AFC South stock up, down at midpoint: Titans have new QB1

At the season's midpoint, here's whose stock is up and down in the AFC South. 

Stock up

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans: Levis has had only one start, but it’s clear the Titans need to roll with the rookie for their remaining 10 games as opposed to trotting Ryan Tannehill back out there to not throw touchdown passes. It took Levis two quarters to match the number of touchdowns Tannehill had in six games, and he became just the third player in NFL history with four or more touchdown passes in his first career start. 

Tennessee’s passing game also looked much more formidable with Levis running the show than the 35-year-old Tannehill, who’s in the final year of his contract. The Titans would be wise to use the final 10 games of the year to evaluate Levis and decide if he’s worth building around next season when the team is expected to overhaul its roster.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts: While Michael Pittman Jr. is Indy’s No. 1 receiver, it may not be long before Downs takes that title away from him. The rookie third-round pick has really come into his own the last four weeks, and he has just 10 fewer receptions and 56 fewer yards than Pittman Jr.

With Gardner Minshew at QB, Downs has been targeted 29 times over the last four games, logging 23 receptions, 315 yards and two touchdowns, including his first career 100-yard game. He’s on pace to break the franchise’s rookie record for receptions in a season (85) and he’s on track to become the second Colts rookie to top 1,000 yards.

Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: When discussing the top tight ends in the NFL, that conversation typically begins with Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, San Francisco’s George Kittle, Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews. But perhaps Engram now belongs in that conversation with the season he’s having.

Among TEs with 30 or more targets, Engram ranks first in yards after the catch (296), third in receptions (51), targets (59) and contested catch percentage (75), fourth in receiving yards (442) and eighth in yards per route run (1.62). He’s one of eight players to have one drop or fewer. Engram leads the Jaguars receptions and targets, and he’s third in yards.

Stock down

Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans: After a solid 939-yard rookie season last year, the Texans presumably believed Pierce would have a breakout Year 2. However, he’s seemingly regressed, averaging 1.3 fewer yards per carry and nearly 30 fewer rushing yards per game.

Backup Devin Singletary has had double-digit carries each of the last two weeks, and Pierce could be in danger of losing his starting spot if he doesn’t get his act together. He’s rushed for 50 yards or more just twice this season, and he’s been held without a touchdown in six of seven games.

Travon Walker, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags took Walker No. 1 overall in 2022 banking on him becoming the next Myles Garrett. And while he had a decent rookie season (43 pressures, 30 hurries, 3.5 sacks), he hasn’t taken that next step in his development this year. 

It can also be argued that Walker isn’t even a top-five pass-rusher from his draft class. Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson (14) and James Houston (eight), New York’s Kayvon Thibodeaux (12.5), Kansas City’s George Karlaftis (12) and Seattle’s Boye Mafe (eight) all have more career sacks than Walker’s seven. His failure to affect the QB led Jacksonville to (unsuccessfully) seek pass-rushing help at the trade deadline.

Andre Dillard, OT, Tennessee Titans: Statistically speaking, Dillard is arguably the worst left tackle in the NFL. Among offensive linemen, he’s allowed a league-high seven sacks, and he’s tied for the third-most QB hits (seven) and sixth-most pressures (27) allowed this season. 

Dillard has also surrendered 13 more pressures, four more sacks, four more hurries and three more QB hits than any other Titans offensive lineman, leading to his losing his left tackle job to Nicholas Petit-Frere.