The AFC South is an NFL division that’s been riddled with mediocrity for years and years. The division hasn’t produced a Super Bowl winner since 2006, and while a few teams have appeared in the AFC Title game at random times, they were always considered the underdogs. In 2025, the AFC South is looking slightly up, especially with the 2025 Draft’s top two picks residing in the division. However, to say any team in the AFC South is favored to win the AFC would just be a flat-out lie.
Even so, with the AFC South being completely up for grabs, this makes the division fairly intriguing to watch this season. There are a number of players on every team that could make or break their squad’s chances of claiming the division title in Madden 26, and today, we’re going to identify each of those players for the four AFC South teams.
A “make or break” player isn’t necessarily the team’s superstar or best player, but they are someone who is vital to the team’s overall success. We’ve already covered the AFC East and NFC East divisions in this series, so now let’s hop in with the AFC South and each of the teams’ make or break players.
TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts come into the 2025 season with one of the most underwhelming quarterback battles we’ve seen in recent memory. Both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are vying for the starting job, but neither inspires too much confidence when they’re on the field. Perhaps one of them can turn their career around in 2025, but they’ll need plenty of offensive firepower to do so.
That’s where rookie tight end Tyler Warren can come into play. Warren was regarded as either the best or second-best tight end prospect in the 2025 Draft, and he fell right into the Colts’ lap after the Bears selected Colston Loveland. The tight end position is becoming one of the most important in the modern NFL offense, as quarterbacks rely on them constantly for easy first downs and as safety nets when defenses are blanketing wide receivers.
If Tyler Warren can become a go-to option for either Richardson or Jones, that frees up so much more on offense for Indy. Running back Jonathan Taylor won’t have to shoulder so much of the offensive pressure while receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce won’t have as much attention on them. We saw what Brock Bowers did in the Raiders’ offense in 2024, and Warren has a similar skillset. However, if Warren has trouble getting open or hanging onto the ball, the Colts will likely struggle again on offense outside of Taylor’s run production.
The “Jays,” Houston Texans
We’re kind of cheating here, but it’s hard not to group rookie Iowa State receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins together. The Texans took both of these receivers back-to-back in the 2025 Draft to form a potentially lethal duo behind Nico Collins. While they’re not the same kind of receiver in terms of playstyle, Houston needs both of them to contribute on offense.
With Tank Dell sidelined for the entirety of 2025, Houston’s depth behind Collins at receiver is slim. The team did go get Christian Kirk from the Jaguars, but the upside of the “Jays” is far greater than what Kirk brings to the table. If the Texans are able to maximize both Noel and Higgins’ skill sets in their offense, then C.J. Stroud might just get back to playing at an MVP level. A trio of Collins, Noel, and Higgins is dangerous, but it’s amplified when you also include running backs Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb and tight end Dalton Schultz.
The situation could play out differently for Houston, though. Rookie receivers are always a gamble to rely on, and if one or both of Noel and Higgins struggle during their first season, the Texans are only left with a few other weapons. While Collins has proven he can carry the receiving load, and Mixon is a steady workhorse at running back, beating good teams will require some more receiving threats. So, without production from Noel and/or Higgins, the Texans could still win the AFC South due to their competition, but a deep playoff run seems highly unlikely.
RT JC Latham, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans made a couple of big moves in the offseason. Of course, the biggest move was drafting quarterback Cam Ward first overall in the 2025 Draft, which should provide some long-needed stability at the position. However, a potentially underrated move for the Titans was signing LT Dan Moore Jr. to a lengthy deal. Moore Jr. is now tasked with blocking Ward’s blindside, and while he could very well be seen as a make or break player for Tennessee, we’re looking more at the other side of the offensive line.
When the Titans signed Moore Jr., it meant that incumbent left tackle JC Latham would be swinging back to right tackle, which was his position in college at Alabama. Switching positions can be a risky gambit when it comes to offensive linemen, especially with the tackle positions. Latham wasn’t by any means a top left tackle in the league, but he was serviceable. Now, going back to right tackle, Latham has a lot to prove and some added pressure on the line with protecting a rookie quarterback.
In a perfect world, this tackle pairing works out perfectly for the Titans, and the pocket is kept spotless for Cam Ward as he progresses through his rookie season. However, the other scenario is that JC Latham can’t hack it at right tackle and leaves Ward open to constant pressure. An even worse situation is that Moore Jr. turns out to be a bust signing, and the entire offensive line crumbles around Tennessee’s prized rookie. In any case, the offensive line will be a position to watch as the Titans start their season.
WR/DB Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
We know, we know, the most obvious pick for a make or break player on the Jaguars is Travis Hunter. He’s a potential superstar and could be one of the first players in the modern era to play two positions effectively. While there are other important players on the Jags, it’s hard not to put Hunter here just because of how much Jacksonville is going to rely on the rookie.
It’s currently unclear exactly where Hunter is going to play and how much time he’s going to get at either wide receiver or cornerback. However, what’s apparent is that the Jags are going to try him at both positions during a single game. This places an enormous amount of pressure on Hunter to perform well at both positions, and if he doesn’t, then Jacksonville might have some decisions to make.
The best case scenario for the Jags is that Hunter plays both receiver and cornerback at a decent level, doesn’t get too worn out from the extra workload, and goes on to be in the running for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year. The worst case scenario is that Hunter doesn’t play either position to NFL standards, the team forces him to focus on one position, and this causes some issues between the player and the organization. Or, maybe the former Colorado star turns out to be a total bust and the Jags are left holding the bag for the haul it took to land Hunter in the draft. Either way, there’s a lot of pressure on Hunter to perform well, and how he responds to that pressure will play a huge role in how the Jags do in 2025.
That wraps up our picks for each AFC South team’s make or break player in 2025. Do you think we left anyone off the list? Let us know down in the comments below.
