The vibes in the AFC South are confusing, to say the least. This summer, the football world linked the Indianapolis Colts to every first-round quarterback imaginable. The re-emergence of Daniel Jones has thus tilted the division on its axis.
Elsewhere, the Houston Texans are wasting a season of cost-controlled quarterbacking, the Jacksonville Jaguars are getting used to life under Liam Coen, and the Tennessee Titans are trying to evaluate Cam Ward as he dodges sabotage from his supporting cast and coaching staff.
There is so much left to unpack this year, giving teams information to make crucial decisions this offseason. Still, it's not too early to preview where each one might allocate resources during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Party like it's 1981. Indiana Jones is in the spotlight, and Colts fans are loving it. How long the honeymoon period lasts remains to be seen. Jones can turn into a pumpkin by Halloween or lift his new team to contention, much like Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings last season.
Minnesota cut Darnold (and Jones) loose, adding to the mounting pressure on J.J. McCarthy's shoulders. Indianapolis could do the same. As such, quarterback will likely be on Indianapolis's radar come April, albeit with less urgency than it seemed entering the year.
The Colts now have more important holes to address, like a potential replacement for right tackle Braden Smith. On the other side of the ball, the second level can use improvement, and a long-term partner for edge rusher Laiatu Latu could add to a unit with a fairly high floor.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Things are going well for Jacksonville, even if two-way phenom Travis Hunter hasn't gotten off to a quick start. There's no need to hit the panic button, but adding depth at corner would be wise given the part-time nature of his (current) game and the potential for him to play receiver full-time. Trading Tyson Campbell for Greg Newsome, who is on an expiring deal, only adds to that need.
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Fortunately, there are minimal massive holes on this roster. The Jaguars are in a position to make some luxury picks, perhaps a developmental option at a high-value position like offensive tackle. For a more urgent need, focusing on upgrading from Ezra Cleveland or adding an athletic safety would make the biggest impact. Of course, Jacksonville does not own its first-round pick in 2026, dampening expectations for next year's rookie class.
Houston Texans
So many parts of this game inspire debate. Who's hot, who's not, and who's to blame make discourse inevitable and talk radio possible. One thing everybody agrees on is that this Houston offensive line is horrible.
This is a dysfunctional offense that has neutered its passing game and set an unimposing running back room even further behind the eight ball. Keeping Stroud upright is important for the long-term future of the franchise, but also the down-to-down consistency of the passing game. Addressing the offensive line is the Texans' first, second, and third need this offseason. A quality crop of tackle prospects should oblige.
An early-round running back also makes sense, offering another avenue to explosive plays and ensuring Houston can hold the leads Stroud creates.
Defensively, the Texans don't need much work. The spine of the defense needs the most attention, with linebackers taking priority, but there isn't a massive need on this side of the ball.
Tennessee Titans
It looks like Ward will be the next rookie quarterback to watch his head coach get fired. That development cannot be divorced from the lack of talent surrounding the No. 1 pick. Despite heavy investments up front, the Titans' offensive line is struggling, making a lackluster run game even worse. Wide receiver is a more pressing need, though, as Calvin Ridley has failed to live up to expectations.
Subsequently, Tennessee projects to be a contender for Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson's services, although it may be picking "too high" for a wideout.
High-value positions on offense should be addressed first; Ward's development is too important, and a new head coach will want to implement a specific vision. When Tennessee turns to its defense, banking on positional value makes sense, too. The Titans could use reinforcements on the edge and along the boundary. Much of the secondary would benefit from a facelift, and Tennessee won't be competitive until it wins with its passing production and prevention.
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