Are the Colts Moving Backwards in the AFC South?

The AFC South is becoming one of the more competitive divisions in the NFL. If the Indianapolis Colts want to be competitive in the league, they must keep up with their division rivals in the AFC South. Throughout Free Agency, the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans have been signing big playmakers to bolster their teams. The Colts, on the other hand, have approached free agency a bit differently. Will this approach hinder their chances to compete in the AFC South?

How the AFC South Got Better and How the Colts Should Respond

The Houston Texans Offseason Moves

The Houston Texans won the AFC South last season as they exceeded expectations and played extremely well down the stretch. It was their fifth division title since 2014. Needless to say, the Texans have been dominating the AFC South, and the Colts have struggled to get an edge.

Going into 2024, the Texans took several steps forward to make the team even better. They traded for former Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Coming off 1,034 rushing yards in 2023, this 2021 Pro Bowl playmaker will be looking to cement productive seasons in Houston. The Texans also signed former Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter. He is a four-time Pro Bowler who finished the 2023 season with a career-best of 16.5 sacks.

The Tennessee Titans Offseason Moves

The Tennessee Titans finished last in the AFC South in 2023. However, they have a young quarterback in Will Levis and used free agency to build around him. The Titans got infinitely better heading during free agency.

They signed former starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Pollard. Pollard has rushed for 1,000 yards or more in two straight seasons and will be a nice compliment to Will Levis. The Titans also added former Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley who has always been a deep threat regardless of the offense he plays in.

On Friday, March 22nd, it was reported that the Titans reached an agreement with two-time Super Bowl Champion cornerback L’Jarious Sneed. Sneed was one of the top-rated available cornerbacks on the market. With this addition, the Titans will have their shutdown cornerback going into 2024. This is something that was much needed for the Titans, who have struggled in the secondary.

The Jacksonville Jaguars Offseason Moves

Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars expirienced a meltdown in which they squandered a division title by losing five out of their remaining six games. Injuries played a big role in their demise. Therefore, if they stay healthy, they will remain competitive in the AFC South, and make things difficult for the Colts.

The Jaguars have not made a big splash in free agency. It would be best to say that the Jaguars took a lateral move so far. After losing Calvin Ridley to the Titans, the Jaguars signed former Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis. Other than replacing one of their key offensive weapons, they have not made any other notable moves.

How Will the Indianapolis Colts Respond?

The question now for the Colts and Chris Ballard is how can the team compete in the AFC South after all the additions to their division rivals? So far, Indy has done a tremendous job of re-signing key players to extensions. That being said, the team is essentially the same as it was in 2023. Therefore, making some key additions in the NFL Draft will be huge. Also, there is still plenty of talent available in free agency for the Colts to add.

Right now, the Colts are moving backward in the AFC South. However, that is due to the steps taken forward by the Titans and Texans. There is still plenty of offseason left before training camp begins. Though, there certainly needs to be a sense of urgency to get this team back to being competitive in the AFC South.