By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The 2026 NFL draft is now over. We will take a look around the AFC South and see how each team did and give power rankings based on these moves.

Houston Texans: The biggest needs entering the draft were OL, DL, LB, edge and DB.

Draft picks: G/C Keylan Rutledge, DT Kayden McDonald, TE Marlin Klein, G/C Febechi Nwaiwu, LB Wade Woodaz, S Kamari Ramsey, WR Lewis Bond, LB Aiden Fisher.

Rutledge (Georgia Tech) was picked in the first round with the 26^th pick. He’s 6’4, 316 lbs. and he has a lot of experience. He plays relentlessly through the whistle, finishing blocks with the ability to put defenders on their back. The Texans need the strengthen the offensive line so this was a good pick.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has gotten worse in each of his three seasons. He made the Pro Bowl (2023) as a rookie but has struggled to play like that again.

Houston added running back David Montgomery (Detroit) in free agency. They have also overhauled the offensive line.

Houston has an elite defense that ranked first in total defense in 2025. Drafting defensive tackle Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) will strengthen the interior defense and help stop opponents from running the ball.

I think they’re the best team in the division and that’s considering inconsistent quarterback play. If Stroud can play like he did in 2023, the Texans will be Super Bowl contenders.

Indianapolis Colts: Their biggest team needs before the draft were edge, LB, S, OL and WR.

Draft picks: LB C.J. Allen, S A.J. Haulcy, G/C Jalen Farmer, LB Bryce Boettcher, EDGE George Gumbs, EDGE Caden Curry, RB Seth McGowan, WR Deion Burks

The Colts did not have a first round pick this year or next because they traded that to the Jets for CB Sauce Gardner.

I like the CJ Allen (Georgia) pick because they have a vacancy at middle linebacker. They traded LB Zaire Franklin to Green Bay for DT Colby Wooden. Franklin averaged 161 tackles over the last four seasons.

Indy started the season 8-5, then QB Daniel Jones went down on December 7, 2025 against Jacksonville with a torn Achilles. That injury typically takes one year to come back from so he should miss most of the 2026 season.

I pick them to finish third in the division.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The biggest team needs were LB, edge, DL, OL and S.

Draft picks: TE Nate Boerkircher, DT Albert Regis, G/C Emmanuel Pregnon, S Jalen Huskey, EDGE Wesley Williams, TE Tanner Koziol, WR Josh Cameron, WR C.J. Williams, EDGE Zack Dufree, LB Parker Hughes

Their first pick was at No. 56, where they drafted blocking tight end Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M). The best player they drafted was OG Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon). He has potential to become a starter right away.

The Jags hope Travis Hunter can return from his torn LCL and make a big impact in 2026.

They did lose their leading rusher Travis Etienne in free agency when he signed to New Orleans.

They should be second in the division but I’m not sure they’ll make the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans: The biggest team needs were OL, edge, WR, RB and LB.

Draft picks: WR Carnell Tate, EDGE Keldric Faulk, LB Anthony Hill Jr., G/C Fernando Carmona, RB Nicholas Singleton, DT Jackie Marshall, G/C Pat Coogan, TE Jaren Kanak

Carnell Tate (Ohio State) was the first receiver drafted at No. 4. It’s good they paired a weapon with second year QB Cam Ward. I think they drafted extremely well but they’re still a bad team.

Tennessee will finish last.