AFC South Bold Predictions: Are the Colts the Sleeper of the South?

Laiatu Latu Finishes the Year with Double-Digit Sacks

Laiatu Latu was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The UCLA star was considered one of, if not the most polished edge rushers in the draft, but fell due to medical concerns of a past injury. However, his injury concerns and the early run on offensive weapons landed Latu in Indy, where he has a chance to thrive. The edge rusher has been shining throughout training camp and in the preseason, looking like an absolute mismatch for opposing offensive lines. Considering the talent alongside Latu on the Colts defensive line, names like DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye could make life easy on the rookie. Latu could finish with double-digit sacks on the road to a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

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Tank Dell Leads Texans in Receptions

Last season, C.J. Stroud put on an absolute clinic as he took the league by storm as a rookie. Along the way, Stroud built a connection with fellow first-year player Tank Dell, a wide receiver that the quarterback vouched for on draft night for Houston to go out and get. Dell finished his rookie campaign with 47 receptions for 709 yards before a season-ending ankle injury. Looking ahead, Houston added even more to an already talented receiving room by trading for Pro Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs in a blockbuster deal with the Bills. With Nico Collins, Diggs, and Dell all sharing a room, it’s hard to predict who will lead the team in receiving yards this upcoming year. However, with the connection Dell built with Stroud over the start of the season, the team’s leading receiver may be getting overlooked.

Calvin Ridley Returns to Being a Top Wide Receiver

Calvin Ridley played his first season in years last season with the Jaguars. Ridley finished the year with 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, but many believed he had more to offer amid the Jaguars' struggles. Ultimately, the former Alabama star opted to pursue a payday this offseason, which led him to an AFC South division rival in the Tennessee Titans. With new head coach Brian Callahan running the team's offense and second-year quarterback Will Levis's gunslinger play style, Ridley could be poised for a career year as a focal point of the Titans offense.

Jaguars Miss the Playoffs

At one point last season, the Jaguars led the AFC with an 8-3 record and looked poised to be a contender entering the playoffs. The team even had the confidence to begin selling playoff tickets in December. Ironically, Jacksonville finished the year 1-5 and missed the postseason after a lackluster end to the season. And while the Jags hope to learn from their mistakes and turn things around in 2024, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team miss the playoffs, considering the increased competition in the division and how loaded the AFC has become. 

Houston Takes a Step Back Despite High Expectations

Entering this year, the Texans have the highest expectations of nearly any team. After winning the AFC South and a playoff game in Stroud’s rookie season, Houston opted to load up in the offseason. In addition to acquiring Diggs, the Texans brought in Danielle Hunter and Joe Mixon. However, with high expectations comes pressure, and it will be interesting to see if all of the moves the Texans made in the offseason look as good on the field as they do on paper. Houston has the talent to be a contender, but there’s a high chance they don’t live up to the hype.

Laiatu Latu Finishes the Year with Double-Digit Sacks

Laiatu Latu was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The UCLA star was considered one of, if not the most polished edge rushers in the draft, but fell due to medical concerns of a past injury. However, his injury concerns and the early run on offensive weapons landed Latu in Indy, where he has a chance to thrive. The edge rusher has been shining throughout training camp and in the preseason, looking like an absolute mismatch for opposing offensive lines. Considering the talent alongside Latu on the Colts defensive line, names like DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye could make life easy on the rookie. Latu could finish with double-digit sacks on the road to a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

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