The last-place team in the NFC South has gone on to win the division the following year in five of the past six seasons. The lone exception was the Atlanta Falcons, who finished second and earned a wildcard playoff berth in 2008.

The New Orleans Saints could be the latest worst-to-first story if their Gregg Williams-led rebuilt defense can do its part to support the NFL’s most prolific offense, led by 5,000-yard passer Drew Brees.

The salary cap-strapped Carolina Panthers didn’t bring in any impact free agents, but with 21 of 22 starters returning and added depth from the draft they are in good position to become a rare repeat division champion.

The departure of several key veterans and a rugged schedule will make it a lot tougher for the Falcons to pull off another surprise.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the biggest turnover in the division, starting with the firing of coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen and replacing them with neophytes Raheem Morris, 32, and Mark Dominik, 37. Also gone is long-time defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who went to work for his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee. The Bucs purged their roster of older veterans as well, most notably beloved linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Here’s a review of the offseason moves in the NFC South:

Carolina: Pieces in place to defend title.

Atlanta: Schedule much tougher this season.

Tampa Bay: Growing pains coming with youth movement.

New Orleans: Prolific offense needs more defensive support.

Carolina Panthers

Key Gains: DE Everette Brown (Florida State), CB Sherrod Martin (Troy), DT Corvey Irvin (Georgia), RB Mike Goodson (Texas A&M), FB Tony Flammetta (Syracuse),GDuke Robinson (Oklahoma).

Key Losses: G/T Jeremy Bridges (Redskins), C Geoff Hangartner (Bills), OT Frank Omiyale (Bears), CB Ken Lucas (Seahawks).

Breakdown: Their biggest moves were resigning QB Jake Delhomme and LT Jordan Gross to lucrative, long-term contracts. Brown is seen as insurance for Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers, who has yet to sign the franchise tender worth $16.68 million. He asked to be traded to a team that plays the 3-4 so he can play outside linebacker. Like Brown, the rest of the rookie class will be asked to contribute immediately in some capacity.

Key Questions: Will Peppers be a distraction if he isn’t traded? Is Brown ready to play? Will players adjust to new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, who ran Tony Dungy’s Cover-2 scheme in Indianapolis? Can Delhomme stay healthy for a full season?

Atlanta Falcons

Key Gains: TE Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs), DT Peria Jerry (Mississippi), S William Moore (Missouri), CB Christopher Owens (San Jose State), DE Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond).

Key Losses: LB Keith Brooking (Cowboys), LB Michael Boley (Giants), DT Grady Jackson (Lions), SS Lawyer Milloy (released), CB Domonique Foxworth (Ravens).

Breakdown: Gonzalez fills the biggest need on offense and gives young QB Matt Ryan a reliable red-zone target. The Falcons needed to improve the NFL’s 24th-ranked defense, which said goodbye to five starters. Seven of their eight draft picks were defenders headed by top picks Jerry and Moore, who could be impact players. Owens will get every opportunity to replace Foxworth.

Key Questions: Can Ryan duplicate his fabulous rookie season? Will Gonzalez, entering his 13th season, continue to play like a Pro Bowler? Who fills the leadership void left by the departure of Brooking and Milloy?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key Gains: QB Byron Leftwich (Steelers), QB Josh Freeman (Kansas State), RB Derrick Ward (Giants), TE Kellen Winslow (Browns), LB Angelo Crowell (Bills), LB Niko Koutouvides (Broncos), DT Roy Miller (Texas),KMike Nugent (Jets).

Key Losses: LB Derrick Brooks (released), QB Jeff Garcia (Raiders), RB Warrick Dunn (released), WR Joey Galloway (Patriots), LB Cato June (Texans), DT Jovan Haye (Titans), CB Phillip Buchanon (Lions).

Breakdown: Releasing Brooks, 36, the face of the franchise, was a surprise because he was still productive. But the defense was showing its age. The Buccaneers are overstocked at quarterback, but the job will be Freeman’s eventually. Trading for Winslow adds another weapon to the offense, which returns WRs Antonio Bryant (franchised) and Michael Clayton (re-signed). Ward will share carries with Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams.

Key Questions: Will the Bucs ever find better leaders than Brooks and Dunn?Who starts at quarterback? When will Freeman be ready? Has enough been done to improve the defense?

New Orleans Saints

Key Gains: CB Jabari Greer (Bills), CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), S Darren Sharper (Vikings), S Pierson Prioleau (Jaguars), DE Paul Spicer (Jaguars), DT Rod Coleman, S Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest), FB Heath Evans (Patriots).

Key Losses: RB Deuce McAllister (released), WR David Patten (Browns), CB Mike McKenzie (released), S Josh Bullocks (Bears), DT Bryan Young (released), DT Hollis Thomas (released).

Breakdown: Gregg Williams was hired to coordinate a revamped defense that ranked 23rd in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed. Greer, Jenkins and Sharper fill needs in a secondary that yielded 221.7 passing yards per game. The Saints retained startingGJahri Evans, OT Zach Strief and WR Lance Moore, but the most noteworthy move on offense was releasing the popular McAllister, the team rushing leader.

Key Questions: Can Williams turn the defense around? Can the defense survive without DEs Will Smith and Charles Grant, who face four-game suspensions for using a banned substance last year? Can RBs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas provide a running game to ease the burden on QB Drew Brees?

Next: NFC West.