State of the AFC South: Ranking each defensive position group and top 5 players across the division

Position Group: 

1. Houston Texans

• Danielle Hunter
• Will Anderson Jr
• Derek Barnett
• Dylan Horton 

The Texans were one of the most active teams in the NFL during the 2024 offseason. Their big move during free agency was replacing their 2023 sack leader Jonathan Greenard, who left in free agency, with former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Hunter enters the season at 29 years old and is coming off arguably his best NFL season to date, with him setting new career highs with 83 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks. And I'm sure the reports that the Colts were another team aggressively pursuing Hunter make that signing feel even sweeter.

Hunter joins 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. to form what I believe to be the best edge duo in the AFC South, and one could even argue that it's one of the best edge rusher duos in the entire NFL. If Anderson Jr. takes the expected sophomore leap in terms of production, the rest of the AFC South will have their hands full trying to keep these two out of the backfield. 

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Josh Allen
• Travon Walker
• Roy Robertson-Harris
• Yasir Abdullah

I think the Jaguars have the best overall edge rusher in the entire AFC South, with Josh Allen. He's coming off an elite season where he smashed his previous career high for sacks (10.5) by recording 17.5. He also set new career highs with 33 QB hits and 17 tackles for loss. Allen will turn 27 years old before the 2024 season begins and seems to have officially entered his prime as a player.

The Jaguars are the only team in the AFC South that has an edge duo to compete with the Texans. Allen's partner in crime is 2022 number one overall pick Travon Walker, who is coming off a 10.0 sack season. I think there is an argument to be made that the Jaguars duo is the best in the AFC South. I personally view Anderson Jr. as the better number two to Walker for 2024. 

3. Indianapolis Colts

• Samson Ebukam
• Laiatu Latu
• Kwity Paye
• Dayo Odeyingbo

While the rest of the AFC South has their "alpha" in the edge room, the Colts have a committee of productive players. With Samson Ebukam, Kwity Paye, and Dayo Odeyingbo all ended last season with over eight sacks. And they took the first step towards potentially finding their alpha in the room by selecting one of the best pass rushers in all of college football in UCLA's Laiatu Latu with the 15th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If he can hit the road running quicker than the typical rookie pass rusher, the entire Colts defense could take a massive step in the right direction. 

4. Tennessee Titans

• Harold Landry III
• Arden Key
• Rashad Weaver
• Jaylen Harrell

After a slow start to the year, Harold Landry III began to look like the player we saw in 2021 when he recorded his career-high 12 sacks and 22 QB hits. And as long as he takes his end-of-year success into next season, I think he's the clear 3rd best edge rusher in this division. The reason the Titans fall under the Colts, for me, though, is because the rest of the room leaves a lot to be desired. The 2nd best edge rusher in the room is Arden Key, who ended with six sacks, which would have been the fourth most by a Colts edge rusher in 2023. If the Titans can find a way to get more production from the rest of their edge room, it would help Landry III take another step closer to some of the true elite edge rushers in the NFL. 

Top 5 EDGE Rushers in the AFC South :

1. Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars     

2. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans

3. Harold Landry, Tennessee Titans

4. Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans 

5. Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars 

AFC South Defensive Tackle Rankings: 

Position Group:

1. Indianapolis Colts

• DeForest Buckner
  
• Grover Stewart
• Raekwon Davis
• Adetomiwa Adebawore
• Taven Bryan

One and two is close between the Colts and Titans at DT. But I view DeForest Buckner as the best overall DT in the AFC South, and Grover Stewart has proven to be one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL. Buckner ended last season with eight sacks while being double-teamed more often than not due to the Colts not having an elite pass rusher to take pressure off of him. Drafting Latu in the 1st round this year is a step towards taking some of that pressure off Buckner and opening up more opportunities for the elite DT. Stewart proves his worth every snap he is on the field, but the best testament to how good he is came during his suspension last year, where the Colts' run defense completely plummeted without his dominating presence in the interior. This led them to sign Raekwon Davis to give the team a serviceable backup to Stewart. 

2. Tennessee Titans

• Jeffery Simmons
• Sebastian Joseph-Day
• T'Vondre Sweat
• Marlon Davidson 
• Keondre  Coburn

An elite DT also leads the Titans' DT room in Jeffery Simmons. I think the margin between Simmons and Buckner is super thin, with the two being the clear top two DTs in the AFC South. I honestly wouldn't argue with anyone that ranked either as the best DT in the division. The reason they fall at two instead of one for me, though, is that I give the Colts the clear edge behind Buckner/Simmons. Stewart, to me, is the better player compared to Sebastian Joseph-Day, and the off-the-field issues with T'Vondre Sweat make me think Davis is the more reliable backup. 

