NFL Free Agency Needs: AFC South

Let’s check the latest NFL news, stats, injury reports and NFL picks for you to consider.

1. Texans

Free Agents

• DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
• DE Rasheem Green
• S Jonathan Owens
• S M.J. Stewart
• WR Chris Moore
• TE Jordan Akins
• TE O.J. Howard
• RB Rex Burkhead
• QB Jeff Driskel

The Houston Texans enter a new era with coach DeMeco Ryans at the helm. The franchise will likely focus on upgrading the defensive front and acquiring a franchise quarterback. Houston will have several decisions to make with pending free agents.

Defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo enjoyed a breakout season with five sacks. Re-signing Okoronkwo should be one of the Texans’ biggest priorities. The pass rush needs to be upgraded with Ryans’s taking over. Okoronkwo can be a solid piece for years to come.

Safety Jonathan Owens is another Texan due for a new contract. He ranked second on the team with 125 tackles. The safety position was one of Houston’s few bright spots. Owens and Jalen Pitre should be paired for the long haul.

The Texans will likely let tight end O.J. Howard and running back Rex Burkhead walk in free agency after disappointing seasons.

Positions of Need

• Quarterback
• Defensive line
• Wide receiver
• Offensive line

Houston has lacked a franchise quarterback since trading Deshaun Watson. The Texans can finally find their franchise centerpiece. However, it will likely come in the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 2 overall selection.

In free agency, the Texans can focus on surrounding their future QB with better talent and improving the defense. They have about $39 million in cap space, which is the fifth-highest mark in the NFL. Houston can start by acquiring a right guard or center. Guard A.J. Cann and center Justin Britt are cut candidates. Britt’s departure, in particular, seems like a foregone conclusion. The Cleveland Browns’ Ethan Pocic and the New York Jets’ Connor McGovern are affordable center options.

Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Powers could cost upwards of $10 million annually. However, improving the run blocking for running back Dameon Pierce could be worth the price. If former first-round pick Kenyon Green makes a second-year leap, the Texans would suddenly have excellent guard play.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is another player that will likely be moved, via trade or release. Wideout was already a need, but even more so if Cooks’ time in Houston has expired. Jakobi Meyers will be the top wide receiver available.

This is not a great free agency for edge rushers. However, there will be a wide variety of defensive tackles. The Texans will take any pass rushing they can get. Defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Dre’Mont Jones are intriguing options.

2. Colts

Free Agents

• DE Yannick Ngakoue
• WR Parris Campbell
• LB Bobby Okereke
• S Rodney McLeod Jr.
• DE Tyquan Lewis
• G Matt Pryor
• LB E.J. Speed

Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and linebacker Bobby Okereke are the Colts’ most notable pending free agents. How Indianapolis uses its franchise tag will be interesting. Ngakoue, who comes off 9.5 sacks, or Okereke, who ranked second on the team with 151 tackles, is tag options.

Yannick Ngakoue in 2021:

💥 10 sacks
💥 23 QB hits
💥 63 pressures pic.twitter.com/ZegAa8zXhQ

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 17, 2022

Of the two, keeping Ngakoue seems more likely. Indy has more than $15 million annually wrapped up in linebacker Shaquille Leonard. Okereke’s new extension could be near $10 million per year, and a franchise tag would put him at more than $20 million. The Colts already have too much money invested in linebackers.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis has little money at the defensive end with Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo on rookie contracts. Edge rusher would also become an immediate need if Ngakoue is not re-signed.

Re-signing wide receiver Parris Campbell would also make a lot of sense. The Colts need a stronger receiver corps. The unit would only get worse without Campbell’s game-breaking speed. However, this could be a risky extension with his injury history.

Positions of Need

• Quarterback
• Offensive line
• Wide receiver
• Defensive end

Like the Texans, the Colts desperately need a franchise quarterback. Indy seems to finally be done with trading for veteran quarterbacks past their prime. Derek Carr was linked to the franchise early in the process, but that has cooled off. NFL odds have the Colts at +3000 for Carr’s next team.

The NFL draft will probably provide Indianapolis with its new QB. The franchise can focus on upgrading its offensive line and skill positions in free agency. The Colts are expected to have about $13 million in cap space, and this number could grow if center Ryan Kelly is cut.

The right guard could be Indianapolis’ top target in free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles Isaac Seumalo and the Arizona Cardinals’ Will Hernandez are solid options that would boost the run game.

