The AFC South turned out to be one of the most competitive divisions during the 2019 season. Even though the top seed Houston Texans only notched a 10-win record, the fourth-place Jacksonville Jaguars were not too far behind and grabbed six wins of their own. The margins between the teams were rather slim and every squad can eventually overtake their division rivals after a single offseason.
The division also saw the biggest buzzes of the offseason when All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins departed from the Houston Texans via trade. The eight-year veteran was recently dealt along with a 2020 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick. Being the big name that Hopkins is and what he brings to the table, the trade will certainly have major implications for the dynamics of the division moving forward.
Many people also became critical of Bill O' Brien's ability to be the Texans' head coach and moonlight as the team's general manager as well. Fortunately for the Houston-based team, a lot of talent is still left on the roster even after the departure of Hopkins. However, the rest of the AFC South is gradually catching up and aiming at the target on the backs of the Texans.
Let's breakdown each team's chances of dethroning the reigning division champions in the upcoming season:
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a shaky campaign last season due to their quarterback situation. Starting gunslinger Nick Foles suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter of the team's Week 1 game and missed significant time. Rookie Gardner Minshew then came off the bench and became a surprising revelation for the Jaguars.
The nine-year veteran made his return from injury in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts and also started in the following game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being down 25-0 coupled with a poor individual showing, head coach Doug Marrone benched Foles and rode with the rookie for the rest of the season.
The Jaguars eventually finished with a subpar 6-10 record, primarily leaning on a young and inexperienced rookie playing under center. The team attempted to iron things out during the offseason by trading the veteran Foles to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a compensatory fourth-round 2020 NFL Draft pick. His relocation made Minshew the presumptive QB1 for the Jags entering the upcoming season.
Moreover, the team also took a hit when the 2017 Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was recently traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for future draft picks. He even agreed to take a $4 million pay cut just to leave Jacksonville which is indicative of things not looking well for the team. A disgruntled Leonard Fournette was also recently released after the front office failed to find a trade partner for the fourth-year running back.
Another rebuilding season could be looming for the Jaguars after losing several pieces during the offseason. The team must first incorporate a winning culture and address their internal problems before they can pose a threat to the reigning divisional champions.
2. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans were the surprise story of the entire 2019 season despite the Texans winning the division. After a string of dismal performances, starting quarterback Marcus Mariota was relegated to the backseat and veteran newcomer Ryan Tannehill took over the reins starting in a Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The former Miami Dolphin took advantage of the opportunity handed to him and eventually pumped life back to his career. His applaudable performances led him to be the NFL passer rating leader and NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2019. He also grabbed his first Pro Bowl appearance last season, replacing the Super Bowl-bound Patrick Mahomes in the annual festivities.
Running back Derrick Henry also made his name known last season. He finished the regular season setting career-highs in carries with 303, rushing yards with 1,540, and rushing touchdowns with 16. He was also named the NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader, NFL rushing yards leader, and garnered a second-team All-Pro selection along with his first Pro Bowl trip last season.
Then rookie A.J. Brown joined the party and introduced himself to the league after emerging as a major contributor for the Titans. He exceeded the 1,000 receiving yard mark in his first professional campaign en route to a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection.
The Titans eventually finished in second place with a 9-7 record and surprised a couple of powerhouses in the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens during the 2019 NFL Playoffs.
With essentially no significant additions made in the offseason, the Titans are sticking to what they currently have moving forward. Despite the promise, the team is certainly not safe from becoming a mere one-hit-wonder from last season. The bar was already set too high for them after their huge success in 2019 and it remains doubtful for the team to be able to surpass their accomplishments in the upcoming season.
1. Indianapolis Colts
The abrupt retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck shook the entire Indianapolis Colts squad last season. Backup Jacoby Brissett was then named as the full-time playmaker for the entirety of the team's 2019 campaign.
The fifth-year veteran played fairly well in the early stages of the season and even grabbed the AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 7. However, the remainder of the season didn't pan out exactly how the Colts wanted it to be. The team finished 3-6 on their remaining games and concluded the season with a 7-9 overall tally which failed to enter the team into the playoff picture along with the Texans and Titans.
Owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard immediately went to work and wants to establish a win-now team for the upcoming season. Former long-time Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was initially acquired because of his past relationship with Colts head coach Frank Reich back with the Bolts. The 17-year veteran will be bringing a much-needed veteran leadership in the locker room and reliable stability on the field.
The Colts were also productive in the recently-concluded 2020 NFL Draft and committed to forming a youth movement in Indianapolis. USC Trojans wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor were snagged with the 34th and 41st picks, respectively. The first-year weapons will complement veteran holdovers in wideout T.Y. Hilton, sophomore pass-catcher Parris Campbell, and running back Marlon Mack.
The acquisitions didn't stop there as the Colts also lured a gamechanger in defensive end DeForest Buckner. Fresh off a Super Bowl LIV appearance, the 2018 Pro Bowler will be holding the fort along with All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard and 2014 NFL sacks leader Justin Houston. Three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes and seven-year veteran T.J. Carrie will also look to make a difference in the team's secondary.
The Colts' aggressive push for a massive overhaul should possibly do the trick and contribute to their win-now cause. Their newly-acquired pieces will ultimately bolster their chances and help in their efforts to beat the Texans for the divisional crown. With the team taking steps in the right direction, the AFC South can potentially see a new ruler in the upcoming season.
The only certainty that we know of is that this division will be one of the most entertaining competitions to watch out for in the upcoming season.
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