Team to beat in the AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars. It was “surprise, surprise” for the Jaguars last season, reaching the AFC Championship game and being in control until late in the fourth quarter at New England. Most of Jacksonville’s success came thanks to the league’s second-best defense and breakout rookie running back Leonard Fournette. Jacksonville’s foundation returns this fall, with an increased faith in quarterback , who showed during the playoffs that he’s more than a punchline.
New faces
Houston. Safety Tyrann Mathieu, safety Justin Reid, cornerback Aaron Colvin, left tackle Martinas Rankin, wide receiver Sammie Coats, tight end Jordan Akins, quarterback . Texans had one of the NFL’s better pass defenses a year ago, but struggled to get interceptions; adding “The Honey Badger” should help matters.
Indianapolis. Wide receiver , guard Quenton Nelson, guard Braden Smith, guard Matt Slauson, tight end , linebacker Darius Leonard, defensive end Kemoko Turay. Quarterback is finally healthy and the Colts want to protect him, having spent first- and second-round picks on guards, in addition to signing the veteran Slauson.
Jacksonville. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan, wide receiver DJ Chark, wide receiver , safety Ronnie Harrison, guard Andrew Norwell, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Bortles lacked a clear go-to receiver in 2017 and the addition of Chark and Moncrief likely won’t change that, but the Jaguars did re-sign second-leading receiver .
Tennessee. Defensive tackle Bennie Logan, cornerback Malcom Butler, running back , linebacker Rashaan Evans, linebacker Harold Landry, quarterback , quarterback Luke Falk. Gabbert and Falk won’t contend for the starting job, but the departures of Weeden and meant the Titans needed depth behind at quarterback.
Impact rookies
Houston. The Texans didn’t make their first pick this year until the third round, which meant likely no instant stars; however, the addition of tight end Akins (No. 98 overall) from Central Florida provides a valuable blocker and pass catcher.
Indianapolis. The Colts didn’t draft for flash, they drafted for a rebuild with a focus on the line. Reports out of Indianapolis suggest Nelson (No. 6 overall) is already having a major impact.
Jacksonville. Chark might not be the obvious target in third-down situations, but his speed (40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds) will allow the Jaguars to stretch the field.
Tennessee. Watch out for Boston College’s Landry, whom the Titans picked in the second round. He’s a proven pass rusher who made a significant impact during the preseason while first-round pick Rashaan Evans sat out nursing an injury.
On the hot seat
Houston coach Bill O’Brien. Now in his fifth season leading the Texans, he hasn’t fared much better than when was in charge. He has three years of 9-7 under his belt, including twice winning a weak division. After last season’s 4-12 disaster, if he doesn’t show significant improvement this season, 2018 could be the end of the road despite the four-year contract extension he signed.
Predicted order of finish
1. Jacksonville. The Jaguars didn’t make any major acquisitions in the offseason, and they didn’t need to. There’s a proven winner being built in the NFL’s least talked about market.
2. Tennessee. Titans went neck-and-neck with the Jaguars for the AFC South crown last year. They made smart moves during free agency, but expect some hiccups during Mike Vrabel’s first season as coach.
3. Houston. A healthy DeShaun Watson at quarterback makes the Texans offense exciting and a delightful surprise during the first half of the season.
4. Indianapolis. It’s Andrew Luck surrounded by a forest of mediocrity.
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