This is Anthony Richardson’s team and his time.
Unlike last offseason, the Indianapolis Colts already have their quarterback in place, and he happens to be arguably the most physically gifted athlete ever to play the position.
College hoops 🤝 Anthony Richardson
(via @GatorsFB)
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 21, 2024
The jury is still out on Richardson as an NFL quarterback, however, as he was limited to just four games as a rookie due to a concussion and a season-ending shoulder surgery — but the signs he showed with seven total touchdowns in four games were promising.
Assuming Richardson can stay healthy during his sophomore campaign, his presence on the field will be the biggest factor in the Colts’ success or failure in 2024. That may sound unfair, but it’s reality, and another part of that reality is the clock is already ticking. The window to build a championship roster around Richardson while he’s still on a rookie contract shrinks with each day that passes, and early on this offseason, it would be disingenuous to say Indianapolis has gained or lost ground in the AFC South.
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For now, this team looks similar to the resilient squad that finished 9-8 last year, but this year’s version is still incomplete. The Colts did what they were supposed to do by signing wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to a contract extension and retaining Kenny Moore II and Grover Stewart, among others, in free agency. But they also haven’t addressed their need for a starting-level cornerback and perhaps two starting safeties. In-house free agent Julian Blackmon is still available, as well as external free agents like Justin Simmons and Steven Nelson, each of whom would significantly strengthen the Colts’ secondary.
The NFL owners’ meetings begin next week in Orlando, Fla., and if a few more moves aren’t made by then, perhaps general manager Chris Ballard can provide clarity on his team’s relative stagnancy during the second wave of free agency. As we wait, I decided to take a look around the rest of the AFC South to see how those teams are trying to improve.
New #Colts pod is liveeeeeeeeeee with @jimayello!!!!
We discuss Indy’s moves in free agency, L’Jarius Sneed (if you’ve ever heard of him) and how the rest of the AFC South is shaping up.https://t.co/45EZh3aDlNhttps://t.co/kXMMEXZT5Ghttps://t.co/lbJeD4xxrz pic.twitter.com/BXJSsM2INI
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) March 20, 2024
Houston, like Indianapolis, overachieved during what was supposed to be a rebuilding season last year. Quarterback C.J. Stroud put together one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, leading the Texans to the playoffs and a lopsided postseason victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Now it feels like Houston is really going for it. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall put the Texans at No. 4 in his post-free agency power rankings. Although I’m not as sold on Houston as him, it does feel like the team has taken a significant step forward.
The Texans added star defensive end Danielle Hunter, who is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl selection. The 29-year-old exploded for career highs of 16 1/2 sacks, 23 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles with the Vikings in 2023. Hunter will join defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson, as well as Denico Autry and Foley Fatukasi, to bolster Houston’s defensive line, which is poised to wreak havoc in the AFC South.
The Texans also traded for running back Joe Mixon, who rushed for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns last year in Cincinnati. He has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career and should help Houston become a more balanced offense. The Texans ranked 29th in the NFL last year with 3.7 yards per carry. We’ve already seen what Stroud is capable of with Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. Now imagine how dangerous he could be if Houston can consistently run the ball.
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The Jaguars lost their best receiver, Calvin Ridley, to the Titans in free agency, and that’s a big blow. Jacksonville tried to offset some of that void at wideout by bringing in the speedy Devin Duvernay and the big-bodied Gabe Davis. Both players will look to build chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence, whom most would argue took a step back last year with 21 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.
Lawrence’s up-and-down play, albeit some of it likely due to injury and poor offensive line play, led to the Jaguars’ second-half collapse in which they blew their chance at winning back-to-back AFC South titles and missed the playoffs entirely. Jacksonville strengthened its offensive line by bringing in former Pro Bowler Mitch Morse, who should be a significant upgrade over Luke Fortner.
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Despite their free fall, the Jaguars still finished 9-8 and went 2-0 against the Colts, so it’s hard to suggest Indianapolis is a better team at the moment. Jacksonville will likely have something to say about the AFC South in 2024.
Aside from its offensive acquisitions, Jacksonville also brought in veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead to bolster its defensive line. Armstead, 30, hasn’t been the most available player the past two years, missing eight regular-season games in 2022 and five in 2023 due to injury. However, when he’s on the field, he makes a difference. He recorded five sacks during the regular season last year and had a sack in the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. He could be the driving force in the Jaguars defense going from OK in 2023, ranking 17th in points allowed at 21.8 per game, to one of the better units in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans obviously had the most work to do this offseason considering they’re the only AFC South team that didn’t have a winning record in 2023. Tennessee finished 6-11 and 1-5 in the division.
New coach Brian Callahan, the former Bengals offensive coordinator, will lead a franchise that looks a lot different than in years past. Future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry is no longer in the backfield as the team shifts its focus to 2023 second-round quarterback Will Levis. Unlike Richardson, Stroud and Lawrence, the Titans aren’t sold on their QB as the face of their franchise. However, they did make some significant investments around Levis to give him every chance to thrive.
Ridley is clearly Tennessee’s biggest offseason addition. After missing the 2022 season due to a gambling suspension, Ridley returned last year and notched the second 1,000-yard receiving season in his career. He finished with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns during his lone season in Jacksonville. Couple him with DeAndre Hopkins, who totaled 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven TDs in 2023, and Levis should have one of the better receiver tandems in the NFL.
The Titans also added running back Tony Pollard to team up with Tyjae Spears after his promising rookie season and added arguably the best center on the free-agent market in Lloyd Cushenberry. Now, all of that is still not enough to make me think the Titans will leapfrog the Colts or any other team in the AFC South in 2024, but they did take a big swing.
Indianapolis hasn’t taken a big swing yet, and perhaps it doesn’t need to, but there are more swings to be made to ensure it doesn’t stunt its growth before Richardson and company can blossom.
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(Photo of Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
