NFL Offseason Moves Every AFC South Team Needs to Make
For the AFC South, the 2015 offseason may be one of the most important in recent memory. Each franchise has holes to fill, and with a lot of depth in free agency and the 2015 NFL draft, this may be the offseason where teams can really improve.
The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will all need to have an active offseason to improve on this past season in order to win the race for the AFC South title and lock up a playoff spot.
Free agency includes a plethora of talented, impactful players who could become serious upgrades to any of the members of the AFC South. Cap space may limit some of the moves each team would like to make, but there will still be room for some big moves.
The draft this year has incredible depth at important positions across the board. The Titans and Jaguars have the second and third picks overall, respectively, with the Texans (No. 16) and Colts (No. 29) are bit farther back.
With an exciting offseason ahead, let's look at the moves that each team in the AFC South needs to make.
Indianapolis Colts
1 of 4
The 2014 season for the Colts was an absolute success. An 11-5 regular-season record, AFC South crown and a spot in the AFC Championship Game culminated in one of the best seasons for the Colts since their 2006 Super Bowl season. However, to get back to the caliber of that season, they have holes to fill before the 2015 season.
Top Needs
- Inside linebacker
- Left tackle
- Free safety
The Colts need defensive depth and leadership going into the 2015 season. They will be losing free safety Sergio Brown to free agency and will need a player or two to help ease the load off Jerrell Freeman and D'Qwell Jackson's workload in 2015.
On the offensive line, there is need of a solid, consistent left tackle to help protect Andrew Luck on his blind side.
Free Agency
For the left tackle and inside linebacker positions, the Colts can probably find their answer in free agency.
At left tackle, the top two options are the San Diego Chargers' King Dunlap and the Carolina Panthers' Byron Bell. Both players are under 30 years old and have played well for their respective teams over the past year.
At inside linebacker, there are also two distinct options in the New York Jets' David Harris and the Buffalo Bills' Brandon Spikes.
Spikes had a lackluster season in his first year with the Bills, but that may have been the result of scheme issues or disagreement with the coaching staff. The 27-year-old has proved his worth from his time with the New England Patriots and could be impactful for the Colts.
Harris is an older option, but as of late, he has played better than Spikes. The 31-year-old recorded six sacks this past season, the highest season total of his career. Harris is a leader and could be an important figure on and off the field for the Colts.
The Draft
The majority of the NFL will have first dibs on the new crop of talent, but the Colts may have multiple options at free safety at No. 29 in the draft.
Louisville standout Gerod Holliman and Alabama playmaker Landon Collins are both respected as some of the most talented and groomed safeties in college football.
Holliman picked off 14 passes in 2014, an NCAA record. He had an incredible season, but a scout told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn otherwise. "He needs to go back to school," said one scout. "He's horrible. He can't make a tackle to save his life. He's got pretty good instincts, but he's not that athletic."
As for Landon Collins, his numbers aren't quite as impressive. He had three interceptions and 98 tackles, but he has the upside of still being an incredible talent and a disciple of coach Nick Saban.
The Colts don't need a ton of work, but there are still some holes. If they can find the right players and execute a solid offseason, you could see a playoff run like this past season.
Houston Texans
2 of 4
The Texans went 9-7 in 2014, turning around a 2013 season that ended with 14 consecutive losses. If they want to continue to improve in 2015, they'll need to upgrade to make sure they can be legitimate AFC South title contenders in 2015.
Needs
- Quarterback
- Offensive tackle
- Wide receiver
With J.J. Watt and the rest of the defense putting up good numbers in 2014, there is less of a need to improve on that end. The offense, however, has to pick up the slack if the Texans really want to get better.
The quarterback situation in Houston is not exactly preferable. Tom Savage, unless a change is made, will be the starting QB in 2015, and the Texans probably wish they could do better. However, with their current position, there are no real sensible options at the moment besides giving Savage a chance.
As for the wide receiver and offensive tackle spots, they need upgrading.
Andre Johnson's future with the team is unsettled, and DeAndre Hopkins is just not as good as Johnson, so the Texans will need to upgrade the wide receiver corps in some way.
Free Agency
There are some attractive wide receiver options in free agency this offseason, and if the Texans lose Johnson, that's where they would need to go to replace his veteran presence.
Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, San Francisco's Michael Crabtree and Baltimore Ravens' Torrey Smith are all reasonable targets.
