With the 2024 NFL common season across the nook, each workforce within the league is about to make some robust choices, reducing down the roster to get 53 males who will begin the 12 months with Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
Nonetheless, with solely so many playoff spots to safe, each workforce shall be combating to return out of their division as winners, or at the least earn a wild card spot.
FOX Sports activities’ Colin Cowherd gave his predictions for a way every division will shake out earlier than coaching camp started. Utilizing these rankings, here’s a breakdown of every workforce in every division, persevering with with the AFC South.
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C.J. Stroud, #7 of the Houston Texans, warms up earlier than the beginning of the Texans and Baltimore Ravens AFC Divisional Playoff sport at M&T Financial institution Stadium on Jan. 20, 2024 in Baltimore. (Rob Carr/Getty Photographs)
1. Houston Texans
Colin says: “I apprehensive in regards to the Texans pulling again, however that they had one other actually robust draft and free company interval. Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon. I’ll take them to win.”
The shock of the NFL final season was the Texans, a workforce that had an important draft and free company interval, however some believed C.J. Stroud and firm would wish time earlier than reaching their potential.
Now, they’re anticipated to defend their AFC South crown after going 10-7 final season.
As Cowherd talked about, Houston doubled down on Stroud’s emergence as probably the greatest quarterbacks within the league after his rookie season, getting him Mixon within the backfield and Diggs as one other elite weapon at large receiver.
AFC WEST BREAKDOWN: HOW WILL THE DIVISION SHAKE OUT IN 2024 NFL SEASON?
KEY ADDITION: WR STEFON DIGGS
Whereas many consider the Texans had an important draft, getting two secondary items to shore up that space of the depth chart, it’s clear the most important acquisition of the offseason is an important piece to what the workforce accomplishes in 2024.
Diggs’ time in Buffalo was elite alongside Josh Allen, however talks of rigidity within the locker room finally led the Payments to maneuver on, and the Texans jumped with the appropriate commerce package deal.
Diggs, alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell, creates presumably the perfect receiving corps within the league with one of many sport’s younger stars. Will this look on the sector because it does on paper? Diggs’ capability to work at any degree ought to create a complete downside for defenses all season lengthy.
BIGGEST QUESTION: JUST HOW FAR?
The roster is stacked, together with the addition of edge rusher Danielle Hunter to beef up the defensive position. The quarterback has confirmed himself together with his younger weapons, and the offensive line is stout.
So, simply how far can the Texans go this season? If they don’t make the playoffs, it is going to be a disappointment, however that is the place the franchise needed to be in once more after drafting Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with the second and third total picks in final 12 months’s draft.
So long as well being is on their aspect, the Texans are the favorites to win this division, and will very effectively be a favourite to take the AFC relying on how issues shake out.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, appears again on the sideline through the NFL sport between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 7, 2024 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Colin says: “I feel it’s Trevor Lawrence’s greatest roster but. Jaguars end second. They have been 9-8 final 12 months and Trevor Lawrence fell aside down the stretch. They’ll rebound.”
Duval County was not completely satisfied to see Lawrence and the Jaguars falter within the second half to the purpose the place they didn’t make the playoffs, however Cowherd’s optimism might give them solace heading into 2024.
The Jaguars do have a star-studded roster even when Calvin Ridley is not within the receiving corps. Travis Etienne nonetheless holds down the backfield, whereas deep risk Gabe Davis joins Christian Kirk, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. is a first-round choose many consider may very well be Lawrence’s greatest risk within the go sport in 2024.
In the meantime, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker see Arik Armstead on their defensive position now, whereas middle Mitch Morse and guard Ezra Cleveland creates higher safety for the quarterback Jacksonville paid a whopping $275 million over 5 years this offseason.
Lawrence has no alternative however to choose up his sport, which as seen could be elite however wants extra consistency, as he’s among the many highest-paid quarterbacks within the league now.
NFC WEST BREAKDOWN: HOW WILL THE DIVISION SHAKE OUT IN NFL SEASON?
KEY ADDITION: CB RONALD DARBY
Some main gamers who will contribute this season have already been talked about, however a sneaky pickup that might pay big dividends for the Jaguars is Darby, the veteran cornerback who comes from the stingy unit that’s the Baltimore Ravens.
In a pass-heavy division, the Jaguars want a strong secondary, which additionally sports activities new security Darnell Savage, who could be the nickelback as effectively.
Darby has confirmed he generally is a pest for offenses, permitting simply 19 catches on 43 balls focused his manner final season over 16 video games (seven begins). His workload will increase in Jacksonville, and if he can publish numbers like that in Duval, then the Jaguars’ protection shall be noticeably higher.
BIGGEST QUESTION: WILL LAWRENCE BE CONSISTENT?
The Jaguars misplaced 5 of their closing six video games final season, falling out of the division result in permit the Texans to win all of it. In these video games, Lawrence threw for a mean 62.37% completion charge with 9 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He additionally misplaced three fumbles, and the bounce fell out of his arms 5 occasions.
Merely put, Lawrence wants to indicate extra consistency, which was seen within the five-game win streak earlier within the 12 months with six touchdowns to 2 interceptions and a 70.89% completion charge.
