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Houston Texans

Duane Brown and Brian Cushing said they didn’t play dirty against the Jaguars, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

McClain’s midseason award winners.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts' run defense has been very unpredictable, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Indianapolis has turnover issues, which are making it very difficult to get on track for a win, says Phil Richards of the Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike Sims-Walker second stint with the Jaguars lasted two games as he’s now on IR. The team added Brian Robiskie off waivers from Cleveland, says Vito Stellino.

The schedule eases up after the bye, says Tania Ganguli of the T-U.

Tennessee Titans

Rookie defensive tackles Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug are very different, but they are both making big contributions to the Titans, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Safety Anthony Smith got fined $7,500 for a hit on Curtis Painter, reports Wyatt.

List the NFL teams who lack weapons in the passing game and the Jacksonville Jaguars rank high. So do the Cleveland Browns.

So while it’s good that Jacksonville made a move Wedneday to try to get better, by getting Brian Robiskie off waivers from Cleveland, it’s not dissimilar to their grabbing Mike Sims-Walker after he was cut loose by the St. Louis Rams.

Guys who are not good enough to help Cleveland or St. Louis are unlikely to be of much help to Jacksonville, unless they are transformed by a change of scenery and coaching.

The Jaguars put Sims-Walker, who recently rejoined them, on injured reserve with a knee problem to make room for Robiskie.

Robiskie now has time to immerse himself in the Jaguars’ system since they are in a bye week, and perhaps he can have a role in their next game, Nov. 13 against the Colts in Indianapolis.

What does he offer? I asked Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.

"He has better size than some of their smaller receivers, but he's not nearly as shifty or explosive as those guys," Williamson said. "Robiskie is a pure possession guy that struggles to separate and doesn’t have outstanding physicality. In essence, he is a jack of all trades and a master of none.""

If he can be an effective possession guy, it can't hurt the Jaguars to have him. But the sort of receiver they need comes early in the April draft, where there is some great talent at the position.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle: “To those people who say Gary Kubiak must be more like Mike Ditka or Jim Harbaugh or Bill Cowher, I would say this: The fastest way for a coach to lose a team is try to be something he is not. Players will quit on a phony in a heartbeat.” I agree that Kubiak can’t and shouldn’t change. But if he’s not coaching a playoff team this season, his replacement will have a different personality.

If the Texans win Sunday, it should be the start of something big. If they lose, it’s time to push the panic button. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle assesses.

Tim Jamison isn’t satisfied after a breakout game, says Jeffrey Martin of the Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts' fortunes have changed since the last time they played the Saints, writes Mike Chappell of The Star. "We've been to the mountaintop," defensive end Robert Mathis said. "We're at the valley low right now."

Pat McAfee looks at kickoffs and thinks, no return, no risk, writes Phil Richards of The Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Receiver Mike Sims-Walker is rejoining the Jaguars, writes Tania Ganguli of the Times-Union. The Jaguars told him before the lockout that they wouldn’t re-sign him as a free agent, so it’s hard to get too excited about his return. Still, he should add something to a bad group.

Injuries mean offensive tackle remains a concern, says Vito Stellino of the T-U.

Tennessee Titans

Things went south for the Titans after the bye last year and they need to avoid a repeat, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

The Titans took a hard look at receiver Brandon Lloyd, according to Mike Munchak. Now they intend to get Donnie Avery involved, says John Glennon of The Tennessean. Munchak also said the Titans would take a look at a healthy Terrell Owens. Please note that taking a look and signing are miles apart.

Hot topics on Texans-Titans from Glennon.

Our free-agent tracker is up and running. Sort through the available talent pool by team or by Scouts Inc. grade. If you’re an Insider, you can also get a scouting report.

I scanned though it for guys in the division who Scouts Inc. believes rate a 75 or better plugging into its rating scale:

90-100: Elite Player

Player demonstrates rare abilities and can create mismatches that have an obvious impact on the game. ... Premier NFL player who has all the skills to consistently play at a championship level. ... Rates as one of the top players at his position in the league.

80-89: Outstanding Player

Player has abilities to create mismatches versus most opponents in the NFL. ... A feature player who has an impact on the outcome of the game. ... Cannot be shut down by a single player and plays on a consistent level week in and week out.

