Jacksonville Jaguars add LB help in 1st round of All-AFC South 2024 NFL Mock Draft

It's midseason, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are everything they expected to be with the Super Bowl in their sights. The Rest of the AFC South though, not so much. It's still a building in process for the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans. While there's plenty of football left in 2023, here's a look at the NFL draft in 2024. After all, it's never too early for scouting.

Before we start, here are some things to keep in mind. The Jags look like a legitimate contender, so they have been assigned a loss in the AFC Championship game and a 30th overall pick. The Titans at 2-4 will get the 4th overall pick while the Colts (3-4) get pick No. 13, and the Texans (3-3) get the 16th selection.

The Texans traded their first-round pick in 2024 to the Arizona Cardinals to land defensive end Will Anderson Jr. However, they have an extra selection left from the Deshaun Watson trade in 2021. Thus, the Cardinals get the 16th pick, and the Texans will get the 22nd selection in this midseason NFL 2024 Mock Draft for the AFC South, and here we go.

All-AFC South 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Tennessee Tennessee Titans, Rome Odunze, WR

With the No.4 overall pick in the midseason NFL 2024 Mock Draft for the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans select Rome Odunze, wide receiver from Washington. Odunze's addition to the team could bolster the Titans' offensive capabilities, giving them a new dimension in their passing game.

Rome Odunze, a star wide receiver at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, NV, was highly sought-after by college football powerhouses like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida. He eventually committed to the University of Washington in August 2019 and officially enrolled the following year. 

Odunze's play on the gridiron during his junior year in 2022 was awe-inspiring, with 70 catches for 1,088 yards, an average of 15.5 yards per reception, seven touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of when targeted 124.9.

This performance earned him several awards, including Third-Team All-American from the Associated Press and Pro Football Focus and First-Team All-Pac-12 from the Associated Press and Phil Steele. With a frame of 6-foot-3 and 201 lbs, Odunze had developed into a standout part of the Huskies' passing game.

Odunze was especially effective when paired with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. due to their connection on the field and Odunze's rating when targeted. As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, his potential is being closely watched. He has excellent hand skills and confidence; he attacks and catches the ball from the air away from his frame. He made the Bruce Feldman Freaks List at number 58 — he ran a 4.34 40, a 4.19 pro agility shuttle, 37.1 inches on the vertical, and 10-1 in the broad jump. He has excellent body control, especially on near-sideline catches, and advanced route-running skills. 

On top of that, Odunze has a knack for exploiting zone coverages and finding open spaces. He has a physical presence with a wide wingspan and an expansive catch radius combined with elite concentration and fast-twitch reactions, especially on tough off-balance catches; he is an outstanding choice for the Titans. 

The Titans could be undergoing a youth movement in 2024. Odunze would give a much-needed boost to their wide receiver corps.