AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

• The Athletic’s Zak Keefer points out GM Chris Ballard didn’t hesitate when asked about the fifth-year option for C Ryan Kelly last year compared to S Malik Hooker this year: “We got a little time. When we get through the draft, we’ll sit down and talk about the direction we’re going to go there.”
• Per the Athletic’s Stephen Holder, the Colts have received trade calls regarding Hooker but are not actively shopping him at this time. 
• Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans has video conferenced with the Colts. (Justin Melo)
• Mississippi State LB Willie Gay Jr. had a visit scheduled with the Colts before the shutdown. (Aaron Wilson)

Jaguars

• Per John Oehser of the team website, Jaguars HC Doug Marrone says the team wants to add more on offense around QB Gardner Minshew: “We want to be able to see if we can get some playmakers. We feel like we have some already. We want to make sure we focus around that.”
• While the Jaguars have been built around the run game and RB Leonard Fournette on offense, Marrone expressed an openness to being more pass-happy after adding OC Jay Gruden, though he said the goal is to feature what their players are best at: “We are going to look at who the best players are, and at the end of the day you want to be 50-50. But if it is 60-40 pass-run or run-pass, depending on how the game goes, I do not mind.”
• At least one team tells NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo that Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue‘s comments on Twitter on Monday didn’t help their trade interest. 
• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says teams are eyeing the Jaguars at No. 9 to potentially start the run on wide receivers. 
• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline says the Jaguars are one of the teams that are very high on Utah CB Jaylon Johnson, potentially enough to draft him in the first round. 
• Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans has video conferenced with the Jaguars. (Justin Melo)
• North Dakota State DE Derrek Tuszka has held FaceTime meetings with the Jaguars. (Justin Melo)

Texans

• Per Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop, former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins said he asked for a new contract because he knew “that asking for a little raise would lead to the outcome that I got, which is the outcome that I wanted (Texans HC Bill O’Brien trading him to the Cardinals.)”
• Hopkins told Bishop the way things fractured with O’Brien was the reason he wanted out, saying there wasn’t any relationship despite working together for six years: “There was no relationship. Make sure you put that in there. There’s not a lot to speak about.”
• Hopkins said he’s not demanding a new deal with the Cardinals but the two sides are working on one that could make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
• Texans QB Deshaun Watson was working with his private QB coach, Quincy Avery, when the trade happened. When Avery told him, Watson thought he was joking at first. 
• Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans has video conferenced with the Texans. (Justin Melo)

Titans

• Jim Wyatt of the official team website suspects the Titans will add a veteran to compete with Logan Woodside for the backup quarterback position. 
• Wyatt mentions if the Titans pick up a cornerback or two in the draft, that likely ends the chances of Logan Ryan returning to Tennessee. 
• Wyatt thinks free-agent DE Jadeveon Clowney would need to lower his asking price to around $12-$14 million a year for the Titans to be able to close a deal. 
• He adds he doesn’t believe the Panthers’ deal with RB Christian McCaffrey will affect the Titans’ ability to get a deal done with RB Derrick Henry, as he doesn’t think Henry’s deal will reach McCaffrey’s. 
• The Titans had an informal meeting at the Combine with Temple LB Shaun Bradley and interviewed him via phone and video conference. (Paul Kuharsky)
• Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans has video conferenced with the Titans. (Justin Melo)
• North Dakota State DE Derrek Tuszka has held FaceTime meetings with the Titans. (Justin Melo)
• Mississippi State LB Willie Gay Jr. had a visit scheduled with the Titans before the shutdown. (Aaron Wilson)