2019 NFL Draft Recap – AFC South

Now that the NFL Draft has long seen its completion, it’s a great opportunity to dive in and analyse the potential. The AFC South could take the title of the best division in football if all teams could reach full ability based on the sound talent housed on each roster. With the Colts looking to pickup where they left off, we can’t count out the Jaguars and the Texans again making waves. After a draft class filled with so much promise, this could become one of the toughest groups to play against in 2019.  

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Round 2 (34): Rock Ya-Sin (CB) - Temple

Round 2 (49): Ben Banogu (DL) - TCU

Round 2 (59): Parris Campbell (WR) - Ohio State

Round 3 (89): Bobby Okereke (LB) - Stanford

Round 4 (109): Khari Willis (S) - Michigan State

Round 5 (144): Marvell Tell III (S) - USC

Round 5 (164): E.J. Speed (LB) - Tarleton State

Round 6 (199): Gerri Green (DL) - Mississippi State

Round 7 (240): Jackson Barton (OL) - Utah

Round 7 (246): Javon Patterson (OL) – Mississippi

Undrafted Free Agents:

Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State | Jamal Peters, CB, Mississippi State | Chris Rayford, DB, Mississippi State | Ashton Dulin, WR, Malone | Shak Taylor, CB, Kansas | Hale Hentges, TE, Alabama | Jordan Thompson, DT, Northwestern | Iseoluwapo Jegede, DL, Valdosta State | Sterling Shippy, DL, Alcorn State | Ashton Dulin, WR, Malone | Marquis Young, RB, Massachusetts

Over the past two off-season’s its incredibly difficult to not be overexcited from the work of general manager Chris Ballard and his scouting staff. Understanding a new direction was needed, bucking the trend on selecting players with lower draft grades seems to be the flavor.

When going back to review the class which the Colts selected in 2019, we again have a very high-profile outlook on what they could become. Starting off in fantastic form, the Colts chose to work the board moving down from the first-round hording picks in the process. With their first two selections, it was no surprise to us that they went defense to shore up an improving youthful group. Knowing that secondary help was clearing needed, picking the speedy Rock Ya-Sin was just what the doctor ordered. Ya-Sin is a very gifted player that does possess good size and speed to man an outside corner position in the NFL. He will need some refinement to his overall game, but given the backend that will support him, this could be a glorious pick later on in the season.  

As good as Ya-Sin could become, we were absolutely over the moon when the Colts snagged super speedy Percy Harvin clone Parris Campbell with their third second round selection. Campbell is just what this offense has been missing to appropriately support the talents of TY Hilton. Having a clear slot presence that can not only out run defenders, but over take them with power is something Andrew Luck will covet in crunch time. Campbell is one of our favorites coming out of this draft, and given the landing spot with the Colts, the stock rises even more.  

Rounding out the class with Marvell Tell and EJ Speed, we are very intrigued at what this defense could become in 2019. While Tell has far more skill than Speed, our fascination with Speed could turn into a solid depth piece with a potential future starting role.

With how the Colts continue to build, they should be the cream of the crop in the AFC South.  

HOUSTON TEXANS

Round 1 (23): Tytus Howard (OL) - Alabama State

Round 2 (54): Lonnie Johnson (CB) - Kentucky

Round 2 (55): Max Scharping (T) - Northern Illinois

Round 3 (86): Kahale Warring (TE) - San Diego State

Round 5 (161): Charles Omenihu (DL) - Texas

Round 6 (195): Xavier Crawford (DB) - Central Michigan

Round 7 (220): Cullen Gillaspia (RB) - Texas A&M

Undrafted Free Agents:

Malcolm Pridgeon, OL, Ohio State | Johnnie Dixon, WR, Ohio State | Jamal Davis, LB, Akron | Damarea Crockett, RB, Missouri | Walter Palmore, DL, Missouri | Drew Lewis, DT, Colorado | Ira Lewis, DT, Baylor | Albert Huggins, DL, Clemson | Chris Johnson, S, North Alabama | Stephen Louis, WR, North Carolina State | Austin Exford, S, Appalachian State | Jesse Aniebonum, LB, Maryland | Dexter Wright, S, North Carolina State | Karan Higdon, RB, Michigan | Tyron Johnson, WR, Oklahoma State | D.J. Coker, C, Rhodes College | Derrick Baity, DB, Kentucky | Javi Edwards, DL, Colorado | Johnny Dwight, DL, Alabama | Chase Middleton, LB, Georgia State

The Houston Texans in our eyes continue to be a club that has enough on the roster to take them to the next level but ultimately fail with their shear lack of depth. Having pieces to help prolong the extremely lengthy NFL season, is one of the most important aspects for any team making a push for the ultimate prize.

With all that said, we find it difficult to be enthroned with their 2019 draft class as it does leave a lot to be desired. Offensive line was the greatest need for the Texans to which they hope to have filled those holes with two tackles with their first three picks. Our first thought was that Houston would select sure fire prospect Cody Ford with the 23^rd overall pick, but chose to move in another direction with Tytus Howard. While Howard is a behemoth of a man with very quick feet, he should see some struggles early on as he gets acclimated to the pro game.

For our money, snagging Max Scharping in the second round could be far more impactful as his skillset does compare to that of some of the best in the business. Also possessing good intangibles in size and weight to team up with solid athletic ability and great intelligence, Scharping could be a steal for this offensive line.

While most teams draft the best player available, it appears that this group added to the Texans was selected solely for need. Even as offensive line was the greatest issue last season, defensive back hit a very close second in that category. While need normally trumps best player, the Texans might have struck gold with former Kentucky product Lonnie Johnson. Johnson is built more like a safety rather than a corner and could potentially fit that transition later in his career. Even as many boxes are checked when reviewing his tape from college, we would still like to see him verse the pros to be sure.

