The NFL is full of mystery, and 2026 is no different. From compelling storylines to exciting rising stars, there is always something on fans’ minds. In this NFL Preview series, we’re asking one burning question for every team. Here is the AFC South.
The Jaguars took a huge shot in the 2025 NFL Draft when they traded up to the second overall pick for Heisman winner Travis Hunter. The wide receiver/cornerback hybrid was an exciting prospect, but came with many questions.
Hunter played a dual role in 2025, but his season was shortened due to a torn LCL. He appeared in seven games, starting in four of them. He ended the year with 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown.
On the defensive side, Hunter logged three passes defended, one fumble, 11 solo tackles, and 15 combined tackles. The Jaguars have announced he will primarily play CB in year two, but will still be featured in the offense.
After a significant knee injury, whether Hunter should pull double duty is a point of contention. Whether he can excel at either position in the NFL also remains to be seen. His sophomore year will be under a microscope, and could be integral to Jacksonville’s future.
C.J. Stroud’s career has been frustrating to say the least. The Texans’ QB won the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but has quickly fallen from grace since then. He’s thrown for 20 interceptions and has been sacked 75 times over the last two seasons.
Stroud was most recently criticized after throwing four interceptions in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs. The worst part of all this? The Texans’ defense ranked number one in total defense.
Houston’s defense allowed a league-low 277.2 total yards in 2025, and they ranked second in points allowed per game (17.4). Stroud is heavily considered to be weighing the team down, but he still has a chance to turn it around.
The Texans picked up Stroud’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract. This gives the team a chance to evaluate him through the 2027 season. He’ll want a new deal before then, making this season make-or-break for the 24-year-old.
The Colts finally found their answer at quarterback in 2025 after signing Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal. He led the team to an 8-2 start and played some of his best football until injuries caught up to him.
Jones played through a fractured left fibula until he tore his right Achilles in Week 14. The Colts were on a two-game losing streak before that, and lost every game after it. They ended the year with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs.
Whether it was the fractured fibula or not, Jones’ play started to slide before his Achilles tear. The Colts rewarded him this offseason, giving him a two-year, $88 million contract. They did, however, add a potential out in 2027.
The Colts seem committed to Jones, but aware that things could still go poorly. His prior history with the New York Giants may be a cause for hesitation. Now he’s coming off yet another lower leg injury.
The Titans have done everything in their power to build around the 2025 first-overall pick, Cam Ward. They hired Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll as the head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively.
Tennessee added WR Wan’Dale Robinson, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, and cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott in free agency. They followed that up by drafting WR Carnell Tate and edge rusher Keldric Faulk.
Saleh is a defensive-minded coach, but Daboll has been touted as a QB whisperer. He was the man behind the Giants drafting Jaxson Dart, and now gets to coach the one QB drafted before Dart.
Ward showed a ton of potential in 2025. He started all 17 games, throwing for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Titans are putting all their stock into him, and he may finally live up to the hype.
The Texans seemed to be the leaders of the AFC South, but the Jaguars flipped the script in 2025. The Colts looked to be Super Bowl contenders at the midway point but quickly fell off a cliff. If the Titans can find some rhythm, this division could be a bloodbath in 2026.
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