Behind Enemy Lines is a weekly look at Tampa Bay’s NFC South foes every Tuesday morning. Let’s spy on the Bucs’ division rivals, shall we?

Atlanta Falcons

• The first day of June was an important date for the Falcons as they were given $10.75 million in cap space relief for cutting cornerback Desmond Trufant. While it was announced that Trufant was getting released in March, he was designated as a post-June cut.

Trufant had spent his entire seven-year career with the Falcons as one of the staples of their defense. He had 43 passes defended and 13 interceptions in that time, along with making the All-Rookie team in 2013, and earning a 2015 Pro Bowl selection. Trufant signed a two-year deal worth $21 million with the Detroit Lions this offseason.

The Falcons were just $250,000 over the salary cap before this move, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so after some of this money is used to sign the rookie class and to be saved for in-season signings, Atlanta will have about $5 million left to add another free agent.  Many presume the Falcons will look to add a veteran defensive back to the secondary.

• The entire NFC South boasts some of the best receiving groups in the NFL. But it came as a bit of surprise when the Falcons were ranked ranked 13th on Pro Football Focus.
  

  The Bucs secondary failed to stop Julio Jones on Thursday – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Not only was Atlanta out of the top 10, they were the worst ranked team in all of the NFC South. With a one-two combination of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, it’s hard to put the Falcons out of the top five in the league, but it’s after these two receivers and tight end Hayden Hurst where the rankings start to drop. Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus said that third and fourth options of Russell Gage and Laquon Treadwell are unproven players.

• The tragic death of George Floyd has sparked a national conversation in America about injustice, racism, and human rights, which has many public figures speaking out about the ongoing issues in our country. Matt Ryan spoke up about Floyd.

“My heart goes out to all those who love George Floyd, and all those who have been impacted by similar tragedies,” Ryan said on his Instagram page. “I know that I cannot fully understand the depth and complexity of these issues because of the color of my skin, which is a sad testament to all of the work we have left to do. I know I am only one man, but I also know I am committed to doing what I can. That commitment includes listening and learning with all humility and compassion. It is the least I can do. IT is the least WE all can do.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank also made a statement, which you can read here.

Carolina Panthers

• The offseason has slowed down since free agency and the draft, and it’s slowed down even more without having rookies minicamps and OTAs as offseason programs would have normally started by now. The Panthers were one of the teams that made a transaction recently by signing cornerback Eli Apple, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who stays in the NFC South after spending the last two seasons with the Saints. Carolina waived linebacker to Sione Teuhema in order to make room for him.

Apple originally agreed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders in March, but the deal could not get agreed upon and he signed with Carolina to a one-year deal. Apple could have an impact with the Panthers if he becomes the starter opposite of Donte Jackson, after James Bradberry left in free agency. He’ll have competition with rookies Troy Pride Jr. and Stanley Thomas-Oliver III. With starters’ experience on the Giants and Saints, Apple can help with that part of the game, along with knowing New Orleans’ playbook. He does have a tendency to get burned for big plays, which is partially why the Saints declined his fifth-year option.

• Back in April, the Panthers signed running back Christian McCaffrey to a four-year $64 million deal, making it the biggest contract for a running back in NFL history with a salary of $16 million per season. Recently, general manager Marty Hurney gave his reasons to Jospeh Person of The Athletic for why he chose to change the market with McCaffrey’s deal. It all has to do with his versatility.
  

  Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

“You hit the word correctly when you said versatility,” Hurney said. “Christian’s ability and his performance as a receiver is very unique to the running back position, as you can see by the 1,000-1,000 marks that he surpassed last year. He really is a different type of running back at the position than maybe we would’ve thought of three, five, 10 years ago because of his ability to create mismatches as a receiver, his ability to run between the tackles, his ability to make big plays. He really is a combination running back/wide receiver. All those things led to us — and as you said, his ability as a leader, the type of commitment that he shows, the type of person that he is, the way he comes every day to get better — all those things went into play.”

• Players Shaq Thompson, Tre Boston, Chris Manhertz and Ian Thomas all participated in a peaceful protest together at a local park in Charlotte in response to the unjust death of Floyd, while the Panthers made a public statement that can also be seen below.

New Orleans Saints

• While free agency has come to a halt in recent weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still one premiere players still out there in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. A report from WBOK Radio host Nader Mirifiq says that the Saints are interested in Clowney, with his main priority being that he wants to win a championship.

This would fall in line with Pro Football Talk’s report that Clowney turned down an “aggressive” offer from the Cleveland Browns. An interest in playing for New Orleans would make sense for Clowney, who is considered one of the best pass rushers in the league. The Saints have won the division over three years and are considered playoff contenders once again. The idea of having Clowney on one end and Cameron Jordan on the other side could create a very difficult matchup for any team facing them, especially for the Bucs having to  play them twice a year.

• In another tribute to Floyd, Saints linebacker Demario Davis has called for a change in the way policing is done during an appearance on NFL Network. Davis is also a member of the Players Coalition.