AFC South training camp watch: Biggest surprise, hottest seat, more

With training camps underway, it's time to preview the biggest storylines throughout the NFL. Here's what to watch for in the AFC South:

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WILL BE ... | Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans: Although C.J. Stroud isn’t officially the Week 1 starting quarterback, all signs point to the 21-year-old rookie getting the nod. Dell and Stroud have already developed strong chemistry during the offseason, and it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Dell broke camp as Houston’s No. 1 receiver. 

The 23-year-old rookie had back-to-back seasons of 90 or more receptions, 1,300 or more receiving yards and 12 or more touchdown receptions his past two years at the University of Houston. The roster isn’t loaded with talent at receiver, and with Nico Collins, Robert Woods and John Metchie as his only competition, Dell could quickly emerge as Stroud’s go-to receiver.

HOTTEST SEAT | Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans: The Titans traded up in the second round to draft Will Levis, presumably to be the team’s quarterback of the future with Tannehill’s contract expiring after the 2023 season. However, it wouldn’t be completely surprising to see Levis starting games this season should Tannehill struggle under his third offensive coordinator in the past four seasons.

Tennessee has an early bye (Week 7) and five of its first six opponents could be playoff teams come January. If the Titans aren’t .500 or better when they host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 (which is also the week before the NFL trade deadline), they could throw Levis out there to see what he can do and Tannehill could either end up benched or traded.

MOST SURPRISING CUT | Jerry Hughes, DE, Houston Texans: Hughes led the team with nine sacks last season, but he turns 35 on Aug. 13 and he’s past his prime as he enters his 14th season.

First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans has a sharp defensive mind and likely wants to build a young, talented defense around No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson, rookie linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and defensive backs Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre, who are 24 or younger. The Texans need pass-rushers, but they have plenty of options under 30, including rookies Anderson and Dylan Horton, plus Jonathan Greenard, Demone Harris, Jacob Martin, Maliek Collins and Blake Cashman.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION | Does adding DeAndre Hopkins help the Titans contend for the division? Not many believed the Titans were a playoff team before signing Hopkins to a two-year, $26M deal. And they still might not be, but adding the five-time Pro Bowl receiver doesn’t hurt Tennessee’s chances of dethroning Jacksonville for the AFC South crown.

Most of the Titans' success depends on the performances of Tannehill and Derrick Henry, but Hopkins’ presence, along with Treylon Burks, Kyle Phillips and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, at least gives Tennessee the potential for an explosive passing offense. The defense should be improved after getting back edge-rusher Harold Landry and adding linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, edge-rusher Arden Key and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, and adding Hopkins could be just the thing that closes the gap between the Jaguars and Titans.

BIGGEST HEADLINE COMING OUT OF CAMP | Trevor Lawrence is ready to join Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen in the class of AFC’s elite QBs: Lawrence saw a 23-point jump in his passer rating from his rookie year to his second year — the largest jump in passer rating for a No. 1 pick in his first two seasons since Terry Bradshaw in 1971.

In just his second season, Lawrence tied for eighth in touchdown passes (25), ranked ninth in completion percentage (66.3) and passing yards (4,113) and 10th in passer rating (95.2) among QBs with 400 or more pass attempts. That's with receivers Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram and Marvin Jones Jr. Now in the mix is Calvin Ridley, who had 1,374 yards receiving in 2020 with Atlanta, giving Lawrence his best set of receivers since his freshman year at Clemson.