70-79: Good Starter

Solid starter who is close to being an outstanding player. ... Has few weaknesses and usually will win his individual matchup but does not dominate in every game, especially when matched up against the top players in the league.

• Titans DE Jason Babin -- 84
• Texans FB Vonta Leach -- 79
• Titans LB Stephen Tulloch -- 79
• Texans G Mike Brisiel -- 78
• Jaguars WR Mike Sims-Walker -- 78
• Colts S Melvin Bullitt -- 77
• Colts LB Clint Session -- 77
• Colts RB Joseph Addai -- 76
• Jaguars LB Justin Durant -- 75
• Jaguars LB Kirk Morrison -- 75
• Titans WR Randy Moss -- 75

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each AFC South team:

Houston Texans

1. Finally fix the secondary: Not only was the Texans’ secondary awful in coverage last season, but it also needs some stabilizing veteran leadership on the back end of this revamped defense. A safety like Eric Weddle could help cure both issues. There are quite a few safeties in this crop of free agents who would be clear upgrades for Houston. Of course, we have to discuss Nnamdi Asomugha -- and the Texans should certainly be right in the thick of those negotiations. If they can’t land Asomugha, the Texans could pursue Johnathan Joseph or Ike Taylor, who could help fix some leaks.

2. Work the cap: Houston is pretty tight up against the cap as it stands right now. But the team has serious needs on defense -- particularly in the secondary. In order to get the help they need, the Texans might have to restructure a few contracts or let a current player or two go.

3. Lock up Vonta Leach: This offense pretty much has it all. Wideout Andre Johnson makes everyone around him better in just so many ways. And the running game was exceptional last season. But Leach is a key component in that running game. And no fullback opens holes like this guy. Houston should bring him back and dedicate the rest of its free-agent moves to the defense.

Top five free agents: Leach, WR Jacoby Jones, S Bernard Pollard, DE Mark Anderson and QB Matt Leinart.

Indianapolis Colts

1. Get Peyton Manning’s extension done: Manning has been franchised and had surgery again on his neck recently. But there is little doubt who the face of this franchise is. Getting him locked up long term is something that Indianapolis just needs to get done.

2. Get a starting safety signed: Melvin Bullitt is a free agent. He is a solid player, and bringing him back makes a lot of sense. Outside of Antoine Bethea, who is vastly underrated, Indy has very little at this position. The Colts need to get a starter under contract. Also on defense, bringing back linebacker Clint Session, who is a superb fit in this scheme, and adding defensive tackle help also should be priorities if they can fit it under the cap.

3. Add running back help: This could come in the form of bringing back the reliable Joseph Addai. Well, he is reliable when he is healthy. And Addai has a great grasp of the Colts’ offense. I am very high on 2011 draft pick Delone Carter and maybe the light goes on for Donald Brown. But the Colts do need someone in their backfield who can pass protect and can be trusted. In this capacity, Addai seems to be worth more to the Colts than to any other team.

Top five free agents: Manning (franchised), Session, Addai, Bullitt and OT Charlie Johnson.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Address holes at linebacker: Linebackers Justin Durant and Kirk Morrison are up for free agency. I would suggest bringing one of those two back and then finding an upgrade from a coverage standpoint at a starting linebacker position to go along with the steady Daryl Smith. James Anderson would be an excellent target, and if healthy, so would another Panther -- Thomas Davis.

2. Address holes at safety: Jacksonville featured one of the worst secondaries in football last season. The Jags tried many bodies at safety, but it yielded minimal results. This is a very strong free-agent safety class, and the Jaguars need to add a starter or two they can count on week after week.

3. Spend! The Jaguars have quite a bit of money to spend in free agency, and under the new rules, they will have to spend. This free-agency period is like none we have ever seen and the action could be fast and furious. Jacksonville needs to stay the course and make wise financial decisions as it tries to add players who can mostly upgrade a hurting defense.

Top free agents: Marcedes Lewis (franchised), WR Mike Sims-Walker, Durant and Morrison.