3. Jaguars

Free Agents

• OT Jawaan Taylor
• TE Evan Engram
• WR Marvin Jones
• DE Arden Key
• DE Dawuane Smoot
• S Andrew Wingard
• RB JaMycal Hasty

Right tackle Jawaan Taylor and tight end Evan Engram headline the Jaguars’ free agents. If Jacksonville uses its franchise tag, it will be on Taylor or Engram. However, tagging an offensive tackle would cost more than $18 million. Taylor is not one of the top players in his position. Tagging the 25-year-old tackle is extremely unlikely. With Taylor due for a big payday, there’s a good chance the Jags will need a new right tackle.

Engram, on the other hand, is a realistic franchise tag. It would cost roughly $11 million, which is on par with his 2022 production. Engram, who posted a career-high 766 receiving yards, was a security blanket for Trevor Lawrence. The 28-year-old tight end has expressed his interest in a long-term contract with Jacksonville. Expect Engram to stay with the Jaguars.

Defensive ends Arden Key and Dawuane Smoot have a decent chance of being re-signed. However, Key could demand too much money and Smoot comes off an Achilles injury.

Positions of Need

• Defensive tackle
• Cornerback
• Tight end
• Offensive tackle

Defensive tackle and cornerback are clear needs. Tight end and right tackle would also become high priorities if Jacksonville fails to re-sign Taylor and Engram.

Outside of nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, the Jaguars lacked good interior defensive line play. They could use another run stuffer that can apply some pressure in their 3-4 front. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson could be the perfect fit. Tomlinson could be Jacksonville’s top free-agent target.

The Jags also need an upgrade at their No. 2 cornerback spot, opposite of Tyson Campbell. The Pittsburgh Steelers Cameron Sutton and the New England Patriots Jonathan Jones are solid options.

After a big 2022 offseason, Jacksonville’s cap space is far more limited. In fact, it has the fourth-worst mark at about $23 million under the cap. Releasing cornerback Shaquill Griffin would free up about $13 million. The Jaguars have some tough decisions to make. This could also mean Jacksonville could lack the funding to make notable free-agent signings.

4. Titans

Free Agents

• LB David Long Jr.
• DE Mario Edwards Jr.
• DE DeMarcus Walker
• DT Teair Tart
• G Nate Davis
• TE Austin Hooper
• RB Dontrell Hillard
• QB Joshua Dobbs

The Titans have a long list of upcoming defensive free agents. Linebacker David Long Jr., defensive tackle Teair Tart and defensive ends DeMarcus Walker and Mario Edwards Jr. come off good seasons. Tart seems like a lock to return to Tennessee. He’s a restricted free agent and was key to the Titans’ run defense. The extension should not eclipse more than a few million annually.

Teair Tart’s 1st step is so explosive pic.twitter.com/0EBMCx4epH

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 9, 2023

Walker and Edwards also provided exceptional edge depth on cheap deals. While they will require more money this offseason, it should not be out of Tennessee’s price range.

Long could be the free agent on his way out. His contract could be nearly $10 million per year. While Long was the defense’s top linebacker, his injury history could cause the Titans to hesitate. Plus, Tennessee does not have much cap space to work with.

Positions of Need

• Offensive line
• Wide receiver
• Quarterback
• Linebacker

The Titans’ front office was revamped with the hiring of general manager Ran Carthon, who was previously the San Francisco 49ers’ director of player personnel. Carthon could make big changes.

Tennessee had one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines in the 2022 season. The unit lacked even one consistent starter. The Titans could be looking for up to four new starters on the O-line. However, they are currently about $22 million over the cap, which is the fifth-worst mark.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill could be cut, which would save Tennessee nearly $18 million. Left tackle Taylor Lewan is a near-lock to be released after various injuries. This move would save about $15 million. Linebacker Zach Cunningham, edge rusher Bud Dupree and wide receiver Robert Woods could also be released.

The Titans can easily get under the cap with extra money to spend on upgrades. Powers, Seumalo and Dalton Risner will be the top guards available. With few left tackle options available, Tennessee can look at the NFL draft with the No. 11 overall pick.

If Tannehill is cut, Sam Darnold and Jimmy Garoppolo are options at QB. The Titans could look for a trade as well. NFL lines have Tennessee at +900 for Aaron Rodgers.