The NFL offseason is a time for speculation, so speculate we will! Every season a few players come out of nowhere to become stars. Who could follow that mold in the AFC South this fall?
AFC South Position Rankings:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
Here's a few options for rookies or young players who could be in for a breakout year.
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RB Leonard Fournette — Jacksonville
This should come as no surprise. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft is going to get a ton of looks on a bad Jacksonville team, and should be the focal point of the offense as Blake Bortles looks to get back on track after a rough 2016 season.
Fournette is NFL ready and should be able to quickly pick up where he left off at LSU. He should be one of the best rookies in the NFL in 2017.
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WR Braxton Miller — Houston
The Texans struggled in the passing game last year. Some of it was Brock Osweiler's fault, some was on the offensive line, and some was on the receivers. Braxton Miller didn't get a ton of opportunities, but he's another year into his position change from quarterback and will have another year of experience in the office to work with.
Miller caught 15 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in 10 games last year.
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WR Tajae Sharpe — Tennessee
Sharpe was solid in his rookie NFL season last year, catching 41 passes for 522 yards and two scores. He has the potential to be even better this year, especially considering the weapons around him.
Defenses will have to focus on Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker and No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis, and that's before you toss in one of the best tight ends in the league — Delanie Walker. Sharpe shouldn't see a double team all season.
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TE Erik Swoope — Indianapolis
A basketball player turned tight end from Miami (we've heard that before…), Swoope has been a developmental project for the Colts for a couple of years. Last year in his first on-field action Swoope caught 15 passes for 297 yards and touchdown.
Now, with Dwayne Allen in New England, Swoope is the No. 2 tight end for the Colts and will have an expanded role behind Jack Doyle. Indianapolis has effectively used two tight ends the entirety of Andrew Luck's tenure at quarterback, and Swoope could be in for a big season.
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LB Myles Jack — Jacksonville
A torn meniscus at UCLA hurt Jack's draft stock in 2016 and he fell to the second round, where Jacksonville grabbed him. Jack eventually totaled 18 tackles and a half sack in 2016.
Those who watched him in college know he's capable of much, much more, and Jaguars fans are hoping he takes a big step forward in 2017.
