The 2027 NFL Draft is still ten months away, but it's never too early to get ahead on prep!
To get a good baseline on what teams might need come next April, let's take a look at the biggest free agent decisions teams are facing next offseason. That would be veterans coming off of bigger contracts, and impactful players nearing the end of their rookie deals.
Here are the top draft needs based on the upcoming free agents in the AFC South.
The biggest 2027 NFL Draft needs in the AFC South based on upcoming free agents
Houston Texans
Houston's big-money free agents are Davis Mills and Trent Brown. Assuming C.J. Stroud gets a contract extension, their key 2023 selections are mostly under contract. There's Tank Dell to consider, but he'll need to play out the year before getting an offer, and there's plenty of depth at receiver.
The team just added Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller this offseason to two-year contracts. But both players are on the wrong side of 30. I'd look offensive line again for Houston next yaer.
Need: Offensive Line
Indianapolis Colts
DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, and Grover Stewart are all free agents next spring. I assume Nelson and Taylor are mainstays, but Buckner and Stewart will both be over 33 years old by 2027, and the team has been overdue for better play from the defensive line.
Key 2023 draft class members are Josh Downs and Adetomiwa Adebawore.
If this were to be Shane Steichen's last year with the Colts, it wouldn't be a surprise if someone wanted to clean house with the offensive pieces. But the path is clearer to keep the offense together and focus the draft efforts on the defense. Especially without a first-round pick.
Need: Defensive Line
Jacksonville Jaguars
Big-money free agents are Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, and Ezra Cleveland.
Anton Harrison, Brenton Strange, and Parker Washington are all free agents from the 2023 class, but Harrison at least has his fifth-year option picked up for 2027.
Between Harrison's fifth-year option and a couple of Day 2 guards taken in each of the last two drafts, I think the offensive line is fine. And I don't think the team will take another tight end high in the draft, regardless of what happens with Strange.
Wide Receiver could be a need depending on what happens with Washington and how things shake out this season. It wouldn't be a surprise if next spring the Jaguars don't view Washington, Brian Thomas Jr, or Hunter as bona fide long-term options.
But since Jacksonville has all of those options, I figure something will work out. And with two key members of the defensive line being older and free agents in 2027, that's going to be my focus.
Need: Defensive Tackle
Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard is Tennessee's only big-free agent, and Peter Skoronski is extension-eligible, but he's already got his fifth-year option for 2027.
Jermaine Johnson II is interesting. He was drafted by Robert Saleh in New York and is playing this year on his fifth-year option for Saleh in Tennessee.
If I were to rank the likelihood that each of these players was brought back, I'd say Pollard is least likely. But does that mean I'm recommending taking a running back for the Titans? Probably not.
Projected starting guard opposite Skoronski, Cordell Volson, is on a one-year deal. With additional questions on the offensive line beyond that, I'm going to make that the top need.
Need: Offensive Line
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