2023 AFC South: One Big Question for the Jaguars, Titans, Colts and Texans

Top-four draft picks C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson join veterans Trevor Lawrence and Ryan Tannehill to compete for the division crown.

The AFC South was a two-team race last season with the Jaguars and Titans clashing in Week 18 with the division on the line.

But the Texans and Colts might enter the picture for the division crown this season with rookies C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson, two quarterbacks drafted inside the top four in April.

Stroud and Richardson are expected to start games this season, but will they earn their jobs during training camp?

The Jaguars have an established quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, but can he find instant chemistry with wide receiver Calvin Ridley this summer?

The Titans also added a former All-Pro wideout in DeAndre Hopkins. Tennessee will learn in training camp how much Hopkins has left in the tank.

Let’s examine one question for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars and Titans that might be answered in training camp.

Texans

Will C.J. Stroud earn the QB job over Davis Mills?

With the Texans drafting Stroud No. 2, it’s obvious the former Ohio State star will soon become the starting quarterback for the franchise :: Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports

Stroud was excited about the Panthers’ being on the Texans’ schedule this season because he’ll get to play against his good friend Bryce Young in a matchup of rookie quarterbacks. But Stroud quickly stopped himself from looking too far ahead when asked about it during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in May.

“We still don’t have starting positions yet,” Stroud told Sports Illustrated. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”

With the Texans drafting Stroud No. 2, it’s obvious the former Ohio State star will soon become the starting quarterback for the franchise, but there’s a difference between being given the job and earning it.

If Stroud outplays Mills, the Texans’ starter the past two seasons, throughout training camp, it would go a long way in earning respect from his coaches and teammates. If Stroud struggles this summer and still gets handed the job, it might lead to a rocky start for an organization that has been filled with turmoil the past few seasons.

Not many are expecting the Texans to make the playoffs this season, but they made many roster upgrades this offseason, including the addition of tight end Dalton Schultz. We’ll soon learn whether Stroud can quickly find chemistry with his weapons in Houston. 

Colts

Is Anthony Richardson ready to be the Colts’ starter?

Regardless of whether Richardson starts Week 1, all eyes will be on the Colts’ No. 4 pick for the start of training camp :: Mykal McEldowney/USA TODAY Sports

Richardson is in a similar position as Stroud, but Richardson might have tougher competition, with the Colts signing veteran Gardner Minshew in the offseason.

Regardless of whether Richardson starts Week 1, all eyes will be on the Colts’ No. 4 pick for the start of training camp. Richardson was labeled by draft pundits as a boom-or-bust prospect because of his elite physical traits and unpolished fundamentals.

Richardson will likely have many downfield connections with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, but can he display accuracy, anticipation and touch? How much Richardson has improved as a passer from his Florida days will be seen in training camp, and that might determine whether Colts coach Shane Steichen will tab the rookie as the starter over Minshew.

As for Richardson’s athletic gifts, those might not be on display until the preseason. Quarterbacks tend not to get the freedom of running all over their defenses in training camp practices.

But the Colts aren’t worried about Richardson’s mobility for his first NFL camp. 

Jaguars

How quickly can Calvin Ridley and Trevor Lawrence find chemistry?

Ridley would give the Jaguars a dynamic No. 1 target to go with wide receivers Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram :: Corey Perrine/USA Today Sports Network

The Jaguars got a glimpse of Ridley, the team’s new No. 1 wideout, during the offseason program, but the competition level will pick up once the pads come on for training camp.

Nine months after trading with the Falcons for Ridley, the Jaguars will finally see him in a 11-on-11 team setting without many restrictions. Ridley was forced to miss the entire 2022 season for violating the league’s gambling policy.

If Lawrence establishes quick chemistry with Ridley, the Jaguars might be legit Super Bowl contenders despite playing in the loaded AFC, which includes the Bengals, Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Jets and Dolphins. Ridley would give the Jaguars a dynamic No. 1 target to go with wide receivers Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram, who recently signed a three-year contract extension worth $41.25 million.

Ridley recently revealed he played with a broken foot during the 2020 season, in which he recorded a career-high 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. The Jaguars might find out in training camp whether Ridley can still play at an elite level. 

Titans

Is DeAndre Hopkins still a star No. 1 wide receiver?

Hopkins has played in only 16 games over the past two seasons because of injuries :: Michael Chow/USA TODAY NETWORK

This recently became a question for the Titans after they signed Hopkins to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $15 million in the first year.

Hopkins is no longer leading the position when it comes to compensation (Tyreek Hill is expected to make $30 million from the Dolphins this season), but he’s still getting paid like a standout wide receiver. Hopkins had a soft market after being released by the Cardinals in May because some league executives believe the former All-Pro struggled to create separation last season.

Hopkins, 31, can quiet some of his critics by running crisp routes and making several acrobatic catches against the Titans’ defense during training camp. Hopkins will need to quickly get on the same page with veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill to make those dazzling catches that people love to see on social media.

But it’s not a guarantee that we’ll get answers about Hopkins’s performance level during training camp. The Titans might opt to have the veteran miss many team drills to keep him healthy for the season.