State of the AFC South: Ranking the WRs + TEs and top 5 players across the division

Position Group: 

1. Houston Texans

Projected Starters: 

• Stefon Diggs
• Nico Collins
• Tank Dell

Key Depth: 

• Noah Brown
• Robert Woods
• Ben Skowronek
• Xavier Hutchinson

The Texans' young WR duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell was very impressive last year before Dell's injury. And Houston added even more firepower this offseason by trading for former Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs. The Texans WR trio of Diggs, Collins, and Dell is not only the best WR core in the AFC South but one of the best WR trios in the NFL. They did exactly what a team should do after seeing CJ Stroud's rookie season go so well, and that is taking advantage of the rookie QB contract window. Behind the starters, the Texans also have multiple weapons who have shown the ability to make big plays in Noah Brown, Robert Woods, and Ben Skowronek. 

2. Tennessee Titans

Projected Starters: 

• Calvin Ridley 
• DeAndre Hopkins
• Tyler Boyd

Key Depth: 

• Treylon Burks
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
• Kyle Phillips

The Texans weren't the only team making moves for a star WR this offseason, with the Titans stealing Calvin Ridley away from the Jaguars. And while the Titans chose not to use a premium pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a WR, they did sign veteran Tyler Boyd late into free agency. This signing gives the Titans the 2nd best starting WR core in the AFC South for the 2024 season. The depth behind this trio consists of former first round pick Tryelon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Kyle Phillips. While the Titans WR core is very impressive for the short term, I do think it's important to note that they have the least long-term upside of the four teams in this division. Hopkins is 31 years old, and both Boyd and Ridley are 29. 

3. Indianapolis Colts

Projected Starters: 

• Michael Pittman Jr. 
• Adonai Mitchell
• Josh Downs

Key Depth: 

• Alec Pierce
• Ashton Dulin
• Anthony Gould 

The Colts locked up star WR Michael Pittman Jr. to a new three-year contract this offseason, keeping him as the team's leader in the WR room. The team also used their second-round pick to add Texas WR Adonai Mitchell, who will compete with third-year WR Alec Pierce to be the second-starring outside WR opposite of Pittman Jr. And the last starter will be second-year slot WR Josh Downs, who is coming off a pretty strong rookie season even with a backup QB under center for most of the season. Outside of Pittman Jr. already being one of the best WRs in the AFC South, the Colts WR room is the opppisite of the Titans in the sense that the main focus is on the future, not the present. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Projected Starters: 

• Christian Kirk
• Gabe Davis
• Brian Thomas

Key Depth: 

• Devin Duvernay
• Parket Washington
• Tim Jones

The Jaguars lost Ridley to the Titans this offseason, so they had to reshape their WR room, and they did just that. They signed former Bills WR Gabe Davis during the opening stages of free agency and used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. That duo joins Christian Kirk to form an intriguing trio. They come in at fourth in the division, though, because they lack that top guy leading the room. The Texans have Diggs, the Colts have Pittman Jr., the Titans have Ridley. I like Kirk, but I personally don't think he is even a top-five WR in the AFC South right now. 

Top 5 Wide Receivers In the AFC South:

1. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans

2. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

3. Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

4. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

AFC South Tight End Rankings: 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Projected Starter: 

• Evan Engram

Key Depth: 

• Luke Farrell
• Brenton Strange
• Josiah Deguara

The Jaguars TE room is led by Evan Engram, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season with 114 catches for 963 yards and four touchdowns. Engram is a true weapon at TE, who is the one player in this division that I think truly can be argued as an extension of the team's WR room due to his proven ability as a pass catcher. Behind Engram, the Jaguars also used a second-round pick in 2022 on Brenton Strange, which tells us the type of player they believe he can be in the future.

2. Houston Texans

Projected Starters:

• Dalton Schultz

Key Depth:

• Brevin Jordan 
• Cade Stover
• Teagan Quitoriano

The Texans WR room is led by Dalton Schultz, who had 59 catches, 635 yards, and five touchdowns. He has proven to be a reliable target for Stroud, and I think it's safe to say he is the second-best TE in the AFC South behind Engram. The Texans also drafted Cade Stover in the fourth round to sit behind Schultz, who played with Stroud at Ohio State. 

3. Indianapolis Colts

Projected Starters:

• Kylen Granson

Key Depth:

• Jelani Woods
• Will Mallory 
• Drew Ogletree 
• Mo Alie-Cox

The Colts deploy the TE by committee approach, and they have the bodies to do so effectively. Their top player and most consistent contributor in the room is Kylen Granson. Behind them, they also have Jelani Woods, who is returning this year after missing his entire sophomore season with a lingering hamstring injury. As well as second-year TE Will Mallory, third-year TE Drew Ogletree, and the vet in the room Mo Alie-Cox. 

4. Tennessee Titans

Projected Starters:

• Chigoziem Okonkwo

Key Depth:

• Josh Whyle
• Nick Vannett
• Thomas Odukoya

The Titans TE room is led by Chigoziem Okonkwo, who finished last season with 54 catches, 528 yards, and one touchdown. I think Okonkwo is the third-best TE in the AFC South at the moment, but the gap between third and fifth is very small. While the gap between two and three is fairly large at the moment. The reason the Titans fall fourth behind the Colts is the depth in the TE room is significantly worse in Tennesee, with Josh Whylle, Nick Vannett, and Thomas Oduoya also in the room. 

Top 5 Tight Ends In the AFC South:

1. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

2. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

3. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

4. Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts

5. Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts