2024 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
Let’s have a talk. Just you and me. The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. You can make the choice now. You can choose to read other people’s draft grades. You know, the grades where you get lied to and nobody has the balls to hand out anything lower than a C for any of the teams. OR you can read mine where I tell the truth. The choice is yours.
By the way, how come nobody grades Mel Kiper’s draft grades after the fact? I’ll happily stack up my resume compared to anybody else out there. It’s not a battle they will win based on past evidence. We’re starting things off with the AFC South. Let’s do this thing.
Houston Texans: Grade B-
Round 2, Pick 42: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 59: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Round 3, Pick 78: Calen Bullock, S, USC
Round 4, Pick 123: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 188: Jamal Hill, LB, Oregon
Round 6, Pick 205: Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville
Round 7, Pick 238: Solomon Byrd, DL, USC
Round 7, Pick 247: Marcus Harris, DL, Auburn
Round 7, Pick 249: LaDarius Henderson, OL, Michigan
Let’s keep one thing in mind with this draft. They are missing their first round pick because of the move up for Will Anderson. Not sure how anybody can complain about that decision. When you factor that in, it’s a really good raft class.
I just thought they bombed it after the second round. I love Lassiter. He’s going to be a damn good corner for them and a problem in nickel situations. Blake Fisher should be a fine right tackle for them too. I like the Cade Stover add. Otherwise, just a lot of dudes who will do nothing in the 6th and 7th round.
Indianapolis Colts: Grade F
Round 1, Pick 15: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Round 2, Pick 52: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Round 3, Pick 79: Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
Round 4, Pick 117: Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
Round 5, Pick 142: Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
Round 5, Pick 151: Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri
Round 5, Pick 164: Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 201: Micah Abraham, CB, Marshall
Round 7, Pick 234: Jonah Laulu, DT, Oklahoma
This Chris Ballard is hilarious. Everybody wants to blow the guy for building the most mediocre team possible. The dumb idiot struck again in this one. The Colts had every single defensive player in the draft available to them. Ballard decided to pull the trigger on a guy who was medically retired for two years. You’re just never going to convince me that was a good idea to take a dude who was retired over every single defensive player in the class.
Ballard is a dope and this class will prove just that. I want you to remember something because I’m going to keep saying it. Blake Bortles has won the AFC South more recently than Ballard. Until that changes, I don’t want to hear about how smart this clown is.
I really like the AD Mitchell pick. Everything else was straight trash. Goncalves is going to be a depth swing tackle that doesn’t do anything beyond serve as depth. That can’t be your third round pick. It just kept getting worse from there. Anthony Gould in round 4? That’s so laughable. What’s he going to do return kicks… c’mon bro.
Chris Ballard remains a trash bag and I can’t comprehend how anyone defends this loser.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade A-
Round 1, Pick 23: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Round 2, Pick 48: Maason Smith, DL, LSU
Round 3, Pick 96: Jarrian Jones, DB, Florida State
Round 4, Pick 114: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
Round 4, Pick 116: Jordan Jefferson, DL, LSU
Round 5, Pick 153: Deantre Prince, CB, Ole Miss
Round 5, Pick 167: Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas
Round 6, Pick 212: Cam Little, K, Arkansas
Round 7, Pick 236: Myles Coles, Edge, Texas Tech
The only reason this isn’t an A+ is because I’m nervous about Brian Thomas. Otherwise, what a home run draft for Jacksonville. The good news is they moved down with Minnesota and collected serious future draft capital while still getting Thomas.
Some of these other picks might turn into serious gold mines. For anyone who’s been following my draft content this Spring, you already know that’s the case. I don’t even know where to start. Smith has so much damn potential. Then you pair him with BOTH LSU defensive tackles getting the house Jefferson too.
Like where does it end? Foster probably will become a starter for them at tackle. Cam Little gives them a real kicker. Myles Cole in the 7th might actually be something. Keilan Robinson is a great gadget guy to add to the mix.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I love what they did. So much so that I think they can get back on top in this division.
Tennessee Titans: Grade D
Round 1, Pick 7: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 38: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Round 4, Pick 106: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Round 5, Pick 146: Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville
Round 6, Pick 182: Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane
Round 7, Pick 242: James Williams, S, Miami
Round 7, Pick 252: Jaylen Harrell, Edge, Michigan
This is a stinky draft. JC Latham might be alright but even if he pans out it’s a total reach at pick seven. I can’t see any outcome where he’s a Pro Bowl level player. Been some ugly results with some of these Alabama tackles too.
I like the Sweat pick but that’s about it. Brownlee might help as a press corner but he lacks speed. Jackson might be able to push to be that depth receiver. You’re just not going anywhere with this draft. Going to be a bottom tier team again in Tennessee.
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