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JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (12-5 Won AFC South Division Lost Wild Card Game to Buffalo)- QB Trevor Lwrence finally played up to lofty expectations last season throwing for 4518 yards, 38 touchdowns, a 70.3 completion percentage, and a stirling 124.6 QBR. HB Travis Etienne will probably be the featured back again, but Tank Bigsby and Indiana State rookie scatback Trent Gilyard should provide some firepower. The receivers remain intact while aging TE Evan Engram might get spelled, at times, by Notre Dame rookie Mitch Evans. Evans does not have much speed at all, limiting his stretch potential, but he is a better blocker than Engram. The offensive line did not really get any upgrades via the draft.
The defensive line will also be mostly the same. However, another Notre Dame player, DT Rylie Mills, brings speed and quickness to the interior. The problem, however, is he is smallish at 296 Lbs and current starter Arik Armstead is also small at just 290 Lbs, so it remains to be seen exactly how J-Ville plays this out. NT Davon Hamilton (6'4" 335 Lbs) could end up being a starter with Armstead and Mills alternating. Alabama rookie LOLB Jihad Campbell was seen, by many, as the top OLB in the draft, while Utah rookie MLB Landon Barton has all the skills you want for the position and should compliment veteran backer Devin Lloyd. Foyesade Oluokun and Georgia rookie James Lewis are solid at the ROLB position. Oregon rookie CB Jabbar Muhammad could be the #1 DB back there. He does not have the type speed desired to be a true #1, but is viewed as a top tier man coverage player and should slot well alongside Tyson Campbell. The #3 CB should be either Jarrian Jones or Ronald Darby. FS is also solid and a battle will continue there between Andre Cisco and UCLA rookie Victor Barden. Both have excellent speed and coverage skills and, at the very least. should see plenty of time in Big Nickel type defenses where the two can get on the field. The same can be said at the SS position where FS Darnell Savage and Iowa rookie Xavier Nwankpa can both flat out play.
Prediction: Jacksonville has a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. The emergence of Lawrence last season was a key and his continued good play is critical this season. The defense is top notch and, if the offense is good again, the Jags will a tough out each week.
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-6-1 Lost Wild Card Game to Kansas City)- The Texans had an excellent season last year especially running the football. Free agent acquisition HB Joe Mixon came over from the Bengals and led the league in rushing with 1799 yards and 17 touchdowns. QB CJ Stroud had a solid season as well throwing for 4437 yards, 34 touchdowns, and a 114.8 QBR. The receiving trio of Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins all averaged 17+ YPC and the group likely got even better when the team took Stanford speedster Evan Stewart in the draft! The offensive line remained in place.
The defensive ends are back. The interior of the Dline could be a bit of a question mark. 30 year old Folorunso Fatukasi and South Carolina rookie TJ Sanders will likely start. Sanders is a bit undersized (290 Lbs) and will need to use his speed and athleticism in order to be an effective backfield disruptor. Tennessee rookie Mark Brenner looks more like an on-the-line edge rusher than an OLB. Henry To'oto'o might be the best option as an every down cover backer out there. The MLB unit looks fine and speedy ROLB Christian Harris is back. Derek Stingley, Jeff Okudah, and Kamari Lassiter are a solid trio at the corners. The team did, though, add Fresno State rookie CB to the mix and his speed could have him challenging for playing time. FS Jalen Pitre is back.
Prediction: The Texans have enough to vie for the divisional crown, but the defense does not seem to be quite up the level of the Jaguars and that could take its toll over the course of the season.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-8 Lost Divisional Game to Kansas City)- Much will ride on the play of QB Anthony Richardson and the running of vet back Jonathan Taylor and Northwestern rookie scat back Jordan James. The WRs are the same and the addition of Iowa rookie TE Luke Lachey does not give the team any vertical threat there, although he is seen as a good underneath possession target. The offensive line did not really get any help so, as one can surmise, the offense likely will need to get superior play from Richardson yet agains this season.
Washington rookie OLB Miles Frazier should start. He does not have top end speed but should be adequate. The MLB and ROLB spots could be better, but for now, it is all they have. CB Kenny Moore is the best the Colts have at the corner. The rest of the unit is not overly fast and not superior in man coverage. Alabama rookie SS Malachi Moore is expected to have an immediate impact. DE Kwiy Paye and DL Deforest Buckner are stars.
Prediction: The Colts surprised the league last season and stunned the Miami Dolphins in the playoffs. They will not sneak up on anyone this year and will need to play at least as well, if not better, than they did last season of they hope for a return visit to the post-season
TENNESSEE TITANS (9-8)- QB Will Levis threw for over 5000 yards last season! But he was also sacked a staggering 127 times and really never felt the effects of that type of abuse. The new rules this season will almost certainly not allow him to absorb that type of punishment again without suffering some negative impacts to his game. In short, Tennessee must do a much better job of protecting him as well as having an improved ground game. That, though, may prove easier said than done as the club did not improve itself at the tailback position not did it make any strides at tight end. The team will see Air Force rookie RG Steve Webster join the unit and added Mississippi WR Tre Harris to the receiving corps. Harris, though, is seen more as a slot wide due to his solid route running and catching skills and 90 speed.
DE Jeffrey Simmons is still a load and under-rated DT T'Vondre Sweat are solid players along the Dline, but they could use some help. Auburn rookie ROLB Trey Moore looks very good and could see added time as a sub linebacker. If there is a true area of strength on the roster it would have to be in the team's outstanding cornerback stable. L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Roger McCreary, and Adonis Springs can all flat out play. Iowa rookie FS Sebastian Castro is an excellent plus at the position and strong safeties Jamal Adams and Amani Hooker are both solid making the Tennessee secondary one of the very best in the game.
Prediction: This division has a history of being a bit topsy turvy and this year could very well be no different. The Titans have a tremendous secondary, but the issue has to be how the line keeps Levis off his back. If he takes a beating again this season, it is probable his game will suffer. It just seems the running game might not be good enough to take the pressure off Levis.
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