After all, soccer is a workforce sport, and it isn’t all on Lawrence. Nonetheless, when dropping occurs, and a number of it, just like the second-half crumble, fingers get pointed on the quarterback. The roster expertise is there, particularly on offense. The Jaguars are a playoff-ready workforce and the quarterback is the driving pressure right here.
Anthony Richardson, #5, arms off the ball to Jonathan Taylor, #28 of the Indianapolis Colts, through the first half of a preseason sport towards the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium on Aug. 11, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs)
3. Indianapolis Colts
Colin says: “I just like the Colts, however I query Anthony Richardson’s enjoying fashion and staying wholesome.”
The Colts took Richardson fourth total final 12 months, and there have been flashes of precisely what they have been considering with the Florida product. He has a cannon for an arm, seems to be a pure chief on offense and, gosh, he’s laborious to sort out when he will get going together with his legs.
Nonetheless, to Cowherd’s level, is Richardson’s play fashion of attempting to barrel over defenders whereas making passes every week the appropriate concept? He suffered a shoulder damage final season that compelled him out after simply 4 video games. He went 2-2 in these video games with a 59.5% completion charge, three passing touchdowns and one interception and 4 speeding touchdowns.
Will the Colts change issues up, or just hope that Richardson’s speeding reps don’t find yourself with him on the season-ending IR once more?
KEY ADDITION: DE LAIATU LATU
Laiatu Latu was only a tank for a lackluster UCLA Bruins squad in his senior season in 2023, which is why the Colts took him within the first spherical. He had 13 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions as a defensive lineman.
The Colts have gamers like Richardson, Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor and others on offense that bode effectively now and for the long run. Nonetheless, they wanted some on the defensive position in what’s a strong defensive corps to start with.
Latu might not begin instantly, because the Colts additionally make use of Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis off the sting. Nonetheless, followers can wager coordinator Gus Bradley shall be swapping him in to provide the go rush one other strong participant that may wreak havoc on gamedays.
BIGGEST QUESTION: IS RICHARDSON OK?
“He’s positive, he’s good to go,” head coach Shane Steichen mentioned earlier this offseason about Richardson and his shoulder coming into his second season. Nonetheless, there have been clips at follow of Richardson throwing balls together with his left hand as a substitute of his proper, and since it was simply 4 video games to go off of, many Colts followers are questioning what’s in retailer for his or her sign caller in 2024.
It’s simple to say success within the NFL hinges on the quarterback, however it is extremely true for the Colts when that’s their largest query mark on offense. They’ve the receiving expertise, and Taylor is greater than a succesful working again.
Followers will know early on simply how wholesome and prepared Richarson is to sort out his second 12 months within the league – one he hopes to play all 17 video games in.
DeAndre Hopkins, #10 of the Tennessee Titans, runs with the ball through the first half towards the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Photographs)
4. Tennessee Titans
Colin says: “The Titans, I’ve questions at quarterback and their offensive line’s worse than Will Levis.”
Tennessee has a brand new head coach on the town in Brian Callahan, and he’s going with Levis to paved the way on this new regime, although he does not likely have a greater possibility with Mason Rudolph behind him.
Levis showcased an arm for the NFL, however his decision-making abilities and talent to constantly lead an offense are nonetheless questionable.
Both manner, Tennessee GM Ran Carthon beefed up the expertise round him and made strikes that might see them compete higher than what consultants challenge them to be in 2024.
KEY ADDITION: WR CALVIN RIDLEY
How do you assist a younger quarterback? You get them elite expertise, and that’s what Ridley could be alongside DeAndre Hopkins on this offense … if Levis can get him the ball.
Ridley had an attention-grabbing time in Jacksonville, as he had over 1,000 yards, however he by no means really broke up with Lawrence throwing him the ball. Now, he stays in a division the place he may very well be seeing extra targets on a Titans workforce that may very well be extra go heavy with coordinator Nick Holz in place.
Ridley’s burst of pace remains to be there, and he’s a crimson zone risk, identical to Hopkins. Levis has two elite choices when they’re wholesome and enjoying, which is at all times a superb factor.
BIGGEST QUESTION: WILL THE NEW-LOOK DEFENSE GEL?
Carthon didn’t simply herald offensive weapons – working again Tony Pollard changed Derrick Henry as effectively – however he bolstered the protection, which wanted some higher expertise.
Sebastian Joseph-Day is subsequent to Professional Bowler Jeffery Simmons within the defensive inside, linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. comes over from the Los Angeles Chargers to exchange Azeez Al-Shaair, and Chidobe Awuzie is added at cornerback.
The AFC South wanted the ultimate week of the season to determine who gained final season, and it was the shock Houston Texans. (Getty Photographs)
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Additionally, L’Jarius Sneed, who shined with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, shall be alongside Awuzie, whereas Quandre Diggs is available in at free security.
Plenty of new items can have hassle gelling shortly, but when Dennard Wilson can get this group collectively as coordinator, it has the chance to be a deadly bunch with turnovers doable on each snap.
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