Draft Recap: AFC South

Continuing with my 2015 Draft Recap series, I dive into the AFC South. In a division where everyone is chasing Andrew Luck and the Colts, it is pivotal to make every pick count. Talented young players could help bridge the win-loss gap between any of the teams in the division. Even though the Colts stand atop the division, it is also important for them to improve now and in the future if they want to keep at the helm of the AFC South.

Houston Texans

Houston is coming off a season where they saw some key departures. It was important for them to replace Andre Johnson, and I believe they did so in a big way. Houston landed three players that could have been first round selections, and in addition, added some much needed depth. While they already had a talented roster, I don't think they addressed some things that would have really put them in contention. They could have used a dominant outside linebacker, and some help at safety. The Texans have a very talented lineup and should be in contention for a playoff spot next season.

Best Pick- Benardrick McKinney (LB, Mississippi State)

To see McKinney on the board in the second round must have been enough for the Texans to pull the trigger. They have been missing an inside linebacker on their defense for quite some time, and with Brian Cushing not maintaining his health, McKinney could be a silver lining. The Mississippi State product should be lining up next to Cushing on the inside, and will also provide security in the event that Cushing gets injured again. McKinney is also versatile enough to potentially jump outside if needed, and might do so on passing plays. While some people might see this as a safety pick, I look at it as the Texans gaining a multi-faceted player and potential star.


Underrated Pick- Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest)

If you are wondering how a first round pick could be an underrated pick, think about a few things. With all the media hype surrounding the impressive combine from Trae Waynes, and off the field issues of Marcus Peters and PJ Williams, Johnson snuck under the radar as a top-tier cornerback. Also consider that while the Texans re-signed Kareem Jackson, they only brought him back on a one-year deal. Johnson can come into Houston and play immediately along side Jackson, and won't always be paired against the best receiver on the field. Johnson has some height for a corner, and excels in man-to-man coverage. If the Texans don't bring Jackson back after this season, then Kevin Johnson will have on-field experience and could inherit the "number one" corner role.


Final Thoughts

Houston had an amazing draft at the front side (rounds 1-3), but didn't impress me with their later picks. Kenny Hilliard could develop into a nice backup, but aside from him there wasn't much to get excited about. I will say that they may have gotten one of the biggest steals of the draft when they selected Jaelen Strong in the third round. I had a late-first early second round grade for the ASU receiver. There have been some scouts that were reluctant about some of his character issues, but the kid is very talented. Pairing him with DeAndre Hopkins will have any defense a little shaken. Houston did a good job addressing their defense early, but took a step back after that, which shouldn't have been the case for a team trying to keep Andrew Luck contained.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars will have to make a huge leap to be a competitive team in 2015, and looking at their draft class, it seems that division contention might be closer than many think. I will note that first-round draft pick Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL the first day of rookie camp, and although this is unfortunate, the Jags showed a huge vote of confidence by signing Fowler to a max-deal for a first round rookie, even after the ACL injury. The rest of the Jaguars class was also very impressive. Adding more protection for Blake Bortles was necessary, and they brought in some under the radar weapons as well. Defensively, they drafted a few guys that could develop into key contributors.

Best Pick- AJ Cann (OG, Florida State)

Cann was a third-round pick for the Jags but i believed he could've been taken as high as the late first round. Cann is a very talented interior lineman that should start right away in Jacksonville. Cann is a great pass protector, something Blake Bortles will love, and very rarely allows bigger players to gain leverage against him. His game seems to be pro-ready immediately, and I believe he will be a future All-Pro.

Underrated Pick- Michael Bennett (DT, Ohio State)

Bennett was seen by most scouts as a day two pick. A number of defensive tackles slipped in this draft including Bennett, which led to the Jags snagging him in round 6. In a handful of my own mock drafts I had Bennett as high as a first round selection. He is a little undersized for an NFL tackle, but has good technique and uses his hands well and works with leverage. For Jacksonville, they'll be bringing in a  player that can make an immediate impact. Bennett may not be an every down player, but he excels at getting in the backfield and disrupting plays.

