NFC South Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Falcons

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists running back as the biggest hole left on the Falcons’ roster, as they don’t necessarily have a long-term replacement for Todd Gurley on the roster or even a solid backup if he’s hurt or ineffective due to his knee. 
• Falcons S Ricardo Allen said he’s on schedule with his rehab from a shoulder injury. (Jason Butt)

Panthers

• Albert Breer reports that the Panthers are hiring Eagles national scout Pat Stewart as their new director of player personnel.

Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis spoke to Sirius XM NFL Radio about why the team added QB Jameis Winston as their backup this offseason.

“The one thing that we’ll miss here with the offseason and the OTAs and the minicamps is that’s an opportunity for some of the guys who are new to get a lot of work in, so we’re not going to have that opportunity,” Loomis said on SiriusXM on Thursday. “But look, with Jameis, we had a chance to add a talented player who we thought a lot of coming out of Florida State and then thought a lot of playing against him the last few years. So it’s a chance to add a guy into that room that has a lot of talent, and we’ll see where it goes. No different than what we did with Teddy Bridgewater.”

Loomis also discussed seventh-round pick Tommy Stevens, who has a lot of buzz surrounding him after the draft and has drawn some comparisons to Saints QB Taysom Hill.

“Tommy Stevens is a different type of player,” Loomis said. “I would say he’s more along the Taysom Hill mold of a very good athlete, very versatile, can do a lot of things. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens as we get to the regular season. In terms of the reps and the work, we’ll see how that sorts out. But we’ve got a veteran quarterback in Drew (Brees) that can come in and, listen, he doesn’t need a lot of preparation, obviously, like you would someone who is new. Sean (Payton), I know, will sort that out, and every guy will be prepared.”