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

Atlanta Falcons

• The Falcons were one of the teams, along with the Bucs and Broncos, rumored to be looking to move up in the first round of this month’s draft, according to Albert Breer. The Bucs and Broncos are both in need of offensive line help, but the Falcons need a lot of help defensively including a pass rusher. Despite signing Dante Fowler, Jr. Atlanta is still very thin across the defensive line and could be eyeing LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson or South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw in the draft to help up front.

• Speaking of pass rush, or a lack there of, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that they expect last year’s fourth-round pick John Cominsky to to have an expanded role in 2020. Cominsky only played 100 snaps for the Falcons in 2019 notching just a six tackles before a high ankle sprain cost him six games.

• Former Rams running back Todd Gurley has yet to have his physical with the Falcons but told reporters last week, he doesn’t expect there to be any issues. He also had a message for the Rams – pay me my money.

“I still need my money. That’s what I’m waiting on. It’s all fun and games. But I do need my money.”

The Rams cut Gurley last month in a salary cap-saving move, but still owe Gurley $7.55 million for a roster bonus.

• The Bucs aren’t the only NFC South team to reveal new informs, the Falcons debuted their new look to mixed reviews last week. I many be a little biased but I think the Buccaneers won this battle.

• If the Falcons do move up in the draft, what other players might they target besides Chaisson and Kinlaw? Kevin Knight wrote recently that Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson could be players the Falcons have their eyes on.

Carolina Panthers

• Last week we mentioned the Panthers were looking to give running back Christian McCaffrey a new deal, and this week the two sides reached an agreement on a four-year, $64 million contract. McCaffrey’s $16 million per season average makes him the highest paid back in the league, exceeding Ezekiel Elliott’s $14.5 million per year average. McCaffrey rushed for 1,387 yards in 2019 and added another 1,005 as a receiver while combining for 19 touchdowns.

Former Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly – Photo by: Mark LoMoglio/PR

• Linebacker Luke Kuechly retired last January and while he has no regrets, he told Mike Tirico recently he wants to find a way to stay involved in the game and would consider coaching, front office jobs or broadcasting, mentioning former Buc Ronde Barber, Jason Witten and Tony Romo as players that have made that transition.

“Those guys, you can tell that they played at a high level and they still have the ability to stay involved with the game,” Kuechly said. “I think that part is something that’s attractive to me just in the sense that they played it and are still involved it in an interesting role.”

New Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said soon after Kuechly’s retirement he wants to add him to his coaching staff at some point. Boston College, Kuechly’s alma mater, has also made that a post-retirement option for the former Pro Bowler. For now Kuechly is weighing all of his options.

• Despite signing Teddy Bridgewater to a deal this offseason to replace Cam Newton, who was recently released, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters that Carolina could still take a quarterback with the No. 7 overall first round pick later this month.

Matt Rhule said he wouldn’t rule out taking a QB at No. 7 or with a lower round pick. He said won’t overlook a great player regardless of need. Mentions he is preparing for the next 12 years not the next 12 months.

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) April 8, 2020

• With the loss of James Bradberry, the Panthers could look for cornerback help in this month’s draft. Safety is another unit thin in Carolina with just Tre Boston being a player with much experience. Some mocks have Carolina taking Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, but the overwhelming consensus is the Panthers taking a defensive lineman, and Auburn’s Derrick Brown’s name has been mentioned the most frequently with the No. 7 overall pick.

New Orleans Saints

• With McCaffery getting a new deal with the Panthers, Saints running back Alvin Kamara has just one year left on his rookie contract, and sounds like someone who wants to stay in The Big Easy.

“I had never been to New Orleans until I got drafted by New Orleans, so just to be able to get to New Orleans and have that city embrace me, and just take me in, basically like adopt me, it’s amazing,” Kamara said. “There is so much love there. It’s a dope city, outside of football. It’s beautiful people. It’s lit. It’s alive. If we’re talking about football, I’ve never been around a group of guys like in New Orleans that just want to win and just want to be there for each other and want to be around each other.”

Christian McCaffrey got paid while we were Twitch streaming with @A_kamara6 & @LilCoachTMBTC.

Check out Alvin’s reaction to the record RB deal, and what it would mean for him to get an extension with the Saints pic.twitter.com/yMy46HZPot

— Master (@MasterTes) April 14, 2020

• Saints QB Drew Brees has at least one more year left to try and get his second Super Bowl title, but has already made plans for life after football. According to the New York Post, Brees has signed with NBC Sports and will be groomed to replace Cris Collinsworth as the analyst on Sunday Night Football.

“Like all NFL fans, we look forward to watching Drew continue his Hall of Fame career this fall, and we are confident his post-playing career will be just as successful,” NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes told The Post.

Brees also considered ESPN, who is looking to move on from Joe Tessitore and former Buccaneers defensive tackle Booger McFarland, as the network recasts its Monday Night Football lineup.

Saints QB Drew Brees – Photo by: Getty Images

• Brees was a guest on The Ellen Show recently and spoke about the Buccaneers signing Tom Brady and the competitiveness of the NFC South.

“Well, the division just got a little bit better, didn’t it? In addition to that, Teddy Bridgewater, who played so well for us, with the Saints last year when I got hurt, he’s now the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers,” Brees said. “Our division has Teddy Bridgewater, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and myself with the Saints. It’s always been a very challenging division, and it just kicked up a notch.”

• The Saints still have a number of needs, including linebacker and offensive line, but giving Brees another target at wide receiver is an option as well. New Orleans added Emanuel Sanders this offseason but after Michael Thomas and Sanders, the unit is largely unproven and there are plenty of unknowns. Don’t be surprised to see the Saints take the best available wide receiver on the board with the No. 24 overall pick or even possibly move up.