2026 NFL Draft Focus: AFC South

Ian Stuart Martin breaks down prospects on the radar of AFC South Teams.

Tennessee Titans

New Head Coach Robert Saleh and GM Mike Borgonzi must rally around Quarterback Cam Ward, who performed admirably last year as a rookie on a bad team. The team desperately needs talent. Either take the best player available at 4th overall or trade down, given the depth of talent in the class.

Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)

Most mock drafts intertwine Jeremiyah Love and the 4th overall pick like star-crossed lovers, for good reason. Love is potentially the top prospect. At 6’0”, 212 lbs., he’s a complete back. Love’s speed, acceleration, agility, and most importantly, patience are all top-end. Love was underutilized in the receiving game at Notre Dame but excelled when called on, while also being a willing pass-blocker.

Running back value has surged. Love broke Jerome Bettis’ Notre Dame touchdown record with 21 scores last season. He’d be a perfect safety valve for Cam Ward. The Titans could also trade down and still get Love. Outside of the Giants at pick 5, most teams have made major investments at running back. The Chiefs at 9, the Rams at 13, and the Jets at 16 have the capital to trade with the Titans while still projecting Love to remain on the board.

Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)

The Titans need a No. 1 Edge. Oluwafemi Oladejo fractured his leg in Week 6 of his rookie year and remains very raw. Trade addition Jermaine Johnson hasn’t returned to his 2023 Pro-Bowl form since his 2024 Achilles tear. At 6’3”, 270 lbs., Rueben Bain Jr. is a three-down edge rusher with elite tools. His arms are short at only 30⅞” but he is immensely strong. Paired with elite bend and a high motor, Bain presents as a high-end Edge prospect.

The Titans need someone to steal the attention of the offensive lines. Bain has developed pass rush moves, can set the edge, and will be that tone-setter. He will open up opportunities for the platoon of edge rushers in Tennessee. Robert Saleh is the type of defensive mind who can build a stalwart defensive line around DT Jeffery Simmons and Rueben Bain Jr.

Houston Texans

Head Coach DeMeco Ryans and GM Nick Caserio fielded one of the NFL’s best defenses last year. But C.J. Stroud has struggled since his rookie season, partially due to the Texans’ offensive line struggling. After adding three veteran linemen this offseason, they can focus on high-ceiling prospects at picks 28 and 38.

Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)

Kayden McDonald isn’t flashy, but he is needed. The Texans have had a revolving door at defensive tackle. Of the six current tackles on the roster, only 32-year-old Sheldon Rankins, who joined the team in 2023, was there before 2024. McDonald, if selected, would set his strong roots in Houston and be the brick wall nose tackle for years to come. 

At 6’2”, 326 lbs., McDonald hits like a ton of bricks and instantly upgrades an already scary defensive line with stout run defending. His testing numbers don’t scream freak athlete, but he’s quicker than expected on tape. While testing suggests limited upside as a pocket crusher, McDonald’s size and strength demand attention. His only move is the bull rush. There’s no guarantee, but with coaching and development of his counter moves, McDonald could become a true interior force.

Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State)

Max Iheanachor is one of the draft’s highest-ceiling players. At 6’6”, 321 lbs., with a 4.91 forty and a 9’7” broad jump, he is explosive and mobile but also very raw. Iheanachor only picked up football in college after being a high school basketball prospect. That shows on tape: fluid hips and quick feet, but also spotty hand usage, a very upright stance, and slow play recognition.

The Texans are a great landing spot for Iheanachor. With veteran right tackle Braden Smith signing a two-year, $20 million dollar deal in free agency, Iheanachor can sit and develop. This won’t maximize C.J. Stroud’s remaining rookie contract years. But it could secure a franchise right tackle and maximize Stroud’s career.

Indianapolis Colts

Head Coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard had a hot start last year before Daniel Jones’ injury derailed the team. The Colts have talented veterans, but many are aging or have expiring contracts. They need young replacements or Day 1 contributors with picks 47 and 78.

Kyle Louis (LB, Pittsburgh)

Kyle Louis is an undersized linebacker from Pitt at 6’0”, 220 lbs. He is one of the class’s top coverage linebackers. With excellent burst, instincts, and speed, Louis could replace Kenny Moore in the nickel role. While nickel is traditionally a DB spot, it would let Louis’ coverage skills shine and mitigate his size concerns. Putting him in nickel would utilize the Colts’ strong run-defending front. The Colts could still utilize Louis as a Will Linebacker long-term if he can add muscle while maintaining his speed.

Bryce Lance (WR, North Dakota State)

At 6’3”, 204 lbs., with a 4.34 forty and a 41½” vertical, Bryce Lance is a top-tier athlete. He crushed the past two years at North Dakota State with 2,132 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has the production and tools, yet he’s projected for the second- to third-round range. This is because Lance is 24 years old, played against lower-level FCS competition, and had struggles against physical coverage. None of that necessarily means he’ll fail in the NFL. With NFL coaching, Lance could harness his athleticism and evolve into a great complement to Alec Pierce.

Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati)

Jake Golday’s college journey has been unusual. He spent three years as a defensive end at Central Arkansas before converting to linebacker for the past two seasons at Cincinnati. As a result, Golday’s instincts and play recognition are slow. However, his sideline-to-sideline speed compensates, and his 39” vertical and 10’5” broad jump show explosiveness. With time and coaching, Golday can become a prototypical Will linebacker who glides from blitzing to coverage.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Head Coach Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone have revived the Jaguars. The franchise can once again dream of deep playoff runs. But the team was very quiet in free agency and lacks a top-50 pick in the draft. The key for this draft is getting quality contributors with pick 56 and the three third-round picks.

CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)

The Jaguars retained most of their talent but couldn’t keep everyone. 2022 first-round pick Devin Lloyd left in free agency. Remaining starter Foye Oluokun will be 31 next season. Jacksonville needs talent and youth at linebacker, not just depth. Trading up in the second round for CJ Allen would be worth it. He’s the long-term replacement for Oluokun and a good running mate as Oluokun ages.

At 6’1”, 230 lbs., Allen is the prototypical downhill middle linebacker. His tackling form is teach-tape material. His intelligence and leadership at Georgia suggest a culture-setter who can eventually take over green-dot responsibilities from Oluokun. Allen has one of the highest floors in the linebacker class. However, tight hips limit his coverage, and he lacks the elite explosiveness to shed blocks easily. Allen will never be a Pro-Bowl regular or a highlight-reel star, but he’ll be in the right place, at the right time, with a roaring engine ready to be a franchise favorite.

Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)

The Jaguars need splash plays. They were the top run-defending team last year, and that stout front would maximize Jacob Rodriguez, a big-play connoisseur. He shot up draft boards after a great combine, with an elite 4.19 shuttle, a 6.9 3-cone, and a 4.57 forty. The Jaguars might need to trade into the first-round to get him, but few teams fit Rodriguez better. Alongside Foye Oluokun as the traditional Mike, Rodriguez would slide comfortably into the Will role.

Rodriguez has great coverage instinct, partly because he started his college career as a quarterback. He reads plays well, flows to action, and his “Peanut Punch” created an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles this past year. He isn’t perfect. Like most instinctual players, Rodriguez can overcommit and bite on fakes. Additionally, his arm length has led to missed tackles. But on a rock-solid Jaguars defense, Rodriguez could lean into his ball hawking and roam free, blowing up plays.