As we hit March and near the end of the league year, the AFC South is primed to be one of the best divisions in all of football. We mostly know what the Texans needs are headed into the new season, but how about the other teams in the AFC South? How does the division shape up heading into 2020? Let's take a look, starting with Jacksonville.
2019 in review:
1. Lost to the Texans twice
2. Finished the season 6-10 - fourth in the AFC South
3. Traded Jalen Ramsey to the Rams for a 2020 first-rounder
Key notes to consider heading into 2020:
1. Fired Tom Coughlin late last year, head coach Doug Marrone and GM David Caldwell still remain
2. Traded cornerback A.J. Bouye to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round pick
3. No starting quarterback determined - owe Nick Foles a lot of money, but soon-to-be second-year gunslinger Gardner Minshew II seems to be the choice of the franchise. Foles is complicated given that he's a $21.9M cap hit
4. Pro Bowl edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue said he's gone, team will probably franchise him (and perhaps trade him)
5. The entire 2017 starting secondary is now gone (Ramsey, Bouye, Church and Gipson)
6. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus probably won't be coming back
Projected salary cap space: $33.7M
Draft capital:
1st round (9)
1st round (20) from the Rams
2nd round (42)
3rd round (74)
4th round (116)
4th round (127)
5th round (166)
6th round (189)
6th round (207)
7th round (224)
*doesn't appear as if Jacksonville will have any compensatory picks
Team needs:
1. Solve the quarterback conundrum
2. Interior defensive help - Jags were gashed on the ground last year
3. A pass catching tight end or reliable interior passing game weapon
4. Need to find a true perimeter cornerback in this draft (probably too rich to find one in free agency)
5. If more moves take place with offensive line (Linder, Norwell), in particular, they'll need help up front. Not totally sure left tackle Cam Robinson has been what the Jaguars have wanted, either.
