The AFC’s latest buzz has a little something for each of the Colts, Jaguars and Titans, with a mix of praise for established veterans and a spotlight on a young tight end trying to carve out a bigger role.
In Indianapolis, Jonathan Taylor landed on Jeremy Fowler’s top-10 running backs list, and one anonymous NFL coordinator singled out exactly what makes him so dangerous: “Really special in space. Once he hits the second and third levels with some space to operate, he’s uniquely talented.”
Tyler Warren also cracked Fowler’s top-10 tight ends after his first NFL season, and the compliments came with plenty of detail. An NFC scout said, “He lived up to expectations,” and added, “He’s a true Y who can handle the point-of-attack run game assignments, but carried over his versatile, game-impacting receiving ability that showed up during his Penn State days. He can kick your ass in the run game on one play and win as a receiver on the next.”
Quenton Nelson, meanwhile, remained in the conversation among the league’s best interior linemen. ESPN had the veteran Colts guard ranked among the top players at his spot, with one NFC executive saying, “Some drop-off but still elite,” before adding, “[He] was No. 1 for a long time, but the Smiths (Tyler and Trey) and [Quinn] Meinerz are on his heels…Can anchor, bend, wide. Not as dominant as before, but better than he was in 2024.”
Jacksonville got its own nods in Fowler’s quarterback and pass-rusher rankings. Trevor Lawrence earned an honorable mention from a veteran AFC offensive coach, who said, “He has controlled his turnovers and just has a better understanding of what defenses are trying to do against him.
… He plays better ball when the offensive infrastructure and personnel around him set him up for success instead of asking him to do everything on your own. Liam [Coen] did a nice job in Year 1 of giving him the answers to the test pre-snap.”
Josh Hines-Allen also drew notice on the pass-rusher list. An anonymous NFC scout described him this way: “Not elite but consistently very good, with a quality power-rush game,”
In Tennessee, Gunnar Helm is already looking beyond his rookie year after setting a franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end. He said, “There’s always something to go out there and do, always something to prove, and there’s somebody always coming for your spot,” and added, “There’s room for improvement everywhere for me, and that’s how I am attacking this offseason.”
Titans coach Robert Saleh sounded encouraged by what he’s seen so far. “Gunnar looks good, man,” Saleh said.
“He looks like a legit dude - from what he was a year ago to what he is now, especially physically. Again, once pads come on, we’ll be able to decide all that, but like all these guys, hopefully they take a big jump and find a way to grab the bull by the horns and take advantage of their opps.”
In Other News...
Colts Just Set The Stage For A Nostalgic 2026 At Lucas Oil
The Colts are already giving fans a reason to circle Lucas Oil Stadium for 2026, unveiling a home slate built around familiar touchpoints, special causes and a few nods to the franchises past. The lineup includes the home opener against the Ravens, a Rivalry Uniform Game against the Texans, White Out, Salute to Service, Kicking The Stigma, My Cause My Cleats, Indiana Nights and the regular-season finale against the Jaguars.
For a team that has leaned into presentation as much as tradition, the schedule feels designed to keep the building tied to both its history and its identity. One of the biggest moments on that calendar will come with a Ring of Honor celebration for Adam Vinatieri at Lucas Oil Stadium, while other dates should give the Colts a chance to turn game days into something closer to an event, even before the football takes center stage. [Read more 🡒]
Another Colts Quarterback Twist Could Put This Backup In Play
The Colts quarterback room is still taking shape for 2026, and the expectation around the league is that Indianapolis will carry three passers. Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard appear positioned to be part of that mix, which would leave the final spot as the one most worth watching as the roster comes together.
Easton Stick is one name that fits the profile, especially with his prior link to Shane Steichen from their time together in Los Angeles. If the Colts do end up with the room they have in mind, Stick would be looking at a depth role behind Jones and Leonard, but the path to even getting that chance may depend on how the rest of the quarterback situation settles in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Roster Squeeze At Tight End Again
Training camp is about to put the Colts back in a familiar roster math problem at tight end. Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree look like the safest names in the room, while the rest of the group has to fight for whatever is left once the front office starts trimming toward the final 53.
Will Mallory appears to have the inside track on the fourth spot, but he is not treated as a lock, which keeps the competition open heading into camp. The bigger wrinkle is whether Indianapolis even carries four tight ends at all, since going lighter there would free up room for help elsewhere on the roster. [Read more 🡒]