NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the AFC South

Mike Valverde

The AFC South didn’t hunt down offensive skill players this draft season. There were only three who went in the first round, and the Tennessee Titans had the most drafted overall. They went with Corey Davis at number five and Taywan Taylor and Jonnu Smith in the third. The Texans also went with offense in the first and third rounds with quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back D’Onta Foreman. The Colts and Jaguars leaned toward the defensive side as they only drafted three offensive skill players between them.

Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson Round 1, Pick 12 (No. 12)

D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Round 3, Pick 25 (No. 89)

Indianapolis Colts

Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida Round 4, Pick 37 (No. 143)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Round 1, Pick 4 (No. 4)

DeDe Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma Round 4, Pick 3 (No. 110)

Tennessee Titans

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Round 1, Pick 5 (No. 5)

Taywan Taylor, WR, Western Kentucky Round 3, Pick 8 (No. 72)

Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International Round 3, Pick 36 (No. 100)

Khaldani Muhammad, RB, California Round 7, Pick 23 (No. 241)

Winners

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Houston Receivers

When you go from Brock Osweiler to anyone else, you call that an improvement. Somehow, Houston figured a way to get out of the deal that should have bankrupted the entire franchise, and the only team willing to take a shot on this guy are… the Cleveland Browns – not a big surprise. However, Deshaun Watson is more athletic, has a bigger arm, and is more of a winner when compared to his predecessor. He will need to develop his accuracy, and I wonder how we will escape getting drilled when running with the ball as he is a big target. Hopefully, after a couple of NFL collisions, he will learn to hit the ground to preserve his health. 

Andrew Luck, QB IND

It isn’t just the offensive line that protects the quarterback – he also needs to dump off the ball to a legitimate threat who will go the distance. Marlon Mack is such a player. The running back broke a lot of records by the time he finished his junior season at South Florida and decided it was time to turn pro. He is an amazing athlete who can line up anywhere on the field and has experience in those positions. He is also someone that can run jet sweeps. Rob Chudzinski will have some fun diagraming plays for this youngster giving the Colts a thunder and lightning tandem with Frank Gore.

Blake Bortles, QB JAC

The Jaguars have not had a running back who can carry the load and do destruction since Fred Taylor. Fournette is that type of athlete. Defenses will now have to respect the run and not just send every defensive player Bortles’ way. Obviously, Bortles will have to do something with the new-found freedom, but at least he can breathe easier now. DeDe Westbrook will be another option for the signal caller, probably filling the shoes of Denard Robinson who was released this off-season.

Marcus Mariota, QB TEN

The Titans made it clear they will be shifting from the “Exotic Smash Mouth” to a passing attack. That was clear when they drafted two wide receivers and a hybrid tight end. Taking the best wide receiver in the draft was a good start to this change (Corey Davis), but then they added a solid slot receiver in Taywan Taylor. Knowing this is probably the last season of Delanie Walker, they proactively drafted Jonnu Smith. Even though he isn’t the best blocker or receiver, he is adequate at both and should be the new starter in 2018. Khaldani Muhammad won’t see the field much, but he is very explosive and can take advantages of situations with home run speed.

Losers

Lamar Miller, RB HOU

D’Onta Foreman is a vastly different running back than Lamar Miller, but he will take away at least any kind of goal line situations. Plus, the coaching staff are invested in this rookie, meaning they are likely to give Foreman several opportunities to prove himself and not give up on him easily. They see Foreman as the future where Miller was added through free agency to fill a gap.

Frank Gore and Robert Turbin, RBs IND

Marlon Mack can be a feature back – he showed that skill while at South Florida. Being a rookie, they are going to give him every chance to succeed. This coaching staff wants Mack to rip the starting job away from Gore and make Robert Turbin expendable. To do this, they are going to limit the carries from both running backs and let Mack fly. Also, the Colts should be using Mack like the Rams did with Marshall Faulk, putting him everywhere and letting him explore the field.

Chris Ivory, RB JAC

Jacksonville was not happy with an older Chris Ivory, so they drafted his younger mirror image in Leonard Fournette. Ivory will become expendable with T.J. Yeldon taking over the third down role, making it difficult for Ivory to see the field. I am sure the Jaguars are going to have special plays and give the rookie time to develop, but at 29-years old, how much more can Ivory offer the Jaguars. Even though they have him locked up until 2020, he may end up playing more of a mentor role.

Delanie WalkerRishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe, TE/WRs TEN

Rishard Matthews had a breakout season in 2016 (65-945-9) and was rewarded by the Titans with their selection of more receivers in Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor. What seemed like an open opportunity at the end of 2016, with little threat, has become just the opposite for Matthews. Now Matthews and crew will all compete for action in a run first offense. Even if Tennessee does open up the passing game, the combination of Delanie Walker, Tajae Sharpe, Eric Decker, Taywan Taylor, Jonnu Smith, and Matthews is going to keep them all busy with very little spotlight on any one.

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