3. Houston Texans

• Denico Autry
• Foley Fatukasi
• Tim Settle
• Mario Edwards Jr 
• Khaili Davis

Another big free agency signing by the Texans this offseason was their signing of former Titans and Colts DT Denico Autry. Autry finished last season with a career-high 11.5 sacks and spent time off the edge and in the interior. In Houston, he will likely see the majority of his snaps inside, where he will help form a scary defensive line with Hunter and Anderson Jr. Beside Autry; the Texans will likely start former Jaguars and Jets DT Foley Fatukasi.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Arik Armstead
• DaVon Hamilton
• Maason Smith
  
• Jordan Jefferson
• Adam Gotsis

The Jaguars will also be led by a 2024 free agency signing in former San Francisco 49ers DT Arik Armstead. The 30-year-old DT was released by the 49ers after the two sides couldn't come to terms on a new contract. He has been very impactful in both the passing and rushing game but hasn't come close to his career-high ten sacks in 2019 in recent years, with him recording six in 2021 and five in 2023. A big part of the evaluation of this room comes in the form of two 2024 draft picks out of LSU, Maason Smith, and Jordan Jefferson. The Jaguars shocked many by selecting Smith in the 2nd round, so while he is a very raw prospect, you'd expect they find a way for him to see the field this year. 

Top 5 Defensive Tackles in the AFC South:

1. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts

2. Jeffery Simmons, Tennesee Titans

3. Denico Autry, Houston Texans

4. Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts

AFC South Linebacker Rankings: 

Position Group:

1. Indianapolis Colts

• Zaire Franklin
• E.J. Speed
• Ronnie Harrison Jr. 
• Segun Olubi 
• Jaylon Carlies

Before having to miss time with an injury last year, Zaire Franklin was well on pace to lead the NFL in tackles but also was on a historic pace. Franklin is a captain on the Colts' defense and has developed into one of the best LBs in the NFL in terms of stopping the run. The Colts also have E.J. Speed, who was catapulted into the starting lineup after the team chose to part ways with former All-Pro Shaquille Leonard. Not only did Speed not miss a beat when he took over the job, he elevated the position. I believe Franklin and Speed form the best LB duo in the AFC South. 

2. Houston Texans

• Azeez Al-Shaair
• Christian Harris
• Neville Hewitt
• Jake Hansen
• Jamal Hill

Another position group for the Texans is led by a free agency singing (I'm sensing a trend), with them adding former Titans and 49ers LB Azeez Al-Shaair this offseason. Al-Shaair is asked to do a bit more as a player than Franklin and Oluokun, so I think his ceiling as a player is higher than those two, but he currently hasn't put together the full body of work they have, which has him as my third-best LB in the AFC South. Christian Harris is coming off a solid 2nd year season where he recorded 101 total tackles. I have some questions about how his role may change a bit with Al-Shaair moving all over the field, but this is still the 2nd best LB duo in the division. 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Foyesade Oluokun
• Devin Lloyd
• Chad Muma
• Ventrell Miller
• Caleb Johnson

The Jaguars LB room is led by Foyesade Oluokun, who has proven himself to be one of the game's best tacklers. He led the league in total tackles in 2021 and 2022 and has led the league in solo tackles in 2022 and 2023. Oluokun and Franklin are the clear top two LBs in the division, but I just haven't seen enough from Devin Lloyd as Oluokun's partner to rank them higher on this list. 

4. Tennessee Titans

• Kenneth Murray Jr. 
• Cedric Gray
• Jack Gibbens
• Otis Reese IV
• James Williams

The Titans don't have any real proven production so they had to fall at fourth at LB. But I am very intrigued by their signing of Kenneth Murray Jr. If you let Murray be a true run-stopper and don't ask him to drop back in coverage, he can be a solid player, and rookie Cedric Gray has plenty of things to like on his college tape. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he's a day-one starter as a rookie. 

Top 5 Linebackers in the AFC South:

1. Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars

2. Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts

3. Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans

4. E.J. Speed, Indianapolis Colts

5. Christian Harris, Houston Texans 

AFC South Safeties Rankings: 

Position Group: 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Darnell Savage
• Andre Cisco
• Antonio Johnson
• Terrell Edmunds

The Jaguars signed former Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage this offseason. Savage offers the Jaguars some flexibility with him being able to play multiple positions in the secondary, but I think he is the best overall safety in the entire AFC South. Savage's coverage ability will also allow Andre Cisco to focus more on his strength in attacking and pursuing the ball carrier. 

