The Houston Texans
Houston can’t seem to get anything right since the departure of Deandre Hopkins. 2022 was particularly rough for the Texans as they unofficially tanked for the 1st overall pick. But they couldn’t even tank successfully and ended up with the 2nd overall pick, landing Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Stroud will be a solid QB for Houston, and is certainly an improvement over Davis Mills. However, much of Houston’s questions lie on the defensive side of the ball. New Head Coach Demeco Ryans was known for his tenacious and aggressive defensive style while coaching in San Francisco. He certainly has a vision for the Texans. For example, he drafted EDGE Will Anderson to be the cornerstone of the defense. New additions Jimmy Ward and Shaquill Griffin will look to contribute early. The foundation has been laid, but there is still much work to be done in H-Town.
The Tennessee Titans
2023 will be the definition of transition year for the Titans. With AJ Brown out of town, the offense struggled mightily even with a solid season from Derrick Henry. Ryan Tannehill was average when he played before suffering season ending injuries in Week 14. Malik Willis wasn’t ready and struggled to find his footing, which led to his benching in favor of Joshua Dobbs. The offensive line waffled as well, but Tennessee hopes that 1st rounder Peter Skoronski will help protect whoever will be playing QB in 2023. Meanwhile, the defense wasn’t any better with the exception of bright spots Jeffery Simmons and Kevin Byard. Mike Vrabel has a reputation for making the most of bad situations, but can he turn this roster into a winner?
The Indianapolis Colts
Indy has finally dismounted the QB carousel and drafted a QB, Anthony Richardson. Richardson was something of an anomaly in college at Florida, an explosive athlete with not a lot of production to show for it. He benefited from an excellent Pro Day and Combine, which highlighted his one of a kind athleticism. However, the questions lie on his ability to learn a pro-style offense and fix his accuracy issues. Richardson should have a decent supporting cast in his premiere season. Johnathan Taylor’s future with the franchise is cloudy at the moment, but I believe it will be resolved in the end. Michael Pittman Jr. has only scratched the surface of his potential in my opinion, while Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are young guns with plenty to offer. Much of Indy’s success will hinge on the shoulders of the rookie Richardson. Will he bear the load expected of him?
The Jacksonville Jaguars
2022 was a roaring success for the Jags, especially following an awful 2021. Trevor Lawerence showed significant improvement while fellow 2021 first-rounder Travis Eteinne was a pleasant surprise in his debut season. Big free agent signings Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Zay Jones were instrumental in Lawerence’s development. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, rookies Tyson Campbell and Travon Walker showed they can be franchise cornerstones going forward. Even with the remarkable improvement in 2022, I believe this is just the beginning for Duval. Free agent acquisition Calvin Ridley will provide T-Law with a true WR1, while 1st rounder Anton Harrison will protect the rear. Jacksonville may have reached the Wild Card in 2022, but the Super Bowl may be in reach for 2023.