Tennessee Titans

1. Revamp the Interior offensive line: Although they didn’t play great in 2010, I have faith in the Titans’ offensive tackles. But the interior of the line is a train wreck. That won’t do with a rookie quarterback behind center and in an offense that will be extremely run-heavy. Chris Johnson had little room to run last season. That needs to change. Marshal Yanda and Harvey Dahl would be great targets here.

2. Add a veteran quarterback: Needless to say, the Titans cannot enter the season with just the quarterbacks they currently have on their roster. They must bring in a veteran with some experience. Donovan McNabb would be high on my list. Matt Hasselbeck might also fit the bill.

3. Fortify every level of the defense: Presently, Tennessee is very young at linebacker, just adequate at safety and could lose three of its defensive ends. Making matters more difficult, the team is also installing a different version of the 4-3 defense. The Titans do have some money to spend in free agency. It would be wise if they used those funds on young free-agent talent, as it appears this team is now rebuilding from the ground up. Every level of the defense could use reinforcement.

Top five free agents: DE Jason Babin, LB Stephen Tulloch, WR Randy Moss, DE Dave Ball and DE Jacob Ford.

Here’s ESPN’s unofficial list of free agents. You can also navigate to other divisions.

We’ll get an official list later today.

A couple of notes on these:

• Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins has retired.
• Jacksonville told receiver Mike Sims-Walker before the lockout that it would not look to re-sign him.
• Houston gave the same indication to safety Bernard Pollard.
• With David Garrard and Luke McCown under contract and Blaine Gabbert drafted 12th overall, Jacksonville is highly unlikely to negotiate with Trent Edwards or Todd Bouman.

The Titans have plenty of areas that could use an upgrade. And they look to have a fair amount of money to spend to improve their roster.

I list their top three needs as interior offensive line, middle linebacker and wide receiver when considering star-in-the-making Kenny Britt’s off-the-field issues. But Tennessee absolutely needs to find a veteran quarterback. And it could use more help at tight end behind Jared Cook, safety and defensive tackle. The Titans also have to get Chris Johnson’s contract situation squared away.

Marshal Yanda: Yanda would be a favorite of head coach Mike Munchak and O-line coach Bruce Matthews. He is tough, smart, versatile and technically sound. And he might just be the best offensive lineman up for free agency. In fact, I bet Yanda would be a favorite of Jake Locker and Johnson, too. A fantastic consolation prize would be Harvey Dahl. Nasty to the core, Dahl would be a great addition at guard for Munchak’s squad.

Donovan McNabb: I can’t find many good fits for McNabb around the league at this point. But Tennessee does seem like a logical landing spot. Plagued with accuracy problems during his career, but also possessing very good strength and movement skills, McNabb and Locker have many similarities. McNabb might be the perfect bridge quarterback until the rookie is ready. Matt Hasselbeck would also be a suitable option as a mentor to Locker.

Mike Sims-Walker: Fully counting on Britt doesn’t seem too smart right now. But just think of the skill-player talent Tennessee would have with Britt, Sims-Walker, Cook and Johnson out of the backfield. That could make Locker’s transition to the pros much smoother. Of course, Sims-Walker isn’t the easiest guy to count on either, but his talent is obvious and his wide catching radius could be ideal for Locker. James Jones would also be a suitable option here.

Stephen Tulloch: Although he doesn’t make many big plays and is just average in coverage, Tulloch is a tackling machine who is in the prime of his career. Tennessee is going to be bigger on the defensive line and should be able to protect its linebackers better with this new scheme. A stabilizing force like Tulloch would help a very young group of second level defenders for Tennessee.

Vonta Leach: Despite his reputation, Ahmard Hall was not effective enough as a lead-blocking fullback for Tennessee last year. Leach is the best in the business at this skill. And stealing him away from Houston should greatly weaken the Texans’ ground attack. A bruiser like Leach would fit the new coaching staff’s persona to a T.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.

If the new CBA takes the shape that’s currently being reported, unrestricted free agency would arrive after four years. That was the standard number for players with expired contracts to hit free agency until 2010 -- the final year of the old CBA -- when players needed to have six years of experience.

So Independence Day could arrive for players who were trapped by the rule change in the final year of the last deal.

Here’s a team-by-team look at notable players who stand to be unrestricted now who didn’t know what their fate would be in a new labor agreement.

