Maurice Jones-Drew Names AFC South Among the Toughest Divisions in the AFC

Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew shares his honest thoughts on the AFC South ahead of the 2026 season.

by Athlon Sports
Maurice Jones-Drew Names AFC South Among the Toughest Divisions in the AFC

Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew shares his honest thoughts on the AFC South ahead of the 2026 season.

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts have been overlooked for many years. They have even been labeled the worst division in the AFC in recent seasons, but some believe that is going to change.

One individual who believes that is the case is former Jaguars running back and NFL legend Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew was quick to share his thoughts on the division, even labeling it "one of the toughest divisions in the AFC."

Maurice Jones-Drew Praises Titans, Texans, Colts and Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

"This is one of the toughest divisions in the AFC. People may say 'Are you kidding me? What's going on?' If you look at the players on the Tennessee Titans, they have ball players there they just weren't able to put it together with a rookie quarterback last year. Jeffery Simmons is one of the top defensive linemen in the game. One of the most unblockable defensive linemen in the game. When you go look at the Houston Texans and the way that defense has played, the bookends, and CJ Stroud. If they can get him back in the middle of the second-year or rookie form, when he was able to run the football or was able to spread the ball around. Nico Collins is a big weapon there as well," Jones-Drew said on the NFL Network.

Jones-Drew would then go on to discuss the other teams remaining in the division.

"We haven't even gone to Indianapolis, who had arguably the best quarterback to play in our game for a long time. There's been talent there, right. They have always drafted well and have done a great job. Daniel Jones gets hurt, but Jonathan Taylor and company, they were rolling. They were doing some great things, they just had a slide, and as Gerald talked about, they were the No. 1 team in the NFL until about Week 8. They were the only undefeated team or had one loss. There's a ton of talent there, and then you talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars, and what they were able to do, and how they were able to overcome after that loss to the Rams in London, and how they bounced back. It's a very young division is what I guess I am trying to get to. It's a young division, with young quarterbacks, young playmakers, and the future looks bright for the AFC South," Jones-Drew said on the NFL Network.

Jones-Drew would explain that the toughness in the division is more than the roster talent that these teams have.

"Trying to win week after week after week is tough. To go into Houston and play, or going to Indy and trying to win a game on the road is tough. Then going to Jacksonville and trying to play in that heat is going to be tough as well. So, I think they don't get enough credit for what they do. I am so excited that the Jags hired Liam Coen to bring them that confidence and that swagger that he had with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and how he was able to turn that offense around. You see the same thing here, and how in his second year here you're going to see the young athletes and the young playmakers that they have in Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr., and defensively. All of these guys you're going to see them explode, because they are in the same system two years in a row, which is going to be exciting to see," Jones-Drew said on the NFL Network.

Maurice Jones-Drew Backs Titans for Worst-to-First Run

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) sets to throw in drills during OTAs at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, June 8, 2026.

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

He would then go into detail that the Titans could be a sneaky team to watch.

"Yeah, there's a lot of teams who go from worst to first, and that happened last year with the Jaguars. Don't be surprised if it's the Tennessee Titans," Jones-Drew said on the NFL Network.

The Titans had a major roster overhaul this offseason, and fans are ready for some change after multiple seasons of unfortunate performances.

Published:
by Athlon Sports

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