The Indianapolis Colts will likely represent one-half of what is expected to be a two-horse race between themselves and the Tennessee Titans for the AFC South crown, as the Jacksonville Jaguars are kicking off a long rebuild and the Houston Texans proved they can’t win despite having Deshaun Watson. One of these teams getting Julio Jones could help them separate.
Jones has signaled that his career with the Atlanta Falcons is coming to a close, and both Tennessee and Indianapolis have been mentioned as potential landing spots considering that they could both use the upgrade at the wide receiver position.
Jones would be a no-brainer addition for both of these teams. With a contract that is by no means too egregious for an elite receiver like him, adding Jones might be the difference-maker that turns one of these fortunes around for the better.
While the expectation around the league seems to center on Tennessee landing Jones, which will admittedly sting for Indianapolis, the Colts shouldn’t be all doom and gloom if Jones ends up in Nashville, as they still have several advantages over their rivals to the south.
PFT: Expectation in league circles is Titans will land Julio Jones https://t.co/ZTeRNtoEGE
— The Titans Wire (@TheTitansWire) May 30, 2021
3 positions where the Colts would be better than the Titans.
3. Defensive Line
Bud Dupree was a tremendous signing for the Titans, but if you had to take one defensive line grouping, Indianapolis comes out on top. The best player on either line by a country mile is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who proved during his first-team All-Pro season that he is as good as any interior D-lineman not named Aaron Donald in the league.
Grover Stewart remains one of the most underrated players at any position, and a team like Indy that plays with four down linemen regularly chose to invest their first two draft picks into that position by adding Kwity Paye in the first round and Dayo Odeyingbo in the second round.
The Colts defensive line trumps the Titans’.
Jeffery Simmons is a solid lineman, but Tennessee’s defense was an atrocity from top to bottom last season, and a lack of depth on that defensive line is a huge reason why. With the Dupree signing eating up a ton of cap space, Tennessee hasn’t been able to sign a ton of supplemental pieces.
The Colts defense doesn’t take a ton of chances, so getting pressure from the defensive line is integral to what Matt Eberflus wants to do. Over the last few years, this defensive line has been a source of success, and it has every indication of showing up the Titans again.