"They are who we thought they were!"

While the original quote was being directed towards the 2006 Chicago Bears by the great Denny Green, the same can be said for the AFC South in 2014. The division race was highly predictable, with one up-and-coming powerhouse and potential Super Bowl contender, one solid-yet-unspectacular team with a very good defense and running game but a quarterback away from being a real factor in the AFC, and two cellar-dwellers with among the least talented rosters in the league.

The division didn’t provide much intrigue or suspense, as most people who follow the NFL closely foresaw the fortunes of these four teams ending up exactly as they did. The upcoming NFL Draft will be extremely important for these four franchises (as it is for all 32), with the Colts looking to take the next step and compete for multiple championships, the Texans needing a couple of pieces to propel them into the AFC’s elite, and the Jaguars and Titans aiming to restock their cupboards with as much talent as possible at a number of positions.

Tennessee Titans

Biggest Need: Quarterback

The Titans have arguably the least talented overall roster in the entire NFL, so upgrades are needed all over the field. But as we know in the current climate of the NFL, it all starts at the quarterback position. Teams are devoting more and more resources to procure an “elite” quarterback, meaning there are fewer to go around every year.

Tennessee may like what they have in last year’s sixth round pick, the biggest need for the Houston Texans is by far the quarterback position. With the best overall defense in the NFL according to our metrics (-53.43 Adjusted Defensive NEP), and a strong running game led by Arian Foster, they are an elite quarterback away from being a perennial Super Bowl contender.

However, with just two projected first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Houston won’t be using their first selection on a signal caller (barring a major trade up with Tampa Bay or Tennessee, which goes against the grain of their recent draft strategy) and will instead be looking at the best player available at another position of need.

That position could very well be wide receiver in a draft chock full of them. DeAndre Hopkins looks the part of a future number one option, having posted 2,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, and is not yet 23 years old. His 96.06 Reception NEP ranked 17th among wide receivers in the NFL last season, and the sky is the limit for the young Clemson product.

However, the other members of the receiving corps are not causing any defensive coordinators to lose sleep. A couple of under-the-radar veteran additions in Nate Washington (57.12 Reception NEP, 50th in the NFL among wide receivers) and Cecil Shorts (33.32 Reception NEP, 84th) along with returning slot-man Damaris Johnson (20.39 Reception NEP, 105th) make up the rest of the group, so additional play-making is definitely a necessity.

Even though new Colt Andre Johnson (tears may have been shed while writing those words for the first time) had a down season in 2014, he will be sorely missed, and a new second option will have to emerge. Top wide receiver prospects Amari Cooper (Alabama) and Kevin White (West Virginia) will most certainly be gone when the 16th pick rolls around, but Houston may very well have their pick of the remaining pass-catchers after that.

Potential Picks: WR DeVante Parker (Louisville), WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Oklahoma), WR Breshad Perriman (UCF)

Indianapolis Colts

Biggest Need: Offensive Line

Only one game away from a Super Bowl in 2014, the Colts will be looking to build upon that success and take the next step forward in 2015. Adding veterans Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Trent Cole will certainly help, but aside from adding Todd Herremans, the offensive line has been seemingly neglected this offseason, and reinforcements should be brought in during the draft.

While the Colts led the NFL in pass attempts with 661, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton still wants to maintain the identity of a power running team. They ranked 27th in the NFL with an Adjusted Rushing NEP of -28.01, and while perennial 1,000-yard rusher Frank Gore might give them their first true three-down workhorse back since Edgerrin James, his age will catch up to him quickly if the offensive line doesn’t provide him adequate running lanes.

The left side of the line has two potential building blocks in left tackle Anthony Castonzo and sophomore left guard Jack Mewhort, but the rest of the line is an uncertain bunch. Jonotthan Harrison and Khaled Holmes will be vying for the center position, but neither inspires much confidence. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus can have a positive impact when healthy, but his knees are very worrisome. The right guard job may be Herremans’ to lose, but he is more suited to be a backup at this point in his career.

Keeping Luck upright and clearing holes for Gore will be key for the Colts’ offense in 2015. While there aren’t any can’t-miss offensive lineman in this year’s class, the group does provide depth -- which may be a good thing for Indianapolis selecting at the bottom of the first round.

Potential Picks: C Cameron Erving (Florida State), T D.J. Humphries (Florida), G A.J. Cann (South Carolina)