The Jacksonville Jaguars have improved considerably since the end of 2024 but still have a long way to dethrone the Houston Texans as the AFC South champions. Then again, they're in much better shape than the Indianapolis Colts, who haven't done enough this offseason to make you think they'll be a threat in the division. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report just pointed this out in a recent column.
Moton discussed the biggest losers in each division following the NFL Draft and picked Indy for the AFC South, noting that it has one of the worst quarterback rooms in the league, with Daniel Jones expected to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting job.
"The Giants cut Jones within two years of signing him to a four-year, $160 million extension. On a one-year, $14 million deal, he'll have a chance at a career rebirth in Indianapolis. Though Indianapolis is a good landing spot for Jones, the Colts have one of the league's worst quarterback situations with two former first-round picks."
Moton goes on to say that the upcoming season will be pivotal for both Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen.
"Going into a crucial third term with the Colts, head coach Shane Steichen is in a tough spot with his quarterback room. Ballard has a 62-69-1 record as the team's general manager. The Colts haven't made the playoffs since 2020. "
If Ballard and Steichen fail to steer the ship in the right direction, they could (and should) be on their way out.
Steichen was hired as the Colts' head coach in 2023. Even though the team lost Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury, they managed to stay competitive and compete for a playoff berth up until the finale. Set to pick up where it left off, Indy instead regressed last year. Its roster lacked playmakers, Richardson regressed, and their locker room seemingly lacked leadership.
The fact that Ballard has done a poor job of replenishing the roster hasn't helped matters. Back in 2017, he's had way more misses than hits the past few years. He was surprisingly more aggressive this offseason in his attempts to acquire talent, but that might be a sign that his seat is getting considerably hotter.
The Jaguars had a better offseason than the Colts ( but the Texans still reign)
Granted, the Jacksonville Jaguars are also coming off an underwhelming season, but they at least have a long-term answer behind center with Trevor Lawrence in the fold. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts hope Daniel Jones pushes Anthony Richardson, and as the saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks, you truly have none.
Sure, tight end Tyler Warren was a nice pickup, and there wasn't a quarterback taken in the first two rounds of the draft aside from Cam Ward, so Indy made the right call to not reach for a need. That said, years of bad drafting have severely hampered the Colts, which will make Shane Steichen's job more difficult. Heck, nobody would bat an eye if the Tennessee Titans ended 2025 with a better record than them.
Like Indianapolis (and the Jaguars), the Titans are trying to get out of the cellar of the league and have arguably done a better job of revamping their roster in the offseason, aside from maybe overpaying left tackle Dan Moore Jr. in free agency. Tennessee will probably need another year or two before it can legitimately compete for the AFC South title, but with Ward behind center, it should experience an immediate improvement.
The bottom line is that the Houston Texans remain the team to beat in the division, but the Jacksonville Jaguars probably won't have to worry about the Indianapolis Colts being a threat in 2025.