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Titans won the draft in AFC South by addressing two biggest needs

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

ESPN's AFC South reporters weigh in on which team in the division helped itself the most in the draft. Each team’s draft class is below the reporter’s analysis.

Sarah Barshop, Texans reporter: The Titans had good draft capital after trading down in 2016, and they used the two first-round picks they had in 2017 to address two needs: wide receiver and cornerback. Corey Davis will give quarterback Marcus Mariota a new target and provide an upgrade over Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe, the previous top two receivers on the depth chart. After releasing Jason McCourty earlier in the offseason, Tennessee also had a need at cornerback, and USC's Adoree' Jackson will also help the Titans' return game. Jacksonville also took a big step forward in the draft by improving its offense and giving Blake Bortles help by drafting running back Leonard Fournette and tackle Cam Robinson, but I'll give the edge to the Titans.

Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter: I think Indianapolis nailed their first two picks (safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Quincy Wilson), who will immediately provide much-needed help on defense. But I really like what Tennessee did in terms of getting Mariota some help. Some believe Davis was the best receiver in the draft. He's big, physical, a good route-runner, has good hands, and is very good after the catch. Now the Titans have someone that can stretch the field and defenses will have to game-plan around minimizing Davis' impact. GM John Robinson grabbed two more impact offensive players in the third round in receiver Taywan Taylor and tight end Jonnu Smith. Taylor can play inside or outside and has very good speed. Smith is more of an H-back than inline tight end but he can block and is willing to do so (a lot of move tight ends aren't). Add those three players to a solid offensive line and a pair of physical backs in DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry and the Titans have the potential to have the division's best offense by midseason.

Paul Kuharsky, Titans reporter: The Jaguars did well with Fournette and Robinson, the Colts bolstered their secondary and the Texans may have gotten the long-term quarterback they've been missing in Deshaun Watson. But I give the Titans the edge in the 2017 AFC South draft before we see these guys on the field. In receivers Davis and Taylor and tight end Smith, Tennessee got three new, dynamic options for Mariota. They finished building him an offensive line last year, and wisely moved on to weapons for him. Even their top defensive pick, Jackson, will get chances to get in the offensive huddle and provide some new wrinkles.

Mike Wells, Colts reporter: Can I go with 1 and 1A between Jacksonville and Tennessee? If I have to pick one team I'm going with the Jaguars. The key for them has been to upgrade their offense to go with a defense that was the sixth best in the NFL last season. The Jaguars took a significant step in doing so by selecting running back Fournette with the No. 4 overall pick. Adding Fournette to the mix means it should reduce the number of mistakes Bortles (51 interceptions in three seasons) can make with errant throws. Selecting Alabama offensive lineman Robinson, who was at one point projected to go in the first round, adds to the protection up front. The Jaguars have an underappreciated receiving group -- blame that on Bortles -- and then added to it by snagging Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook, who had 1,524 yards receiving last season, in the fourth round.