Final Thoughts

Jacksonville needed to improve drastically to be able to compete in their division, and to assure their young quarterback that they're moving in the right direction. With the additions of Cann, receiver Rashad Greene and tight end Ben Koyack, they at least bring some protection, as well as new weapons in for Blake Bortles. The injury to Dante Fowler is unfortunate, but he will be a good defensive piece along with Bennett. Jacksonville has a young talented roster, and did a good enough job in the draft to improve on their win total from last year.

Tennessee Titans

There was a topn of buzz surrounding Tennessee going into the 2015 NFL Draft. Like myself, many writers and analysts believed the Titans would deal their second overall pick, and stick with Zach Mettenberger under center. With no jaw-dropping deal coming in, they kept the pick and selected potential franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota. While it might not have been expected, the Titans saw an opportunity to address a gap with one of the best players in the class. Aside from Mariota, the Titans draft was very questionable. They drafted a fourth-round fullback, and did very little to drastically improve their team.

Best Pick- ???

As i look at the Titans nine players selected, I don't see a pick that i consider to be an "excellent" pick. From a pure value standpoint I could argue that receiver Tre McBride was the best pick, as he seems to be a pro-ready receiver with good hands and decent speed. The drawback to McBride is that he's coming from a smaller college program and likely hasn't seen anything close to NFL talent, but he was a 7th round pick and a steal at that. Aside from McBride, the rest of the players have too many questions to really evaluate.

Underrated pick- Jeremiah Poutasi (OG, Utah)

Poutasi comes into the NFL with a pro-sized body. Based on the way the offensive line played in Tennessee last season, he may very well compete for a starting spot. He made huge strides to improve in pass protection, which is obviously important when blocking for a young quarterback, and he moves well for a larger player. Interior lineman generally don't hold much value early in the draft, but Poutasi could be a future long-term starter for the Titans.

Final Thoughts

As i stated earlier, the Titans' draft really boggled my mind. Mariota could develop into a great player, but there wasn't much else to be excited about after that. Dorial Beckham-Green is a head case, and many scouts said he looked clueless in workouts. It will take at least a year for him to be anything other than a big guy who can be a red-zone threat. David Cobb will likely steal the starting job at running back, and may wind up as a solid starter. For a team that needed to make a huge splash throughout the draft, it seems like Tennessee had a game plan that fell apart.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are coming off another fairly successful season. After parting ways with veteran receiver Reggie Wayne and struggling running back Trent Richardson, they brought in veteran All-Stars Andre Johnson and Frank Gore. Looking to build upon a very talented offense, the Colts did a great job adding pieces to a sub-par defense.

Best Pick- David Parry (DT, Stanford)

Parry is a hard working player who earned everything he accomplished at Stanford. He walked on to the Cardinal team and wears a big chip on his shoulders. He has good size, and should be a valuable nose-tackle. The Colts needed to add a powerful defensive tackle to their line and Parry should be that. He is a smart player and has a high motor which will translate into more snaps.

Underrated Pick- Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami)

Another first round pick makes my underrated list. Many people questioned this pick because of the talent that the Colts have at receiver, but I see it not only as a luxury pick, but as a fall safe also. Andre Johnson is old, and may not have much left in the tank. TY Hilton is a soon-to-be free agent, and bringing him back to Indy might be too expensive. If the Colts don't want to miss a beat, bringing in Dorsett should help. He's already drawn comparison to Hilton as it is, and coming into a team thats very deep at receiver gives them the flexibility to keep Dorsett of the field on offense while he learns, but still contribute for the team in the return game.

Final Thoughts

Even though the Colts could have used their first round pick to select a top-tier defensive player, they still came out of the draft in good shape. Dorsett could develop into a great target for Andrew Luck, and taking that chance could pay off in the long run. Parry and DE Henry Anderson could be decent starters in the future, and will help as subs in the meantime. D'Joun Smith needs some work at the pro-level, but may compete for reps at nickel corner. The Colts could be a potential dark horse to jump from playoff team to Super Bowl contenders.