Tracking The AFC South Offseason
Indianapolis Colts
Arrivals: C Ryan Kelly, TE Dwayne Allen (Re-signed), G Khaled Holmes, CB Patrick Robinson, RB Robert Turbin, RB Jordan Todman
Departures: WR Andre Johnson, QB Matt Hassellback.
Report: A year after the Colts free agent signings Frank Gore and Andre Johnson blew up in their face, Indianapolis made no big splashes in 2015. The Colts may have reached for a need with the selection of center Ryan Kelly at No.18 overall, but were high on the three year starter at Alabama.
Indianapolis released Andre Johnson after one year, and invested a lot of money in tight end Dwayne Allen.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Arrivals: DL Malik Jackson, S Tashuan Gipson, RB Chris Ivory, OT Kelvin Beachum, CB Jalen Ramsey (Unsigned), LB Myles Jack.
Departures: G Zane Beadles, DE Chris Clemons, DL Bjorn Werner, S Sergio Brown.
Report: No team in the NFL have changed the opinion about themselves over the last two years more than the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2015, Jacksonville found out QB Blake Bortles is progressing into an NFL caliber starter while top wide receiver Allen Robinson has blossoming into one of the game’s best.
With the most cap space in the league, the Jaguars swung big in free agency and scored. The Jags landed pro bowl running Chris Ivory, recent Super Bowl champion Malik Jackson, offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum, and safety Tashuan Gipson.
The Jaguars sat in a good position at No.5 in the Draft, and let the board fall to them. Regarded as possibly the best player in the Draft, cornerback Jalen Ramsey was the choice. The same phenomenon occurred at the beginning of the second round as injury affected linebacker Myles Jack landed to them at No. 36 overall. The Jaguars came away with two of the most talented prospects in the Draft.
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Houston Texans
Arrivals: QB Brock Osweiler, WR Braxton Miller, WR Will Fuller (Unsigned), RB Lamar Miller, QB Brandon Weeden, DE Devon Still, S Antonio Allen (Re-signed), S Quinton Demps (Re-signed)
Departures: QB Brian Hoyer, RB Arian Foster, TE Garrett Graham, S Rahim Moore.
Report: After an atrocious outing in the playoffs, the Texans decided Brian Hoyer was not their future quarterback. As a result, the Texans went shopping, and came back with QB Brock Osweiler. The backup to Peyton Manning for the 2015 playoffs, cashed in with 37 million dollars in guaranteed money.
The Texans focused on putting weapons across from DeAndre Hopkins, as they used two of their first three picks on wide receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller.
Tennessee Titans
Arrivals: RB DeMarco Murray, C Ben Jones, OT Jack Conklin, LB Kevin Dodd, RB Derrick Henry, DL Austin Johnson, WR Rishard Matthews, QB Matt Cassell, RB Antonio Andrews, LB Curtis Grant, LB Sean Spence, CB Brice McCain, TE Craig Stevens, OL Byron Bell, TE Jerome Cunningham, S Rashad Johnson, G Sebastian Tretola.
Departures: S Michael Griffin, QB Zach Mettenberger.
Report: Possibly the biggest addition of the Titans isn’t even on this list. That addition being general manager Jon Robinson. Immediately after jumping on board, Robinson struck a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for star running back DeMarco Murray. The Titans also signed veteran defensive players defensive back Brice McCain, linebacker Sean Spence, and safety Rashad Johnson. A solid off-season for the Titans still couldn’t stack up to the talent brought in from the Draft.
The Titans traded up for OT Jack Conklin at No.8 in the first round, and then picked three times in the span of fifteen picks to start the second round. Those picks were used on talented pass rusher Kevin Dodd, athletic defensive lineman Austin Johnson, and Heisman trophy winner Derrick Henry.