Maclin, Crabtree and Smith are unrestricted free agents. All of them are solid receiving options and could be available for a decent price compared to the money it may take to sign someone like Green Bay's Randall Cobb.
The Draft
The Texans may find a franchise tackle in the draft. There is quite a bit of depth right now at the tackle positions, and someone like La'el Collins from LSU could be the perfect match for Houston if he drops a position or two from his CBSSports.com predicted selection of 13th.
Collins would be a solid selection for the Texans, and with the right coaching and playing experience, he could be a top tackle over his career.
The Texans are on the cusp of returning to the playoffs, and with the right pickups this offseason, they could potentially make the push for a wild-card spot or even the AFC South title.
Jacksonville Jaguars
3 of 4
In their second season under head coach Gus Bradley, the Jaguars dropped from 4-12 to 3-13 but seemed to improve nonetheless. Solid free-agency signings like Chris Clemons and Red Bryant from last offseason gave the Jaguars a better chance to compete, but there are still plenty of issues.
Needs
- Defensive line
- Wide receiver
- Tight end
The Jaguars need to improve the defensive line and build off a successful season in that area, as they recorded 45 sacks. They also need to give second-year quarterback Blake Bortles a receiver and tight end to match up with young receivers Marquis Lee and Allen Robinson.
Free Agency
The Jaguars can satisfy their receiving needs in free agency, with a plethora of receivers and tight ends available this offseason. According to Spotrac.com, the Jaguars have more than $60 million in cap space, so that should be an encouragement to spend and grab some quality players.
Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb is a legitimate option and would be an excellent addition considering his 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014.
At tight end, the premier option is the Denver Broncos' Julius Thomas. He has been incredible over the past two seasons with the Broncos. It may be because Peyton Manning is the man throwing the ball, but at the very least, Thomas is an athletic beast and would be a threat for the Jaguars.
The Draft
There are options for the Jaguars at the third overall spot in the draft, and the choice has to be between Nebraska's Randy Gregory and USC's Leonard Williams. Both have had solid college careers and could be playmakers for the Jaguars in 2015.
The Jaguars will need to show this season that they are improving if Bradley wants to keep his job. They can pick up some marquee players this offseason with the right moves, and if they can add a few talented pieces, they'll be a tough team to beat in 2015.
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Tennessee Titans
4 of 4
The worst team in the AFC South needs desperate improvement in 2015. With the second overall pick, the Titans should be able to draft a quarterback who can lead them in the near future, but that it isn't their only problem.
Needs
- Quarterback
- Wide receiver
- Cornerback
The Titans will receive a lot of media attention should they take a quarterback in the draft, but they need help on the outside on both sides of the ball. There is no dominant player in either position right now, and if they wish to improve, it will take serious work.
Free Agency
Like the Jaguars and Texans, the Titans need a receiver for their young signal-caller, whoever he may be. Like the Texans, a reasonable option would be a reliable target with experience. Two potential options are the San Diego Chargers' Eddie Royal or recently released Kansas City Chiefs receiver Donnie Avery.
Both pass-catchers aren't stars in the NFL, but they have solid careers and would be nice additions to someone like tight end Delanie Walker.
As for the corner position, the options aren't quite as plentiful, but two stick out: the Texans' Kareem Jackson and the New York Giants' Walter Thurmond.
Both are experienced corners but have yet to hit the prime of their careers. Jackson is 26 years old, and Thurmond is 27. Both are proven corners and solid options for 2015 and years to come.
The Draft
With the second pick in the draft, most people are expecting to see the Titans take whichever quarterback isn't taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The top two QBs, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, were both incredible playmakers in college. Both players had spectacular college careers and are Heisman winners. Either young man will be an upgrade to the current QB situation for the Titans.
The Titans have a lot to work on before contending in the AFC South; however, if their selection of a QB pays off and they continue to pick up reliable position players, they could be on the right track.
The offseason brings a lot of questions for every team in the NFL, and the members of the AFC South will have to answer those questions in the future.
The AFC South will be an interesting division to watch this offseason because teams that really haven't had an identity over the past year or two might finally begin to take shape. If the teams of the AFC South can acquire and draft the players who can make a difference, it may become one of the toughest leagues to play in.
Get ready for an offseason of big moves and draft signings.
All stats were found at ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.
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