What are the biggest headlines for each AFC South team in 2023? Jacob breaks it down below.
Biggest Headline for Each AFC South Team in 2023
Tennessee Titans: Is their downfall inevitable?
Missing the playoffs, the 2022 Titans had a disappointing season. Worse, it made it clear that Tennessee was headed for a rebuild. This year, it’s safe to say that of all the rosters in the AFC South, they may have the least talent. Treylon Burks had a decent rookie season when he was on the field, but he didn’t show any flashes that he should be the WR1 for this team going into this season. At QB, there’s a ton of uncertainty.
Will Ryan Tannehill continue to regress as we saw last season? Will a guy like Will Levis or Malik Willis see some snaps this year? Either way, Derrick Henry can only do so much to help this boring offense and lackluster defense. Every team in this division has gotten more talented this offseason… besides Tennessee.
Indianapolis Colts: What will Anthony Richardson look like in his first season?
The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft. Richardson is for sure talented, but he is also viewed as the biggest project QB in this year’s class, so the decision to start him was interesting. Historically, the rookie QB-rookie HC combo doesn’t go too well.
Richardson has the arm strength of any great QB and the ability to use his legs, but developing him to a point where he looks like a franchise QB in year one is a tall order for an entirely new regime. For a team that has been desperately searching for any sort of QB talent since 2019, it’s a huge risk throwing Richardson right into the fire, so we’ll see how it plays out. Â
Houston Texans: What will C.J. Stroud look like in his first season?
Similarly to the Colts, the Texans drafted their QB of the future in C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick. I’m cautiously optimistic for Stroud in Houston. I think this team is a lot more talented than people are giving them credit for, and they’re set up well for the future. However, unlike Richardson, Stroud will be developed by a team with a defensive-minded HC in Demeco Ryans.
Most great QB developments have come at the hands of an offensive-minded HC. In my opinion, Stroud is the most talented QB in this draft class, and if the Texans can develop him correctly, they may have found themselves a gem.Â
Jacksonville Jaguars: Can Trevor Lawrence go from good to great?
Last season, Doug Pederson took a team that finished 3-14 in 2021 and brought them to the playoffs, even winning a playoff game. The Jaguars’ fate in 2023 is in the hands of QB Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence took a significant jump from 2021 to 2022, as last season he was top ten in passing yards and passing TDs. Still, in the first half of their playoff game against the Chargers, the lights were too bright for him, tossing four interceptions.
While he did end with four TDs and won the game, it was clear Lawrence had some work to do, but the future was incredibly bright. The Jaguars got him some more firepower on offense, trading for Calvin Ridley, so now is the time for the Jaguars. They are a young and exciting team, and now it’s on Trevor Lawrence to go from good to great and take this team to the promised land.