Houston Texans

OT Rashad Butler -- Was not great playing filling in for four games for a suspended Duane Brown, but they like him as their third tackle.

WR Jacoby Jones -- Flashes make him appealing, inconsistency makes him dispensable if someone wants to pay him more.

QB Matt Leinart -- Likely to move on to a place where he can rank better than No. 3.

Indianapolis Colts

RB Joseph Addai -- Has more value to the Colts because of system fit, so perhaps he won’t get a more attractive offer elsewhere.

S Melvin Bullitt -- There are a lot of safety-needy teams in the league, including the other three in the AFC South and he’s very steady.

DT Antonio Johnson -- Probably would only rank fourth on the inside. Has not been real effective but team seems to like him.

OL Charlie Johnson-- Versatility makes him valuable, but like Addai he may not fit other teams as well.

DT Daniel Muir -- Could still rank as the second interior lineman depending on development of third-round pick Drake Nevis.

LB Clint Session -- The Colts have a long history of letting young linebackers move on and plugging in the next guy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

LB Justin Durant -- All indications are the team is ready to find a veteran linebacker in free agency to take his place.

QB Trent Edwards -- No hope of a return with David Garrard, Blaine Gabbert and Luke McCown on the roster.

TE Marcedes Lewis -- He’s franchise tagged and that’s expected to hold in the new agreement, so he won’t really become free.

P Adam Podlesh -- They could do better, they could do worse.

WR Mike Sims-Walker -- The team told him before the lockout they’d be going another direction.

Tennessee Titans

DE Jacob Ford -- The Titans know his situational pass rushing value but are also looking to beef up and emphasize stopping the run.

FB Ahmard Hall -- An important guy for Chris Johnson and a rock on a team with little leadership even if he’s not an every-down guy.

G Leroy Harris -- The team’s faith in him as the starter at left guard appears to be unwavering.

LB Stephen Tulloch -- I suspect his view of his value and the league’s view are quite different.

It’s called fantasy football for many reasons, and one of those reasons is we can discuss a new top 200 list in June during a lockout. You know it’s allowing you to adjust your cheat sheets.

Here’s the AFC South representation on ESPN.com’s new pre-free agency list. They’ve used “fa” to denote scheduled free agents. We will leave them on even though we know players like Mike Sims-Walker, Randy Moss and Vince Young are leaving Jacksonville, Tennessee and Tennessee, respectively

• 2 -- Arian Foster, HOU
• 3 -- Chris Johnson, TEN
• 5 -- Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
• 9 -- Andre Johnson, HOU
• 22 -- Peyton Manning, IND
• 28 -- Reggie Wayne, IND
• 47 -- Matt Schaub, Hou
• 50 -- Dallas Clark, IND
• 57 -- Kenny Britt, TEN
• 63 -- Austin Collie, IND
• 82 -- Pierre Garcon, IND
• 83 -- Joseph Addai, IND-fa
• 87 -- Owen Daniels, HOU
• 94 -- Randy Moss, TEN-fa
• 103 -- Mike Thomas, JAC
• 105 -- Marcedes Lewis, JAC
• 126 -- David Garrard, Jac
• 138 -- Vince Young, Ten
• 143 -- Rashad Jennings, JAC
• 151 -- Neil Rackers, HOU
• 154 -- Rob Bironas, TEN
• 163 -- Ben Tate, HOU
• 172 -- Mike Sims-Walker, JAC-fa
• 181 -- Jared Cook, TEN
• 190 -- Adam Vinatieri, IND-fa
• 194 -- Jacoby Jones, HOU-fa

I wouldn’t touch Moss at 94, which is where I start to have some issues with this list. From what I saw up close, he’s finished. There are offensive coaches scattered around the country who were part of Jeff Fisher’s staff who would say the same.

