![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/25/01jyk56wac9mw0zw80bj.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The top two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft will make their homes in the AFC South. With the Tennessee Titans selecting Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick and the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up to select Travis Hunter at No. 2, there will be a huge spotlight on the division in 2025.
But, beyond Ward and Hunter there are some other interesting Year 1 talent infiltrating the AFC South. In a division featuring quarterbacks selected in the top five of previous NFL Draft, there are some rookies who could be the difference; rookie X-factors who could help their teams emerge in the AFC South, a division that is suddenly looking interesting.
Let’s take a look at which rookies from the 2025 NFL Draft class can take the label of rookie x-factor for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars and Titans
One rookie X-factor from each AFC South team:
Houston Texans – Jayden Higgins, WR
C.J. Stroud will need another big weapon to have the Texans’ offense rolling in 2025. With the status of Tank Dell uncertain, another big-bodied receiver like Iowa State product Jayden Higgins will help Nico Collins tremendously.
Aside from the Collins-Higgins duo, the Texans will have Christian Kirk, John Metchi III, Xavier Hutchinson and 2025 third-round draft pick Jaylin Noel competing for snaps. They also have tight ends Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover as targets for Stroud. It is Higgins who is the X-factor in the Texans offense because of the size and talent he enters the league with. If he hits, not only will the Texans have their WR2, but they will also have an awesome trio of wide receivers when Dell does return.
Indianapolis Colts – DJ Giddens, RB
Can DJ Giddens shine in the Colts backfield?
There are high expectations for the Colts rookie as he is expected to secure the RB2 role behind Jonathan Taylor. The Kansas State product racked up a career total of 3,087 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns with the Wildcats and should be a mid-round gem for a Colts team that needed to take care of their running back depth entering the offseason.
They did that and more with the selection Giddens, in the fifth round, who could go down as a draft steal for the Colts. Not only take the load off Taylor and potentially form a two-headed running back monster in Indy, but he could also step in and be the workhorse type back if Taylor were to go down with injury. If Giddens shines, it will help the Colts’ offense tremendously as their rushing attack could set up more explosive plays through the air.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Hunter, WR/DB
Travis Hunter the cornerback is the rookie X-factor the Jaguars. While the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is expected to get snaps on offense, the Jags need his secondary presence to shine more in Year 1. Hunter will likely start as a secondary star in the NFL while he adapts to the offense, with hopes of becoming a two-way star like he was at Colorado.
As a secondary defender, Hunter will be the most talented corner Jacksonville has had since the days of Jalen Ramsay. In selecting the two-way talent, the Jaguars are hoping to take care of one of their biggest needs entering the offseason, a boundary cornerback. If Hunter can help lock down the secondary, the Jags will be an interesting team in the AFC South provided Trevor Lawrence and the offense finds consistency.
Tennessee Titans – Elic Ayomanor, WR
Cam Ward was the obvious choice here for rookie X-factor for the Titans, but for him to be successful he will need playmakers around him which includes a wide receiver to step up behinds Calvin Ridley. That is where fourth round pick Elic Ayomanor comes in.
A big, possession type receiver, Ayomanor was ranked as a top 10 wide receiver prospect entering the draft. The fact the Titans got him in the fourth round could end up as a steal as he’ll have an opportunity to play a substantial role in the Titans’ offense given his skillset. At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Ayomanor is a vertical threat who also excels at creating yards after the catch. With Ridley also on the field, Ayomanor could be that second option Ward looks to get the ball to due to his ability to adjust to off-target throws. If the Stanford product can emerge in Year 1, the Titans could make some noise in the AFC South.