Jaguars: Recent NFL news can prevent AFC South title repeat
The Jacksonville Jaguars are welcoming back an old rival into the AFC South: Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins. And this time, the three-time All-Pro will be joining the biggest competition the Jags have within the division entering the 2023 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans, as reported first by A to Z Sports. But should Jaguars fans […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars are welcoming back an old rival into the AFC South: Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
And this time, the three-time All-Pro will be joining the biggest competition the Jags have within the division entering the 2023 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans, as reported first by A to Z Sports.
But should Jaguars fans really be concerned about it? Yes and no.
Now the dust has settled, it's simple to understand why the Jaguars are still the favorites to win the division in 2023. They've got one of the best young quarterbacks in the league in Trevor Lawrence, who led the sixth-best passing offense per DVOA last year.
The same unit is now adding WR Calvin Ridley. And something that oftentimes goes unnoticed: Christian Kirk and Evan Engram were both in their first years as Jaguars last season. Their improved chemistry with Lawrence is bound to show with one season under their belts.
And yet, we must admit the DeAndre Hopkins news will make the task more difficult, even if it won't significantly change the betting odds.
After all, one of the biggest reasons why the Jags are seen as a lock for the playoffs is the fact that they're playing in a weak division. The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans will likely be starting rookie quarterbacks that don't look like finished products and the Titans are expected to kick off the year with Ryan Tannehill even though they've drafted quarterbacks in back-to-back years.
Specifically, the Titans' messy situation at quarterback was made even worse by the overwhelming void at wide receiver. Before adding Hopkins, the team was projected to start a vastly inexperienced group of Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Those three combine for 27 career starts, with 21 from Westbrook-Ikhine.
Adding Hopkins makes them a much more respectable offense as they feature a legitimate threat that can dictate coverage. As The Athletic's Robert Mays points out on Twitter, the Titans are a team with a competitive defense.
The Jags are the clear-cut favorites to win the AFC South once again. But if one team is going to complicate the journey, the Titans are the likeliest to.
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Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
