NFL Mock Draft: Interesting selections for each AFC South team on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft

It’s Day 2 of our mid season mock draft for the AFC South.

The worst division in football now has four promising starting QBs under 25 and the Titans, Jaguars, Texans and Colts are all looking for weapons and accessories on Day 2. Picks are moving up and down, the excitement is flowing and six young men will be selected in this version of the mock draft.

On Day 2, the Jaguars are surrendering their 2nd round pick to the Falcons by extending the contract of Calvin Ridley but will have the No. 96 overall selection.

Tennessee Titans at 3-4 will get the No. 39 in the second and don't have their third-round selection because of their 2023 draft deal with the Arizona Cardinals to move up for Will Levis. The Colts have the 9th pick in the first round, so they will have their No. 41 selection in round two and 74 in round three. Texans have their second-round pick at No. 45 and Philadelphia's third-round pick at 96. 

Let's delve into a speculative midseason NFL 2024 Mock Draft for the AFC South Day 2. The season's pulse quickens as the NFL Draft 2024 approaches. Here is a look at each team's potential selections, strengths, and possible impacts on the team's future performances in round two and three on Day 2.

With the No. 39 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Mocks midseason mock draft, the Titans select Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas. Surrounding Will Levis with weapons and easing the Derek Henry workload is the goal in the 2024 draft for the Titans; Sanders fits right in and serves that purpose. 

At 6'4" and 245 lbs, Ja'Tavion Sanders is an impressive tight end who has already earned All-Big-12 First Team and John Mackey Award semi-finalist honors. Sanders displays a knack for making plays in the vertical passing game and is equally as adept at turning short throws into significant gains with his run-after-catch ability. He can line up in various spots on the field, ranging from an in-line tight end to a slot wide receiver.

Despite his immense talent as a receiver, Sanders still has room to grow as a blocker. He does an excellent job of cutting off the backside of a run, but his push on the front side is often not sustained.

Overall, Sanders is a dynamic receiving threat who can win vertically, convert short throws into big plays, and create matchup problems for his opponents.

With the No. 41 overall selection in the 2024 NFL midseason mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Patrick Paul, OT, Houston. Getting Anthony Richardson protection and keeping him healthy is a top priority in Indianapolis; Paul is that guy. 

In his first year of 2019, Paul saw action in three games and had 178 snaps at left tackle, allowing one QB hurry, three QB hits, and no sacks. In his sophomore season of 2020, Paul played in two games and 147 snaps, giving up two QB hurries but no QB hits or sacks. As a junior in 2021, Paul had 14 games and 964 snaps, all at left tackle, yielding 11 QB hurries, four QB hits, and three sacks.

Lastly, in his senior year of 2022, Paul had 12 games and 832 snaps while playing left tackle, resulting in 12 QB hurries, three QB hits, and one sack.

Paul has the agility to predict plays, is good at trapping and bending his knees, and has adequate core strength to absorb a bull rush. He can make paths at the second level if he hits the target, has knowledge of blocking angles, and uses his body positioning to his advantage. He is disciplined and has awareness, works well in space, and has low hips for leverage against shorter defenders. He is best on the outside due to his height and athleticism, but he is also capable of blocking on the move. He can dip his shoulder and move his feet to get outside leverage when needed and is solid and low coming out of his stance, making him excellent at short-yardage situations.

Paul will anchor the Colt's O-line and establish a formidable layer of protection in Lucas Oil Field for the next decade. He is a steal at No. 41 and should have gone late 20s.

At No. 45 overall and 13th in the second round, the Houston Texans select LSU DL Masson Smith. Adding Smith to Will Anderson JR will create the scariest pass rush in the AFC South. Be afraid, Trevor Lawrence. 

According to ESPN, Maason Smith of Terrebonne High School was rated as a 4-star recruit, and 247 Sports gave him a 5-star grade. Subsequently, LSU heavily recruited Smith, ultimately leading him to join the university after high school. As a freshman in 2021, Smith participated in nine contests, playing 354 plays for the Tigers and being credited with 12 tackles, two assists, and 12 stops.

Additionally, he demonstrated his pass-rushing skills with 16 pressures, consisting of 12 QB hurries, no QB hits, and four sacks. However, due to an injury in 2022, Smith could only take part in one game, taking part in eight plays and not achieving any tackles, assists, or stops.

