The Indianapolis Colts could have more competition in the AFC South after a big free agency from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have long been the laughingstock of the AFC South. Excluding the anomaly of a year in 2017, Jacksonville has finished last in the division every season since 2016.
However, the Jaguars are determined to change that. After drafting Trevor Lawrence No. 1 overall last year, Jacksonville once again has the No. 1 pick.
After franchise tagging left tackle Cam Robinson, this Jaguars’ pick will likely be used on one of the talented edge rushers; either Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux.
In addition to building through the draft, Jacksonville went all out on the first day of the legal tampering period, agreeing to multiple big deals to bring in more talent.
The #Jaguars negotiated $229.5 million of contracts today:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2022
WR Christian Kirk 4 yrs, $72M
G Brandon Scherff 3 yrs, $49.5M
LB Foye Oluokun 3 yrs, $45M
DT Foley Fatukasi 3 yrs, $30M
WR Zay Jones 3 yrs, $24M
TE Evan Engram 1 yr, $9M
And free agency is just starting ...
With all the young talent on the roster, a new coaching staff, and the commitment to build, it’s fair to ask if Jacksonville will become a true threat in the AFC South.
Will Jaguars pose a challenge to Colts in AFC South?
The last time the Indianapolis Colts were on the field, they were being embarrassed by Jacksonville. Indy’s season came to a disappointing end after being upset by the Jaguars in Week 18.
This was viewed as a shock because Jacksonville was the worst team in the NFL and the Colts were a team that no one wanted to play in the playoffs.
Since that point, both franchises have been moving in opposite directions. Indy has traded its quarterback and is in limbo about the next step it will take as a franchise and Jacksonville has hired a Super Bowl-winning coach and is stocking up on talent.
Will these offseason moves really make a difference in the fall? Probably. The Jaguars are adding more talent while the Colts haven’t done much to significantly improve yet.
If that remains the case, Jacksonville will continue to close the gap between it and Indianapolis. This doesn’t mean that the Jaguars will be world-beaters next season but it’s possible they could make noise in the division.
Instead of the AFC South being a two-team race between the Colts and Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville is doing its best to join the contest.
Colts offseason could be a make or break moment for Chris Ballard
All eyes are on Chris Ballard as general manager of the Indianapolis Colts to see what moves he has in store for the team