Crystal Ball Predictions: AFC South

Ah, the AFC South; aka Peyton Manning‘s old stomping grounds. The once laughable division has gotten its act together over the past few years and is starting to get interesting. Last year ended in a bit of letdown due to the injuries of Andrew Luck and Marcus Mariota. The Texans quarterback situation was that of an SEC school but they still found a way to win the South and make the playoffs. Now that everyone is healthy the division is back on the rise. Let’s look into the crystal ball and see what will happen this year.

Crystal ball, crystal ball, who in the AFC South is going to win it all?

Best Draft Class: The Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags walked away with two top ten players in Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. Gus Bradley looks like he’s putting the finishing pieces of his rebuild with two studs on defense.

Best Unit: The Texans front 7. J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, Vince Wilfork, and Jadeveon Clowney anchor what could arguable be one of the best units in the entire league. Mariota ran a 4.52 40 and he’s going to need every ounce of speed to get away from these guys.

Best Free Agency Pickup: Tashaun Gipson, Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2014 Gipson ranked as the seventh best safety in the NFL. He also led the AFC in interceptions in 2013 and 2014. Though 2015 wasn’t that kind to Gipson, or the Browns in general, he’s shown enough flash to earn a five year, $35.5 million contract. The Jaguars ranked 30th in pass coverage last year and only generated 9 interceptions. Gipson looks to play center field for Bradley’s defense in hope of turning them around. I didn’t forget about Brock Osweiler, Houston. That was a good signing as well.

Best Player: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans. Calm down, Indianapolis. I know how great Luck is and I know how valuable he is to your franchise. Unfortunately, this isn’t about who’s the most valuable player, it’s about who’s the best. Watt is not only the best defensive lineman in the AFC South, but the entire league. Every team that faces Houston knows where Watt is at all times, even if he’s on the sideline.

Breakout Player: Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts. The Colts let Coby Fleener walk this offseason so Allen could take his place. They say a tight end is a quarterbacks best friend and Andrew is in need of one. Allen will feast all year. I’m going to tip my hat and slide Dorial Green-Beckham from the Titans in here, too. He just needs to get healthy.

Best Rookie: Braxton Miller, Houston Texans. Call me crazy, as you probably already have, but I just have a Skip Bayless-like feeling that Miller is going to have a great rookie year. Yes, the Texans drafted Will Fuller to line up opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. Yes, this is the same division that has Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey. Yes, I know Jack Conklin is there too. Maybe I’m still mesmerized by that play Miller made during the Virginia Tech game but the crystal ball has spoken.

Best Coach: Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts. I almost put Gus Bradley here because of that awful special teams play against he Patriots last year. What were you thinking, Chuck?

Interesting Storyline: The rise of Jacksonville. The main question surrounding this division is if the Jags can make this a three team race. The offense should have enough firepower with Julius Thomas, Allen Hurns, Chris Ivory, and Blake Bortles calling the shots. The defense is going to wreak havoc as we finally get to see Dante Fowler in action after missing his rookie year. Gus Bradley has a chance to pull this team from the underbelly of the league and into the limelight.

Biggest X-Factor: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars. This team will only go as far as Blake can take them. Bortles is entering his third year and should be ready to carry the load. If Bortles has a breakout season then the phrase, “playoff bound Jaguars” might not be a far stretch.

 MVP Candidates: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans. Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars.

Division Winner: Houston Texans. Last year the Texans won this division with putrid quarterback play. Now that Brock is taking over the helm this offense should start humming. Andrew Luck is back but the Colts’s run defense ranked 25th last year. That should make Lamar Miller smile.

There you have it, the crystal ball wrapped up the AFC South for all of us.

Disagree? Have a newer, better crystal ball? Let me know @mattgarrett41.

Check out the other divisions: AFC West , AFC North, AFC East, NFC South, NFC West, NFC North, NFC East

As always, thanks for reading.

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