Other thoughts:

• Of the guys rated above 90, Kenny Britt is probably the riskiest. Will he walk the straight line and can you count on him to produce week-to-week?
• Marcedes Lewis is too low. He’s going to remain the prime red-zone passing target. He’s going to be in amazing shape. I see a lot of guys I’d take him ahead of ranked above him (Beanie Wells? Seattle's Mike Williams? Moss?).
• David Garrard, meanwhile, seems too high at 126, though he is the 20th quarterback. I suppose if you draft your backup in the 12th round (in a 10-team league) that’s OK.
• It’s kind of silly to even play pretend with the likes of Joseph Addai, Moss, Sims-Walker, Young, Adam Vinatieri or Jacoby Jones at this point with no idea about where they will land.
• I think Mike Thomas is probably going to be a pretty good value if he’s the 103rd player taken.
• I’d go with Ben Tate as a reserve running back ahead of Rashad Jennings, just based on the mystery connected to Tate, who was hurt and lost for the year early last season.
• The best breakout candidate here is probably Jared Cook. You can certainly take a flier on him earlier than 181st knowing the Titans intend to feature him.

In two seasons, an often dinged-up Zach Miller has played in 29 games, managing less than 1.5 catches per contest.

Jaguars general manager Gene Smith recently raved to John Oehser from the team's web site about the versatile tight end.

Something about the two is incongruous.

Sure, Marcedes Lewis emerging as a top, two-way tight end last season created a bit of an obstacle. But the Jaguars are hardly loaded with playmakers. If Miller’s overflowing with so much potential, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter surely could have found more ways to allow us to see it.

From Oehser's piece:

Smith said Miller has the potential to continue to develop, and in a more pass-oriented offense could put up numbers on the scale of some of the NFL's better receiving tight ends. In the Jaguars' scheme, Smith said he adds an underrated element to an already productive, potent offense.

“He's an off-the-line guy more than an on-the-line guy at this point, but he has an outstanding skill set for a No. 2 tight end,” Smith said. “He has special qualities. It goes back to availability is the most important ability. He has to stay healthy.”

“…You have a Pro Bowl tight end, and behind him you have one of the best run-and-catch No. 2 tight ends in the whole NFL. We've got some guys in the running back group and the tight end group who can [complement] the wide receivers.

“If Zach Miller was with another team, he'd be doing what Dallas Clark does with the Colts. He just doesn't get many opportunities to get on the field. He's 6-4, 248 and runs a 4.5-(second) 40-yard dash. He's a tremendous athlete in terms of ball skills, and that combination really helps our receiving group.”

Why doesn’t Miller get many opportunities to get on the field? If you’re not great at wide receiver -- and the Jaguars haven’t been -- it’s not hard to get two tight ends on the field.

And about that already productive, potent offense? While the Jaguars were third in rushing last season, they were 27th in passing and 15th overall. Three of the NFL's 181 100-yard receiving games (1.7 percent) were by Jaguars. They've told Mike Sims-Walker, who accounted for two of those, that he won't be re-signed. They ranked 18th in points per game.

I like Miller. I was impressed watching him in training camp and speaking with him last summer. I saw him quarterback some Wildcat at one practice. I hope he's healthy and gets his number called more going forward.

Because if I had a guy I thought could be doing what Clark does for the Colts on my team, I’d want more than a catch and a half a game out of him.

Houston Texans

Shiloh Keo has the skills to vie for a starting job, writes John McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

Hunter Smith is comfortable moving on from football, says Bob Kravitz.

Peyton Manning is 72nd on Forbes’ “Celebrity 100.”

Preseason tickets are available. I am sure phone lines are jammed.

Jim Irsay’s been treated like a king while in Washington, says the AP.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coming out of a small school may mean Cecil Shorts has a higher ceiling, says Tania Ganguli.

Mike Sims-Walker isn’t holding any grudges on his way out of Jacksonville, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Donnie Nickey’s going into the restaurant business, writes Jim Wyatt.

Matt Hasselbeck sounds sold on Seattle, says John Glennon.

Rick Reilly’s re-draft of 2006, 2007 and 2008 isn’t really a re-draft. It’s a revaluation. He doesn’t have teams taking different players. He’s telling us where they players they did draft would rank now.

So defensive end Mario Williams, taken first by the Texans in 2006, still ranks first in the 2006 draft class while Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, taken 215th, moved up 200 spots to 15th.

The other monster jumps in the AFC South, with my parenthetical reactions.

