Almost overnight, the Indianapolis Colts' AFC South went from a bottom-feeding division to an absolute bloodbath. And now that even the Tennessee Titans have spent big bucks in free agency, things might look even tougher next season.
That's why watching the Jacksonville Jaguars sit tight and do next to nothing in free agency is great news for the Colts. General manager Chris Ballard hasn't made any additions that move the needle, but the divisional rivals have actively gotten worse in free agency.
The Colts' offseason has drawn mixed reviews and criticism. However, if they take a look at the divisional rivals, Colts fans may realize that this time, the grass is definitely greener on this side of the fence.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' lack of moves will come back to haunt them (hopes the Indianapolis Colts)
In just a couple of weeks, the Jaguars lost multiple pillars on both sides of the field. Star LB Devin Lloyd joined the Carolina Panthers, Travis Etienne left for the New Orleans Saints, and Greg Newsome, who they just acquired last season, left to sign with the New York Giants. They'll get Travis Hunter back from injury, but he looked lost on both sides of the ball as a rookie.
They've been one of the most passive teams in free agency. So far, they've only signed RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. and re-signed DE Dennis Gardneck. Granted, they won 13 games last season, but they were already due for some regression with a tougher schedule, and the lack of reinforcements will only make life tougher for Liam Coen's team.
The Jaguars got the best of the Colts twice last season, and they've historically been a nagging divisional rival. Watching them shoot themselves in the foot with this lack of moves is music to the Colts' ears, especially if you consider that both of last season's defeats came after Daniel Jones' injury.
The Colts hope that a full season of Sauce Gardner will be enough to bolster the team's shaky secondary. Also, another full training camp with Shane Steichen might keep bringing the best out of Daniel Jones. That's a risky gamble, and the lack of draft capital should be a major concern for the remainder of the offseason.
That said, the Colts should still be considered the best or second-best team in the division. They should be in a position to get back at the Jaguars next season, especially if they continue to sit while their best players leave.