2024 NFL Draft Review: Predicting each AFC South team’s mid-round gem

The AFC South will be an interesting division in 2024.  While the Houston Texans looking to defend their AFC South throne under the spectacular play of 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud, teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping they made enough moves to knock them off that throne.  Don’t count out the Tennessee Titans for making some noise either!

With teams making offseason moves including some interesting high round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, it is who each team selected in the mid rounds that could play a factor in which team’s rise in the AFC South.

2024 NFL Draft mid-round picks who could play major roles in the AFC South

Based on key position needs, NFL Mocks looked at players for each of the AFC South squads who could find themselves in position as key contributors in the 2024 NFL season.  Each player comes out of college with skillsets that should fit nicely in the NFL.  The question is, which of these players will take advantage of their opportunity and be looked back upon as mid-round gems.

Houston Texans – TE Cade Stover (Round 4– Pick 123)

Texans fourth-round pick Cade Stover will not only generate buzz in his first season in the NFL, but he will also be seen as a mid-round gem in an offense that will give second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud yet another weapon to get the ball to.

Former teammates at Ohio State, Stroud and Stover already have chemistry to build on and in an offense that features Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz, Stover will see a lot of single coverage.  As a pass-catching tight end, expect to see Stover grow within the Texans’ offense as the season moves forward.  You can also count on that chemistry getting even stronger between Stroud and Stover.

The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is excited about the reunion.

“Me and Cade are brothers,” Stroud said of the rookie tight end, via Texans Wire.  “Somebody who I had the chance to play with in college but spend a lot of time with him off the field in college, barbecuing, just chilling, playing the game, all type of stuff.  That’s somebody I consider my brother.”

That comfort and bond should translate nicely to the NFL.  During their last season together at OSU, Stroud and Stover connected 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns.

Indianapolis Colts – S Jaylin Simpson (Round 5– Pick 164)

The Colts have a couple of candidates who could be a mid-round gem.  Who knows, maybe they have a couple of players who will stand out in looking back at the 2024 NFL Draft years from now.  While fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini adds some beef in the trenches along the offensive line, the choice here is safety Jaylin Simpson.

Selected with the No. 164 overall pick in the draft, the Auburn product is in line to challenge for snaps at the free safety position.  Both his length and speed will be an asset for a team looking to add some depth in the defensive backfield.  Another asset in this selection is that Simpson also has the versatility to be a big corner in the NFL, which it looks like he’ll transition to with the Colts.

In leading Missouri with 4 interceptions, don’t be surprised if Simpson finds his way on the field as a starter by mid-season with the Colts as a cornerback.

Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Jordan Jefferson (Round 4– Pick 116)

The Jaguars wanted to add some beef in the interior of their defensive line, and they did just that with the selection of defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson with the No. 116 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The former LSU standout brings tremendous upper body strength to a Jaguars team that also selected Jefferson’s teammate Maason Smith in the second round of the draft.  Together, Jefferson and Smith bring youth and depth to the defensive line along with their ability to stop the run.

While Smith will compete to be a starter, Jefferson will be competing for a depth role on the team.  He is dealing with ankle injuries so far in camp and at the start of the preseason, but when fully healthy, expect Jefferson to earn snaps in 2024.  His 6-foot-4, 317-pound frame, along with his strength will be too enticing for Jacksonville not to insert as a rotational player in the middle of that defensive line.

Tennessee Titans – ILB Cedric Gray (Round 4– Pick 106)

The titans took care of their needs on both sides of the trenches by selecting J.C. Latham in the first round and T’Vondre Sweat in the second round.  The team addressed another need at linebacker with the selection of North Carolina’s Cedric Gray in the fourth round.  A run-stopping inside linebacker, Gray will get an opportunity to make some noise during his rookie season as he’ll compete with Jack Gibbens for a starting inside linebacker role next to Kenneth Murray Jr.

Though the Titans rookie has battled a shoulder injury at the start of preseason, he’ll get his opportunity when healthy. At 6-foot-2, 234 pounds, Gray has good size for a linebacker.  He showcased his sideline-to-sideline range and speed in leading North Carolina with 121 total tackles to go along with 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 2023.  His skillset and production should translate nicely to the next level and make him a mid-round gem in the AFC South.