The good:

• Finnegan +200 (a little too much)
• Colts safety Antoine Bethea +179 (about right)
• Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon +196 (way too much)
• Titans guard Leroy Harris +95 (way too much)
• Texans tight end Owen Daniels +68 (about right)
• Jaguars receiver Mike Sims-Walker +54 (too much)
• Texans right tackle Eric Winston +41 (about right)

The bad:

• Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey -212 (about right)
• Titans quarterback Vince Young -115 (about right)
• Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez -89 (about right)
• Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye -67 (too little)
• Colts running back Joseph Addai -63 (a little too much)

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Gary Kubiak’s focus is on the Texans’ defensive needs, says John McClain.

Reviewing the offensive line with Nick Scurfield.

Indianapolis Colts

The first in a chain of team-themed restaurants will be a Colts eatery in downtown Indianapolis, says Jeff Swiatek.

A look at centers in the draft from Colts.com.

Considering what Peyton Manning will do as he gets older, with Nate Dunlevy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Ryan Kerrigan fits the Jaguars' draft profile, says Vito Stellino.

Pete Prisco thinks the Jaguars should go quarterback at No. 16, and likes Florida State’s Christian Ponder.

Stellino wonders about player resolve in the labor dispute.

Why didn’t the Jaguars do what the Giants did and wait for ticket payments until the lockout is over? Tania Ganguli talked to decision-makers about it.

Mike Sims-Walker would like to be a Miami Dolphin, says Andy Benoit.

Tennessee Titans

Stafon Johnson is running again, says Doug Farrar.

Titans players connected to a workout facility owned by a coach’s wife say there has been no contact with coaches, says John Glennon.

It’s not only returners who will be impacted by the move of kickoffs, says Glennon.

There are several up-and-coming wide receivers in the AFC South. Everyone knows about Andre Johnson (whom I feel is the best wideout in all of football) and Reggie Wayne (whom I think is beginning to decline).

But let’s talk about a few others of note. Also, if you’re interested in my thoughts of the tight ends in the division, please check out my Scouts Eye column .

Houston Texans

One thing to note here is that Houston is short in this department and I don't see a wideout on its roster who can be classified as up and coming. There could still be an argument made for Jacoby Jones, but he is wildly inconsistent and his production has not approached his ability.

The Texans were very wise to lock up tight end Owen Daniels, who could end up being an outstanding complement to Johnson. But the wideouts on this roster outside of Johnson are disturbing. The Texans are dripping with defensive needs, and using a premium resource on an offensive player might not be feasible right now.

Tennessee Titans

Kenny Britt

Britt arrived last season, but he still qualifies as an up-and-comer at wide receiver. He is just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of what he can accomplish. The quarterback situation in Tennessee will obviously have a lot to do with whether or not he reaches that vast potential, but I really like what I see from Britt. He does need to show more consistency overall, and he will body catch more than what is ideal, but his natural abilities are among the best in the league.

Britt is big and very physical with his approach to the position and should become one of the better over-the-middle and red zone options at his position. But Britt isn’t just a possession guy; his downfield skills are superb. It will be very interesting to see Britt’s deep-ball skills with a better deep passer.

Britt was injured at the very beginning of the San Diego game (Week 8) and missed the next four contests. He also was a nonfactor in the opener. But in the other 10 games, Britt caught 42 passes and nine touchdowns. He actually started only seven games last season. If the quarterback situation is adequate, I expect Britt to approach 100 catches and a dozen touchdowns in 2011.

Indianapolis Colts

Austin Collie

In a way, like Britt, Collie has already arrived. He has made his mark in this league and is obviously a favorite of Peyton Manning. Injuries have been a huge issue with this young player, however, and his future might be somewhat in doubt considering his concussion history. But I have him listed here because I think that, if he can stay on the field, the best is yet to come with Collie.

I actually think what he brings to the field is somewhat underrated. Collie can be great. He is already an incredible route runner. He consistently is where he needs to be -- and the guy catches everything. Collie can provide the consistency that Pierre Garcon cannot.

