NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
With the 2020 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared over the course of the three-day event.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Houston Texans
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 40 | DT Ross Blacklock |
| 3 | 90 | LB Jonathan Greenard |
| 4 | 126 | OT Charlie Heck |
| 4 | 141 | CB John Reid |
| 5 | 171 | WR Isaiah Coulter |
Grade: C+
Houston's draft haul almost certainly would have looked better if it had a first-round pick, but there isn't a whole lot to get excited about with the rest of the group, either. While Blacklock and Greenard certainly fill needs on the defensive front, it's a big ask to count on fourth-rounders to be the difference-makers on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. The Texans would have been better-suited trading down from their second-rounder to recoup some picks and give them more chances to hit big in the middle rounds.
Indianapolis Colts
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | WR Michael Pittman Jr. |
| 2 | 41 | RB Jonathan Taylor |
| 3 | 85 | S Julian Blackmon |
| 4 | 122 | QB Jacob Eason |
| 5 | 149 | G Danny Pinter |
| 6 | 193 | DT Rob Windsor |
| 6 | 211 | DB Isaiah Rodgers |
| 6 | 212 | WR Dezmon Patmon |
| 6 | 213 | LB Jordan Glasgow |
Grade: B
The Colts were without a Day 1 pick after their offseason trade for DeForest Buckner, but they managed to find a few potential impact players and borderline first-round talents in Pittman and Taylor. Overall, it's a pretty good class that could become great if they can make the most of Eason. The Washington quarterback fell in the draft, perhaps due to poor combine interviews, but there's no denying his physical talent. He's an interesting option to have develop behind Philip Rivers.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | CB C.J. Henderson |
| 1 | 20 | DE K'Lavon Chaisson |
| 2 | 42 | WR Laviska Shenault Jr. |
| 3 | 73 | DT DaVon Hamilton |
| 4 | 116 | OT Ben Bartch |
| 4 | 137 | CB Josiah Scott |
| 4 | 140 | LB Shaquille Quarterman |
| 5 | 157 | S Daniel Thomas |
| 5 | 165 | WR Collin Johnson |
| 6 | 189 | QB Jake Luton |
| 6 | 206 | TE Tyler Davis |
| 7 | 223 | CB Chris Claybrooks |
Grade: A
The Jaguars needed to nail this draft after shipping out so many talented players, and they may have done just that. Henderson and Chaisson are dynamic talents at the two most important positions on the defensive side of the ball, and Shenault likely would have been selected in the first among a less stacked receiver class. Hamilton fills a need on the defensive interior and Bartch was one of the draft's most intriguing mid-round offensive linemen. Jacksonville really couldn't have done much better.
Tennessee Titans
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | OT Isaiah Wilson |
| 2 | 61 | CB Kristian Fulton |
| 3 | 93 | RB Darrynton Evans |
| 5 | 174 | DT Larrell Murchison |
| 7 | 224 | QB Cole McDonald |
| 7 | 243 | DB Chris Jackson |
Grade: B-
Wilson was an obvious fit to replace Jack Conklin at right tackle, but it's easy to question the value of taking him at the end of the first round. And with an opportunity to potentially add a starter at a position of need in the third, it wasn't the best investment to take a complementary running back to play alongside workhorse Derrick Henry. Capitalizing on Fulton's surprising slide is what really saves this class and gives it the potential to look good long term. The LSU standout, who many expected to go in the opening round, could be an impact player from Day 1.