Like we mentioned from the beginning, depth has been truly missing from this club for many years, and with the plethora of undrafted free agents added, they might have solved that issue.   

TENNESSEE TITANS

Round 1 (19): Jeffery Simmons (DL) - Mississippi State

Round 2 (51): A.J. Brown (WR) - Mississippi

Round 3 (82): Nate Davis (OL) - Charlotte

Round 4 (116): Amani Hooker (DB) - Iowa

Round 5 (168): D’Andre Walker (LB) - Georgia

Round 6 (188): David Long Jr. (LB) - West Virginia

Undrafted Free Agents:

Derick Roberson, EDGE, Sam Houston State | Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR, North Carolina | Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State | Amani Bledsoe, DE, Oklahoma | Braxton Hoyett, DT, Mississippi State | A.T. Hall, OL, Stanford | Quart'e Sapp, LB, Tennessee

The Tennessee Titans on paper appear to be a team that should compete for the division crown on a yearly basis. And given how their 2019 draft class went, the brain trust also feels the same.

Having only six selections to their name on draft weekend, the Titans made no big moves up and down the board believing their roster already constructed is one that should maintain in the upcoming season. If our point wasn’t clear enough, Tennessee used their first-round pick on a player that likely won’t see the field in his rookie campaign. While we can’t fault a team selecting the best player on the board, the Titans surely did that with former Mississippi State dynamo - Jeffery Simmons. Being compared to the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Simmons would’ve heard his name called much earlier had he not torn his ACL in workouts pre-draft. Either way, if Simmons can regain health, this could be a 10-plus year defensive tackle with many pro bowl nods to his name in Tennessee.

Two other players intrigue us from this Titans 2019 class – first is Ole Miss prospect AJ Brown. Arguably the best receiver to come out of this group, Brown does possess a good level of size and weight to go along with great speed. After reviewing his tape once again, we became that much more excited with what his potential could become. Being a polished route runner with a sound release off the line makes Brown a sure-fire weapon for Marcus Mariota. Perhaps one of his biggest traits will be recognized in his run blocking ability helping seal the edge for his running backs. Even with some optimism, we would’ve preferred Brown landed with a better passing team then the Titans.

Placing a hot note on one of the Titans undrafted rookie free agents, we can’t complete this evaluation without highlighting running back Alex Barns from Kansas State. Measuring as a bigger back with more pounding traits, Barns does possess an underrated level of elusiveness to his overall game. If things don’t pan out with Derrick Henry in this offense, we wouldn’t be surprised to witness Barns find a role and never letting it go.  

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Round 1 (7): Josh Allen (LB) - Kentucky

Round 2 (35): Jawaan Taylor (OL) - Florida

Round 3 (69): Josh Oliver (TE) - San Jose State

Round 3 (98): Quincy Williams II (LB) - Murray State

Round 5 (140): Ryquell Armstead (RB) - Temple

Round 6 (178): Gardner Minshew II (QB) - Washington State

Round 7 (235): Dontavius Russell (DL) – Auburn

Undrafted Free Agents:

Brandon Watson, CB, Michigan | Bunchy Stallings, OL, Kentucky | Donnell Greene, OL, Minnesota | Zedrick Woods, S, Ole Miss | Dredrick Snelson, WR, Central Florida | Roderick Young, DL, North Texas | Carson Meier, TE, Oklahoma | Connor Strachan, LB, Boston College | Michael Walker, WR, Boston College | Shane Bowman, DL, Washington | Tyre Brady, WR, Marshall | Joe Giles-Harris, LB, Duke | Saivion Smith, CB, Alabama | Khairi Clark, DT, Florida | Tae Hayes, CB, Appalachian State | Raphael Leonard, WR, Southern Illinois | Picasso Nelson Jr., CB, Southern Mississippi | Marquez Sanford, CB, Murray State | Papi White, WR, Ohio | Andrew Williams, DT, Auburn | Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming

How the mighty fell in 2018 as the Jacksonville Jaguars were one game short the season prior of finding green pastures and playing for the Super Bowl. Seeing far less success last season, a re-tinkering of this club was on the menu.

Believing they hit the mark in free agency with Nick Foles to guide the ship, rounding out this club with still an incredibly stout defense was the main objective. The Jaguars found themselves in a unique situation where talent was on their doorstep but become lottery winners when one of the best prospects dropped to the seventh spot, in Josh Allen. Allen is one of those players that could be classed as generational with his unbelievable ability in both rushing the passer and being able to drop back in coverage. Allen checks off all boxes of speed, strength, size and quickness to become a difference maker from day one. The rich get richer is a true cliché, but in this case, the Jags hit a massive home run.

The mantra of hitting home runs didn’t stop with their first pick in this draft, as the Jaguars might have hit another top-end product in Jawaan Taylor from Florida. Even as Taylor was pegged to go in the top 15 of this draft, he witnessed a giant slide down the board which resulted in speculation that his medical reviews weren’t up to par. Given where he was selected, Jacksonville might have gotten themselves a starting tackle to help keep Nick Foles off the turf.

Normally teams don’t strike it rich with more than two picks in any given draft class, but in this case, Jacksonville might have yet another gem in running back Ryquell Armstead. The Jags coaching staff hasn’t been shy in preaching their displeasure with current runner Leonard Fournette and his inconsistency, perhaps the backup plan rests with Armstead. Having a similar type of power running ability, Armstead wont ever be confused with Fournette, but could find himself capable of producing if his counterpart again misses time.

All-in-all, this class for the Jags does look quite promising for them to once again be players for the division crown.