels like himself again after tearing his Achilles last year. 

“By God’s grace, I feel awesome,” Neal said on NFL Network, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I feel like myself again. I’m grateful.”

“These past couple of years have been tough,” Neal added. “I try not to look at the negatives. I try to think positive about it. I’ve (had) a lot of opportunities to spend time with my wife, family, friends and groom myself personally. It’s been tough, but it’s been a great time. I feel really good mentally and physically.”

Panthers

Panthers WR Curtis Samuel has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. However, new offensive coordinator Joe Brady stressed that Samuel is “going to be critical to success” for them. 

“Curtis is going to be critical to success,” Brady said, via the Charlotte Observer. “I say that, I wish I could have had an opportunity to be out at practices and whatnot, and Curtis is the one that I can’t wait to see him do what he does on the field. Curtis is a playmaker. He fits the mold of what we’re looking for in this type of offense, a guy that you can utilize all around the field and get the ball in the hands and good things happen. I think you saw stuff last year that shows that he can be a big-play wide receiver, down the field. We’re getting the ball in space and I’m excited for him to take the next leap. And I know that he wants that.”