It's been a while since the Indianapolis Colts last ruled the AFC South. While this hasn't always been the toughest or most competitive division, some misfortune at quarterback has taken a toll on this team's chances of winning the pennant. Plus, in 2026, Indy's rivals have made some pretty great moves that might scare Colts fans.
With Daniel Jones back to full strength and a solid roster, Shane Steichen's team should like its chances against the division. However, every other team also brought in help in the offseason, and some moves might have a big impact on the divisional race.
Now that rosters are set and the first depth chart of the campaign is out there, and with the season opener zooming in, let's take a look at one move by each AFC South team that could throw a wrench in the Colts' plans.
3 AFC South offseason moves that could hurt the Colts
Tennessee Titans - Signing Wan'Dale Robinson
The Tennessee Titans wanted to give Cam Ward more weapons, so they signed Wan'Dale Robinson to a four-year, $70 million deal. He's now slated to be the team's primary pass catcher while rookie first-round pick Carnell Tate waits for his turn.
Robinson is an underrated playmaker, and he's following former head coach Brian Daboll to Music City after playing for him in the Big Apple. The former New York Giants is a big YAC threat out of the slot, and he's already familiar with the offense.
On the flip side, Cam Ward didn't look good at all in the preseason, so the Titans' revamped offense might continue to struggle in the first year of the Robert Saleh era. But if someone can help them, that's definitely Robinson.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Drafting Emmanuel Pregnon
The Jacksonville Jaguars will mostly run it back with last year's core. They didn't have a first-round pick because of the Travis Hunter trade, but they put their third-round selection to great use by landing their left guard of the future.
Emmanuel Pregnon drew some second-round grades, and landing him at No. 88 was a bit of a steal. He even won the starting spot after a strong training camp, and he can be an absolute menace in the trenches.
The Jaguars' offensive line is still a work in progress, and trusting a rookie to fix everything right out of the gate might be wishful thinking. But he's an absolute mauler, and if he turns out well, he can give the Colts' underwhelming pass rush some trouble.
Houston Texans- Signing Reed Blankenship
The Houston Texans didn't need anyone else on defense, and every move felt like overkill. Reed Blankenship is coming off the worst season of his young career, but that only helped them land him at a discount.
DeMeco Ryans added a hard-hitting run-stopper to his defensive backfield at just over $8 million a year for the next three seasons. The Texans don't do many shifts or disguised coverage, but Blankenship can play both safety spots at a high level if needed.
He's already shown that he can pile up tackles at an elite rate while also holding his own in coverage. The Colts can only hope he's closer to the sloppy and erratic player he was in 2025 than to the fan favorite he became as an unknown rookie in Philadelphia.
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