NFL free agency kicks off at 4:00 p.m. on March 9, and in the lead-up Sportsnet is looking at one division a day to assess areas of need and players who could be on the move. Today, the AFC South.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Biggest needs: LB, DT, OL
Chris Ballard needs to undo some of the damage Ryan Grigson inflicted on this roster. Anything the Colts can do to better protect franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, who is coming recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, they need to do it. They allowed 44 sacks and because their front seven was largely useless they only registered 33 of their own in 2016.
Biggest potential loss: Jack Doyle, TE
The Colts can handle losing Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, Mike Adams, D’Qwell Jackson and Darius Butler as they retool on defence, but Doyle, a Western Kentucky product, was a useful utility man for them. It would be tough to see Doyle walk, especially considering the fact Dwayne Allen can’t stay healthy and Luck’s affinity for targeting tight ends.
Potential target: Nick Perry, OLB, Green Bay Packers
It’s no secret the Colts must make significant strides on the pass rush and Perry is one of the best linebackers available. He set career highs in tackles (52) and sacks (11) in 2016. He can get to quarterbacks and excels at run-stopping.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Biggest needs: WR, DB, LB
The Titans made more progress than their division rivals in 2016. The team boasts a ton of cap space and they have enough talent currently that it behooves ownership to spend big this spring. With Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray in the backfield the Titans will remain a run-heavy squad but they need to give Mariota another receiver to work with and take pressure off Rishard Matthews. Don’t be surprised if they make a big push for Alshon Jeffery. On the other side of the ball, they had one of the worst pass defences and must improve the secondary.
Biggest potential loss: Sean Spence, LB
The 26-year-old put up a career high 54 combined tackles despite only starting in six games (he made 15 total appearances). He doesn’t set the world on fire but it’s valuable depth at the position they’ll have to replace.
Potential target: A.J. Bouye, CB, Houston Texans
The Texans want Bouye back but they didn’t place the franchise tag on him. It would be a massive boon the Tennessee secondary and a body blow to Houston if they were to land someone like Bouye, who won’t come cheap on the open market.
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JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Biggest needs: OL, DL, LB,
The Jags were liberal with their chequebook last year in free agency, making some noise in the form of Malik Jackson, Chris Ivory, Tashaun Gipson and Prince Amukamara. They’ve got plenty of cash to spend this year too.
Biggest potential loss: Johnathan Cyprien, S
Jacksonville’s secondary made huge improvements in 2016, allowing the fifth fewest passing yards against, and Cyprien was a major contributor.
Potential target: Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati Bengals
New QB coach, and former Toronto Argonauts bench boss, Scott Milanovich is going to do his best to help turn Blake Bortles’ career around. You know what else would help? Having a better offensive line. Not only would Bortles benefit from having more time in the pocket, he’d be better if he could lean on the run game. Jacksonville was terrible on the ground despite having several talented backs in Ivory, T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson. They only mustered 101.9 yards per game and registered a mere eight rushing touchdowns. Zeitler is the best guard available. They can offer him a monster deal.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Biggest needs: QB, OL
The Texans might be tentative to make a big move in free agency considering how poorly the first (and possibly last) year of the Brock Osweiler era went. There really isn’t much to look at in terms of free agent quarterbacks at the moment – taking a chance on someone like Colin Kaepernick would be the worst thing this team could do and it looks like Houston could be a landing spot for Tony Romo. If they’re forced to stick with Osweiler they can look to surround him with talent to make things as easy as possible on him.
Biggest potential loss: A.J. Bouye, CB
As mentioned above, Bouye will be a highly sought after commodity since he’s coming off a breakout 2016 campaign. When opposing quarterbacks threw at Bouye their average QB rating was a measly 58.5.
Potential target: Ricky Wagner, RT, Baltimore Ravens
Outside of left tackle Duane Brown the Texans offensive line is largely forgettable. Wagner is the best right tackle on the market.