Smith showcases an impressive closing speed and usually finishes off plays successfully. His straight-line speed and range of tackling could be improved, but he is still a capable run defender who can set the edge. In Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked No.12 - it was noted that he reached 19.5 mph on GPS and achieved an 11-foot standing vertical jump. His length and strength are enough to ward off offensive linemen, but he should use it better. 

He usually keeps his pad level low and uses the power to push the pocket with the bull rush, but he could use more work at the point of attack. He is also an agile run-stopper at the end, able to extend and grab backs from the backside due to his agility and hustle. 

Smith's physicality and high motor make him a formidable opponent, and his spin move is of NFL caliber. The Texans score well with this pick and are building a solid team on both sides of the ball. Smith would be a top-15 pick if it wasent for this senseless injury, at 45 he is a steal.

In round three at pick No.9 of the 2024 NFL Mocks midseason mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts select D.J. James, CB Auburn. The Colts need help on the defense, and this fills a need with a stellar corner. 

At 6'1" and 174 lbs, D.J. James was named to the Second team all-SEC in 2022. He is described as a "good quality starting-caliber CB2 for their secondary". His strengths include coverage versatility, quick feet, and coverage technique. His weaknesses include long speed, eye discipline, and ball production.

When targeted, James allowed less than 41 percent completion. He is capable of man and zone coverages, and his competitive nature is evident at the catch point. James decreases the size of throwing lanes and has a feisty mentality and willingness to tackle. He projects best as an off-man and cover-3 zone corner to protect the field's deep portion. His trigger can be aggressive, leaving him susceptible to double moves and fakes. He may also need to improve his long speed and ability to handle and shed stalk blocks. His more petite frame may raise concerns about the physicality of the NFL game.

The Colts got a great CB early in the third round and a viable CB2 to hold down the new slate of Wes drafted by the Titans and Texans.

At No 95 overall, the Jacksonville Jaguars select RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame. Taking a workhorse RB to compliment Travis Etienne and relieve some of his carries will make him more effective and explosive. 

The recruit Estime of St Joseph Regional High School was given a 3-star evaluation by ESPN and a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After graduating high school, Estime attended Notre Dame. In 2021, as a freshman, he took part in 5 games with the Fighting Irish.

During these games, he tallied up 60 yards on seven carries, averaging 8.6 yards per carry with no touchdowns and no fumbles. He had no receptions for no yards in the passing game. In 2022, he participated in 12 games and achieved 811 yards by running 142 times, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, with 11 touchdowns and three fumbles. His receptions totaled 8 for 127 yards.

This scouting report evaluates the advantages of Estime. He is a swift and agile athlete, demonstrating good sight and composure with natural running abilities. He is decisive and moves quickly from north to south. He has good burst and speed, fair lateral movement, and skill to sidestep opponents and take runs outside. He shows good awareness and above-average vision, making quick cuts and using patience and footwork to maneuver through defenders. He also has the velocity to outpace opponents, plus the flexibility to turn a corner and remain close to top speed. He is a balanced runner with a low padding height and is strong enough to stay in motion after initial contact.

It may be jumping the gun to take Estime in the third round, but he probably won't be there at the Jaguar's next pick, and he is a perfect fit for Doug Pederson. He is everything the Jaguars needed from Tank Bigsby, but he is capable. This pick makes for a devastating and young running game for Trevor Lawrence. 

With the last pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Mocks midseason mock draft of the AFC South, the Houston Texans select Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia. The idea behind this pick for the Texans is to bolster the inner line and allow CJ Stroud to develop a tush-push play. 

Van Pran, a 6'4", 310lb Junior from Southeastern Georgia Bulldogs, is a highly regarded four-star recruit and an Under Armour All-America Game participant. His competitive nature and high motor make him a top prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. 

His athleticism and football IQ are evident in his ability to fit into zone-blocking schemes and quickly climb to the second level to pick off linebackers. He is proficient in duo blocks, driving and washing defenders out of the gap. His field vision is impressive, as he can quickly identify A-gap blitzes and make the right decisions. When pulling, he can punish second-level defenders in space.