What Could a Potential Titans Tank Job Mean for the Jaguars in the AFC South Race?

An AFC South team appears to be tanking. For the first time in a long time, that team isn't the Jacksonville Jaguars or Houston Texans.

After years atop the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans seemingly have a 'for sale' sign firmly planted in their Nashville grass. Monday's trade of All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles was the warning shot of the Titans' potential tank job, and it is unlikely they are done.

The Titans landed Terrell Edmunds, a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick for Byard, while also eating most of the significant money left in his deal. There is no argument to make that this move makes the Titans a better team in 2023, even with Byard losing a step.

Instead, it makes it clear the Titans are looking forward. After a 2-4 start to the season that has the Titans in last place in the AFC South and firmly looking up at the Jaguars and Texans, it might be hard to blame them.

This brings the question of what is next for the Titans, who seemingly have players such as Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins, Kristian Fulton, and several others who could draw trade interest before next week's deadline.

And if the Titans do go full-on fire sale over the next week? Well, the AFC South race would thin out almost instantly.

The path to first-place in the AFC South was already made easier for the Jaguars and Texans when the Indianapolis Colts lost starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for the year to a shoulder injury. The Colts will be spunky, but Gardner Minshew isn't winning this division. Not in 2023.

That leaves the Jaguars, Titans and Texans. But if the Titans start tearing their house down and selling the remnants for future draft picks, the AFC South could quickly become a two-team race.

The Jaguars, who are already sitting at 5-2 after not getting their fifth win until December a year ago, still have the Titans on the schedule twice in 2023. As do the 3-3 Texans, who have already punched well above their weight-class in the AFC South.

In short, the Titans team could look much worse by the time they play the Jaguars and Texans later this year. If the Titans go full tank, then the Jaguars and Texans can likely count two more wins apiece on their schedule as they battle one another for sole supremacy in the AFC South.