2. Tennessee Titans

• Amani Hooker
• Elijah Molden
• Shyheim Carter
• Mike Brown

The Titans would have liked to upgrade at FS, but I think the duo of Amani Hooker (SS) and Elijah Molden (FS) has shown some solid flashes. Hooker is a reliable SS option who has been very reliable in his role. And Molden has had his ups and downs for sure, but is still fairly new to making the switch from CB to FS. So there are definitely reasons to be optimistic that he could take a step forward this season under new defensive leadership. 

3. Houston Texans 

• Jimmie Ward
• Jalen Pitre
• Calen Bullock 
• Eric Murray

A savvy vet leads the Texans' safety room In Jimmie Ward, who knows DeMeco Ryans' defense like the back of his hand at this point. The Texans' secondary was significantly better last season when Ward was healthy. When he had to miss time, there was a noticeable void. Behind Ward, the Texans have third-year safety Jalen Pitre, who struggled at times last season. The team also added coverage specialist Calen Bullock in the 2024 NFL Draft, who will compete for snaps. 

4. Indianapolis Colts

• Julian Blackmon
• Nick Cross
• Rodney Thomas Jr
• Daniel Scott

The Colts are led by Julian Blackmon, who I think is the second-best safety in the AFC South. Blackmon had a career season after converting to SS full-time last year. Behind Blackmon, though, it is beyond bleak at FS for the Colts. Rodney Thomas Jr. was benched last season due to being a liability at times, and third-year safety Nick Cross hasn't been able to carve out a consistent role or beat out Thomas Jr. at FS. Thomas Jr. and Cross are currently battling for the starting FS job. And that is going to make CJ Stroud, Trevor Lawerence, and Will Levis smile ear to ear. 

Top 5 Safeties in the AFC South:

1. Darnell Savage, Jacksonville Jaguars

2. Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

3. Jimmie Ward, Houston Texans

4. Amani Hooker, Tennessee Titans

5. Elijah Molden, Tennesee Titans

AFC South Cornerback Rankings: 

Position Group:

1. Tennessee Titans

• L'Jarius Sneed
• Chibode Awuzie
• Roger McCreary
• Caleb Farley
• Tre Avery 

The Titans saw their CB room be a liability last year and decided to do something about it. They made two big moves to upgrade at CB this offseason, the first being their signing of former Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals CB Chibode Awuzie. Awuzie may not have the flashing interception numbers, but his coverage ability grew tremendously during his two years with the Bengals. And they got even more aggressive by trading for star CB L'Jarius Sneed from the Kansa City Chiefs. The Titans duo of Sneed and Awuzie is the far and away best CB duo in the AFC South.  

2. Houston Texans

• Derek Stingley Jr.
• Jeff Okudah
• CJ Henderson 
• Desmond King II
• Kamari Lassister 

The Texans CB room is led by up-and-coming CB Derek Stingley Jr. Stingley Jr. had an incredible season last year, where he displayed the lockdown coverage ability that led the Texans to draft him with the 3rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Behind him, though, they are hoping to see a young, unproven player step up. With former 1st round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson set to battle for the team's 2nd outside starting job, along with their 2nd round pick Kamari Lassiter set to compete for their starting slot job. 

3. Indianapolis Colts

• Kenny Moore II
• Juju Brents
• Jaylon Jones
• Dallis Flowers
• Jaylin Simpson

The Colts are led by one of the best slot CBs in the NFL in, Kenny Moore II. But their outside CB spot are more of a question mark. They have two 2nd-year CBs who showed some solid flashes last season in Juju Brents and Jaylon Jones, along with Dallis Flowers, who had a great start to the year last year before his season was lost to a torn Achilles. So there's reason to be optimistic about the Colts' CB room, but I think they should have added an additional veteran presence off the free agency market. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Tyson Campbell
• Ronald Darby
• Montaric Brown 
• Tre Flowers
• Deantre Prince

The Jaguars are led by Tyson Campbell, who unfourtanly couldn't build off his elite 2022 season due to him only playing in 11 games in 2023 while dealing with injuries. And even when he did play, he didn't have the same level of impact we saw the previous year. If he is able to return to the level of player we saw in 2022, the outlook for the Jaguars' secondary improves dramatically, but behind Campbell, it is very questionable. They will likely look to veteran Ronald Darby to start opposite of Campbell. Darby was mainly a depth piece for the Ravens this past year and appears to be on the downswing of his career. 

Top 5 Cornerbacks in the AFC South: 

1. L'Jarius Sneed, Tennessee Titans

2. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans

3. Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts

4. Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Chibode Awuzie, Tennessee Titans