B/R outlines a crucial reason the Jaguars will be competitive in 2024

The Houston Texans are the team to beat in the AFC South and they have made upgrades in the offseason that will allow them to stay at the top of the division. That said, the Jacksonville Jaguars have also made several moves that will give them a chance to dethrone them. David Kenyon of Bleacher Report outlined the biggest two.

Kenyon drew up a list of reasons why no NFL should be overlooked next season. For the Jags, he chose the reinforcements they made in the trenches, specifically citing the addition of center Mitch Morse and defensive tackle Arik Armstead on offense and defense, respectively. Here's the skinny.

"Last season's collapse was a comprehensive meltdown, but improvement may start in the trenches. Jacksonville signed veteran center Mitch Morse to direct the blocking unit and picked up Arik Armstead with rookies Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson to bolster the D-line's interior."

Morse, a second-round pick in 2015, spent his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He joined the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and signed with the Jaguars in 2022, citing his familiarity with head coach Doug Pederson as one of the reasons. He'll tentatively replace incumbent Luke Fortner at center, who was one of the worst centers in the league last year.

Armstead, on the other hand. was a first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers and had spent his whole career with them up until last year. Having dealt with injuries the past two seasons, he was asked to take a pay cut. He declined and was released. The Jags swooped in and picked him up in the offseason. Even though the former Oregon Duck has never made the Pro Bowl, he's been routinely seen as one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, so his addition should most definitely move the needle.

As noted before, Kenyon discussed all teams, including those in the AFC. Regarding the Texans, he believes Stefon Diggs will make the offense much better. When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts, he thinks sophomore Anthony Richardson will give them a shot at competing. Lastly, the Tennessee Titans shouldn't be taken lightly because of the additions they made in the offseason, including wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, along with safety Quandre Diggs, and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed.

Arik Armstead and Mitch Morse do make the Jaguars a better team

David Kenyon isn't alone when he says signing Arik Armstead was key. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes the California native was one of the most important offseason additions. He didn't make the top 50 but was an honorable mention. While he's still recovering from meniscus surgery, he's close to returning and his availability for the season opener should not be in question.

When he's ready, Armstead will join an interior line that was in need of a game-wreaker. On top of that, his presence will prevent opposing teams from devoting extra resources to contain bookend pass rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Last year, the duo combined for 27.5 sacks between the two. Imagine how much better they can be with Armstead commanding attention inside.

Morse, for his part, will give the offensive line a massive boost. The Jaguars couldn't block on the interior last year, which prevented him from successfully pounding the ball. They ultimately ranked last in the league in runs for no gain, because they were pushed around. The former Mizzou Tiger will help change that. Add the fact that the Jags inked him to a reasonable two-year deal worth $10 million and his signing him looks much better.

In the end, two players won't make or break a team, but if the Jacksonville Jaguars take control of the AFC South, you'll most likely have to circle back to the additions of Mitch Morse and Arik Armstead, who are expected to give their respective side of the ball a massive boost.

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