AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Titans

Colts

Colts owner Jim Irsay said the team wants to go young at quarterback and find their guy in the draft.

โ€œWeโ€™re looking for the future guy, and we want the guy that can be there for the next 10 years. After Philipโ€™s (Rivers) year, I wanted to go young. I was, โ€˜Letโ€™s go young. Letโ€™s grow our own. Itโ€™s time,โ€™โ€ Irsay said, via Colts Wire. โ€œIt was great having Philip the one year and he was very successful and exceeded our expectations, but [we] knew it was a short-term thing. I really wanted to go young and drafting our own and finding our own that way.โ€™โ€™

Indianapolis hasnโ€™t outright dismissed the idea of adding Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson, but they seem to want to focus on the draft to overhaul their roster.

โ€œYouโ€™re always looking at salary cap, draft picks, which are like gold,โ€™โ€™ Irsay said. โ€œOur belief and my belief is you build through the draft. The draft is your pipeline for success or failure.โ€™โ€™

Irsay believes the first three rounds of the draft in particular is where the foundation of the roster is built.

โ€œYou have to have the quarterback, but to go where you want to go, everyone knows you need more than the quarterback,โ€ Irsay said. โ€œAnd you have to find the way to get that โ€˜more.โ€™ And the best way to find it is in the top three (rounds) in the draft. Those first three rounds, you start giving away those gold nuggetsโ€ฆoh boy, I tell ya. Also, making sure salary cap-wise you can be in a [good] position.โ€™โ€™

Jaguars

Jaguars owner Shad Khan feels that his team has finally found the recipe for success in the NFL.

โ€œThe vibe I get (around this weekโ€™s meetings) is I think weโ€™ve cracked the code,โ€ Khan said, via Jaguars.com. โ€œWe have a great head coach, we have a great general manager, and we have a great quarterback. Thatโ€™s the trifecta for success in the NFL.โ€

โ€œThe players believed in each other,โ€ Khan added. โ€œThey believed in the coaches and they believed they were destined to win.โ€

Khan also believes that the teamโ€™s prime-time appearance against the Titans was critical in showing the nation that the team is ready to regularly contend for the playoffs.

โ€œWe hadnโ€™t had a prime-time game in my ownership,โ€ Khan said. โ€œWe hadnโ€™t earned it. We didnโ€™t deserve it. Here, we earned it. We deserve it. So, we get two in a row. Both of them are packed, including standing-room-only tickets. Then to see the fans at both of the games hanging in. Weโ€™re down 27-0 and no one leaves. That shows the enthusiasm, the belief the fans had. I know it made a huge difference for Trevor. He looked up and saw no one had left. There was a huge vote of confidence in him. I think itโ€™s taken a while, but Iโ€™m glad itโ€™s happening. Iโ€™m glad for all the fans.โ€

Titans

  • Aaron Wilson reports that Florida QB Anthony Richardson has multiple visits scheduled including one with the Titans.
  • UT-Chattanooga DT Devonnsha Maxwell has a top 30 visit scheduled with the Titans, though it wonโ€™t count toward the 30 limit as heโ€™s a local prospect. (Tony Pauline)
  • The Titans met with TCU WR Quentin Johnston before his pro day. (Aaron Wilson)

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