NFL free-agency grades: AFC South

With the most important transactions now complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during free agency.

NFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH
AFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH

Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson was sacked more than any other quarterback in the league last season, and it wasn't that close. Therefore, Houston was expected to use its ample cap space to aggressively pursue top offensive linemen in free agency.

That didn't happen.

Instead, the Texans completely ignored the position until they signed Kalil late last week. And the former fourth overall pick is far from the answer, considering he finished two of the last three seasons on injured reserve and has often been a human turnstile on the field. It's a confusing approach considering how long Houston had waited to find a franchise-caliber quarterback.

At least the Texans' attempts to improve their secondary were more successful. Mathieu leaving is a blow, but considering his injury history, not paying him was the right call. Gipson will be almost as effective at a far cheaper price, while Roby is a solid, if expensive, addition, especially if he's used more in the slot than as an outside corner.

In the end, though, Houston's failure to protect Watson is too significant of an issue for the team to receive a good grade.

Grade: C-

Indianapolis Colts

Those hoping the cap-rich Colts would shower the top free agents with mountains of cash were surely left disappointed. Despite having more money to spend than any other team, Indianapolis opted to re-sign its own players and made just one splash on the open market by inking Houston.

But if you had listened to general manager Chris Ballard over the past two years, you'd have known a spending spree was never likely to happen. Put simply, the Colts are committed to building through the draft. Sure, they did chase the likes of C.J. Mosley in free agency, but wouldn't pay more than their own valuations.

It's hard to argue with the strategy. Houston filled Indy's biggest need and was a relative steal at $24 million over two years. Funchess, while a slight overpay at $10 million, could have an Eric Ebron-like breakout playing with Andrew Luck. Both Desir and Glowinski, two key pieces unearthed in 2018, inked below-market value deals.

Indy could've easily done much more, and if Frank Reich's team struggles early in the season, it'll face criticism for sitting on more than $70 million. But by upgrading the roster's two biggest needs - pass-rusher and receiver - and with essentially every starter on both sides of the ball returning from last year's playoff team, it's hard to find too much fault right now.

Grade: B+

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars needed to gut a significant portion of their roster to do it, but they finally found an answer under center this offseason. Now, Bortles is out and Foles is in as Jacksonville attempts to make another deep postseason run before its aging defense needs to be revamped. The Eagles legend was easily the best quarterback available, and the Jaguars needed a veteran who could slide into the offense relatively easily. The move made too much sense not to happen.

What doesn't make sense is the Jaguars' unwillingness to push for a better deal. Jacksonville reportedly gave Foles a $22-million-a-year contract with more than $50 million in guarantees without a fight despite being the only team interested in doing so. Perhaps a few million dollars isn't worth sweating, but the lack of flexibility in this deal could come back to haunt the front office.

In the end, Foles was essentially the only notable signing the Jaguars made. And while he's obviously an upgrade over Bortles, it's fair to question if he's enough of one to justify the cost. There are valid concerns about how the former Super Bowl MVP will perform across a 16-game season outside of the Eagles' system and without their stellar supporting cast.

Grade: C+

Tennessee Titans

The Titans weren't too far behind the Colts and the Texans last season, but they still entered free agency with significant holes to fill if they hoped to compete for the AFC South title. A regressing offensive line was the main unit in need of reinforcements, and Tennessee got a perfect fit in Saffold, a hard-nosed run blocker who should reinvigorate the group with his toughness while helping to establish Mike Vrabel's run-first philosophy. The only concern is that at 30 years old, Saffold could decline shortly into his four-year deal that averages $11 million.

If the Titans overpaid slightly for Saffold, they made up for it with stellar moves elsewhere. Wake might be 37 years old, but he appears to have plenty of juice left and his contract is basically a one-year, $10-million deal. Meanwhile, Vaccaro was brought back for a fraction of the price of other top safeties. And considering Marcus Mariota's injury history, a 2020 fourth-round pick was more than worth it for an elite backup like Tannehill - especially considering the Dolphins agreed to pay most of his reduced 2019 salary.

Humphries received Tennessee's other big free-agent contract. The Titans desperately needed receiving help out of the slot, and the former Buccaneer is a sure-handed 26-year-old who's coming off his most productive season. However, considering the strong pass-catchers in the upcoming draft, it's fair to question whether paying just a solid slot receiver $9 million annually was the right move.

Grade: B+

NFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH
AFC
EAST | SOUTH | WEST | NORTH