Also, we should not discount Anthony Gonzalez, especially if injuries prevent Collie from contributing. Gonzalez also can’t stay healthy and it is easy to overlook him at this point, but I saw a very promising future not too long ago for this former first-round pick. He could surprise going forward. Even though Wayne might not be what he once was, it looks as though the Colts are simply loaded with receiving options for Manning.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike Thomas

Like Collie, Thomas catches everything and could be ideally suited to thrive out of the slot. But I also think Thomas has the strength and overall physicality to be an every-down player and make a living outside the numbers. He is crisp and explosive with his movements and excellent after the catch, acting like a smaller running back with the ball in his hands. Although most of his targets come close to the line of scrimmage, I see Thomas as a very solid No. 2 wideout.

Jason Hill

It went under the radar to some degree, but Jacksonville recently re-signed Hill before he could hit the open market in free agency. To me, that implies that the Jaguars were very happy with what they saw from Hill, and most likely, will allow Mike Sims-Walker to test the free-agent market.

Hill has the ability to stretch the field on the perimeter and has the size to complement Thomas quite well. Look for him to catch far more passes than the 11 he did last season. And, it should be noted that 10 of those grabs came in the last four games of the season, with those 10 receptions going for a whopping 233 yards. It could be a sign of good things to come for Hill.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Needs.

Houston Texans

Where to start? The defense needs a major personnel infusion, starting at safety, where this draft is weak. Eugene Wilson (cut) and Bernard Pollard (not tendered in case he would be restricted) are not going to be back. They need candidates for both starting spots.

Outside linebacker in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 is a void, where rehabbing 4-3 end Connor Barwin is slated to be one guy and there is a blank on the other.

The team has talked confidently about Shaun Cody, who got a two-year contract, and second-year man Earl Mitchell being capable of playing the nose for Phillips. They can certainly upgrade.

The best answer for a group of too-young cornerbacks would be a veteran, not a rookie, but who knows how the next guy arrives? And a No. 2 wide receiver better than Kevin Walter who can do what they’d hoped Jacoby Jones would do would be nice.

Indianapolis Colts

We’ve been hearing about the need to get a tough yard in a crucial situation with the run game for some time and haven’t seen the personnel changes necessary. Then Bill Polian said during the season that yes, offensive tackle Rodger Saffold (drafted by the Rams in the second round) could have helped the Colts. The team needs offensive linemen, plural. At least one high-quality guy who can contribute from opening day would be big.

When they're healthy, Indianapolis has a great four-pack of receivers in Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. But health questions on Collie and Gonzalez will linger; none of those guys looks to be an heir to Wayne’s role, and the Peyton Manning-era Colts have spent premium picks on skill guys.

The corner depth proved pretty good, but even if they are ultimately able to re-sign Melvin Bullitt, the Colts need some depth at safety.

Jacksonville Jaguars

While Courtney Greene may be a serviceable NFL safety, Don Carey probably is not. Odds are the Jaguars draft one and sign one at a position that was a big weakness in 2010.

Linebacker is also a spot of need. Daryl Smith is locked in, but the team probably will allow Kirk Morrison and Justin Durant to walk as free agents, meaning they need a starter on the middle and the outside.

Defensive end wouldn’t seem a need considering the team drafted Larry Hart and Austen Lane last season after adding veteran Aaron Kampman. But the pass rush is not where they want it, and a rush end could well be a position they address.

Inconsistent quarterback David Garrard needs to see the team have a legitimate alternative, and he should come from this draft. And those two quarterbacks plus Luke McCown need a No. 1-caliber receiver to head a group that won’t bring Mike Sims-Walker back.

Tennessee Titans

It starts under center, where the Titans do not have a No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback. They intend to add one veteran and one rookie and could easily spend their first or second pick on a signal-caller.

The team needs to get bigger and more durable on the defensive line. A beefy tackle and a rugged defensive end are on the wish list, and both could help make things easier for the rest of the defense. The interior didn’t collapse the pocket a lot, and the smallish ends wore down. Three of them are heading for free agency -- Jason Babin, Dave Ball and Jacob Ford.

Stephen Tulloch is heading for free agency, and the Titans didn’t get enough plays out of the linebackers last year, so they could upgrade.

Chris Hope’s replacement at strong safety doesn’t appear to be on the roster. While it’s a thin draft at the spot, the Titans need to find a candidate.