The real question at this point is can anyone unseat the Texans?

AFC South Preview

Houston Texans

CJ Primed for A Playoff Run?
  • Coaching: HC DeMeco Ryans has been really good in 2 years, but he needed to make some changes to get to another level. OC Nick Caley has come over from the Rams to take over for Bobby Slowik who stagnated in Year 2. On D, Matt Burke returns to lead a Top 5 unit.
  • Departures: WR Stefon Diggs (to NE), WR Robert Woods (to PIT), LB Devin White (to LVR), QB Case Keenum (to CHI), CB Jeff Okudah (to MIN),
  • Additions:
    • Free Agents:
      • Defense: DT Sheldon Rankins (from CIN), S CJ Gardner-Johnson (via trade PHI), DE Darrell Taylor (from CHI)
      • Offense: WR Christian Kirk (via trade JAC), OT Cam Robinson (from MIN), OG Laken Tomlinson (from SEA), RB Nick Chubb (from CLE), WR Justin Watson (from KC), C Jake Andrews (from NE), OG Ed Ingram (via trade MIN)
    • Draft:
      • WR Jayden Higgins (2nd – Iowa State)
      • OT Aireontae Ersery (2nd – Minnesota)
      • CB Jaylin Smith (3rd – USC)
      • WR Jaylin Noel (3rd – Iowa State)
      • S Jaylen Reed (6th – Penn State)
  • Overview – The Texans have worked to address their O-Line woes in 2024 and get more depth at WR with the departure of Diggs and the Dell injury. If OC Caley can match their 2023 production with this D, the Texans are a sneaky SB contender. Everyone believes the Chiefs, Ravens and Bills will be there yet again. However, the Texans are younger with the best D of that group. They had the D against KC in the playoffs, but not the O once Dell went down.
  • Prediction – 11-6 AFC South Winner – probably on the road again in the Divisional Round, but that D can travel.

Indianapolis Colts

Can Steichen Work His Magic with Jones?
  • Coaching: HC Shane Steichen has been doing what he can, but he needs healthy players to keep this job. OC Jim Bob Cooter is back, and he will have to figure out if Richardson can really play or turn to their new QB. DC Lou Anarumo steps in as he lost his job in CIN. I think Lou is a good DC, but CIN got old on D fast. Let’s see if he can show his worth in IND.
  • Departures: DT Raekwon Davis (unsigned), DE Dayo Odeyinbo (to CHI), S Julian Blackmon (to NO), C Ryan Kelly (to MIN), QB Joe Flacco (to CLE)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agents:
      • Defense: CB Charvarius Ward (from SF), S Cam Bynum (from MIN), LB Joe Bachie (from CIN), DT Neville Gallimore (from LAR)
      • Offense: QB Daniel Jones (from MIN) – only one of note
    • Draft:
      • TE Tyler Warren (1st – Penn State)
      • DE JT Tuimoloau (2nd – Ohio State) – 3rd on the depth chart
      • OT Jalen Travis (4th – Iowa State)
      • RB DJ Giddens (5th – Kansas State)
      • QB Riley Leonard (6th – Notre Dame)
      • S Hunter Wohler (7th – Wisconsin)
  • Overview – The Colts really believe that QB Daniel Jones can run this offense. Besides the Warren draft pick, there are not a lot of new pieces. Richardson is coming off an injury so we will see. The D gets a little better with Ward and Bynum, but I would have liked to see more pass rushers.
  • Prediction – I think that HOU is the class of the division, but IND can win some games. I have them at 8-9 missing the playoffs again.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coen Needs Lawrence To Follow His Lead
  • Coaching: The Jags moved on from Doug Pederson and are going to go with yet another offensive mind for QB Trevor Lawrence with former TB OC, Liam Coen. He turns to OC Grant Udinski from the Kevin O’Connell tree in MIN. KOC is a top offensive guy, so maybe that will help. For the D, DC Anthony Campanile steps in who has bounced around a lot, but never as the head man in the NFL. Not sure he is the right guy for this struggling offense.
  • Departures: WR Josh Reynolds (to NYJ), TE Evan Engram (to DEN), DE Jeremiah Ledbetter (to NYG), OG Brandon Scherff (unsigned), QB Mac Jones (to SF)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agents:
      • Defense: S Eric Murray (from HOU), CB Jourdan Lewis (from DAL), LB Dennis Gardeck (from AZ), DE Dawuane Smoot (from BUF), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (from MIA)
      • Offense: WR Dyami Brown (from WAS), C Robert Hainsey (from TB), OT Patrick Mekari (from BAL), OT Fred Johnson (from PHI), OT Chuma Edoga (from DAL), TE Johnny Mundt (from MIN), QB Nick Mullen (from MIN)
    • Draft:
      • WR/CB Travis Hunter (1st – Colorado)
      • OG Wyatt Milum (3rd – West Virginia)
      • S Caleb Ransaw (3rd – Tulane) – 3rd on depth chart
      • LB Jack Kiser (4th – Notre DAme)
      • RB Tuten Bhayshul (4th – VA Tech)
  • Overview – The Jags GM has put a lot of weight on Travis Hunter. I love his talent, but this team is not just a WR or CB away on this team. The upgrades on the O-Line may help Lawrence, but they need to run the ball more to give him time on play action. I do not see enough changes on the D that was solid but not great. The Jags are just a meh to me.
  • Prediction – I have them at 8-9. Perhaps the new Offense will be energized and make them more competitive than the last season and a half where they cratered under Pederson. I believe it when I see it.

Tennessee Titans

#1 Pick Ward Will Take His Lumps
  • Coaching: HC Brian Callahan returns as the top man here after a rough Year 1. OC Nick Holz is also back, but with a new man under center. DC Dennard Wilson’s group on D will need to be a lot better.
  • Departures: OLB Harold Landry (to NE), QB Mason Rudolph (to PIT), OG Saahdiq Charles (to DAL), TE Nick Vannett (to MIN), WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (to MIA)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agents:
      • Defense: LB Cody Barton (from DEN), LB Dre’Mont Jones (from SEA), S Xavier Woods (from CAR), LB Jihad Ward (from MIN), DT Timmy Home (from NYG), DE Carlos Watkins (from DAL)
      • Offense: WR Van Jefferson (from PIT), WR Tyler Lockett (from SEA), OT Dan Moore (from PIT), OG Kevin Zeitler (from DET), QB Brandon Allen (from SF)
    • Draft:
      • QB Cam Ward (1st – Miami)
      • DE Oluwafemi Oladejo (2nd – UCLA)
      • S Kevin Winston (3rd – Penn State)
      • TE Gunnar Helm (4th – Texas)
      • WR Chimere Dike (4th – Florida)
      • WR Elic Ayomanor (4th – Stanford)
      • OG Jackson Slater (5th – Sacramento State)
      • CB Marcus Harris (6th – Cal)
      • RB Kalel Mullings (6th – Michigan)
  • Overview – The Titans have a lot of new, young faces, and if Ward can hit the ground running, maybe they will not be awful. Of the bottom tier teams, I think given the weaker division and coaching staff, I think they will be respectable, but nowhere near the playoffs. It’s a bounce back year with a lot of young guys getting playing time.
  • Prediction – 5-12 – not the worst, but not great either to get out of the Top 10 in the Draft in 2026.

Alright, next week we will tackle the West Divisions.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.