The AFC West is the toughest division in the NFL, so with the draft looming, let’s look at a possible two-round scenario for the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos.
Now that most teams’ seasons are over, it is time to fully transition into draft season. What better way to kick things off than with a mock draft? For this one, we will mock every pick in the first two rounds for each AFC West team.
The Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator will dictate the picks. I will be controlling all four AFC West teams, using a combination of the PFF rankings and team needs as well as my own in-progress draft notes. The simulator will make the remaining picks. There will be no trades. Let’s dive straight into the selections!
AFC West Mock Draft 1.0 – Round 1, Pick 6: The Las Vegas Raiders
The Board
This is interesting. The Titans opted for Cam Ward over Shedeur Sanders with the top pick. Two more quarterback-needy teams then passed up the chance to select a signal caller. The top five teams ultimately prioritize the best available player, with only one quarterback selected. Needless to say, the Raiders would likely be thrilled to see this (while the rest of the AFC West would scoff at it).
The Raiders Select… Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado
In this scenario, newly minted general manager John Spytek likely runs the pick in for Sanders. Quarterback is by far the Raiders’ biggest need and this gives them the opportunity to grab arguably the best one in this class.
While Sanders may not have elite physical tools, they are certainly NFL caliber. When you combine that with outstanding fundamentals and a football IQ beyond where most rookies are typically, you have a quarterback with a very high floor. Sanders represents an immediate upgrade for Las Vegas at the game’s most important position.
Round 1, Pick 20: The Denver Broncos
The Board
The mid-round picks were brimming with offensive weapons. By pick 20, the top running back and tight end have both come off the board, along with three wide receivers (four if you include Travis Hunter). Nevertheless, there are still plenty of first-round caliber pass catchers available at this point. Personally, I have two wide receivers and a tight end with first-round grades still available here.
The Broncos Select… Isaiah Bond, Wide Receiver, Texas
The Broncos must surround Bo Nix with more weapons if this team is going to take the next step towards being a real contender. As promising as the rookie quarterback looked, there are clearly limitations there. Adding someone like Bond would give Nix a great target to get the ball out quickly to.
Bond’s run-after-catch ability makes him a perfect fit for Sean Payton’s offense. Plus, his speed makes him a huge threat to take the top off of defenses. That will open up a ton of the underneath stuff for other receivers to eat as well.
Round 1, Pick 22: The Los Angeles Chargers
The Board
It has not changed much since Denver was on the clock. After they selected Bond, the Pittsburgh Steelers took edge defender Shamar Stewart out of Texas A&M. That is not a huge concern for Los Angeles, as their needs are more on the offensive side of the ball.
The Chargers Select… Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan
This pick just makes way too much sense. Tight ends are typically a feature in any Greg Roman offense, and the Chargers could use an upgrade at the position. Will Dissly is alright, but the rest of the group does not inspire a lot of confidence. Loveland would immediately become the best tight end on the roster.
His size and athleticism, combined with a tremendous knack for pass catching and route running, would provide the Chargers with something that they simply do not have right now. Additionally, the fact that Jim Harbaugh recruited and mentored him is not insignificant.
Round 1, Pick 32: The Kansas City Chiefs
The Board
The rest of the first round saw a shift toward the defensive side of the ball. Most significantly, four defensive linemen/edge defenders were selected between the Chargers and Chiefs picks. That may be a disappointment to Kansas City’s front office.
The Chiefs Select… Aireontae Ersery, Offensive Tackle, Minnesota
With several premier pass-rushing prospects suddenly unavailable, the Chiefs can pivot to another key area of need: offensive tackle. Looking at what is available, many of the remaining tackle prospects have question marks regarding whether or not they will have to move inside at the next level. That is not the case with Ersery. While he may be a bit raw, he possesses all the traits of a potential franchise left tackle. Patrick Mahomes would likely be ecstatic with this pick (which is bad news for the AFC West).
AFC West Mock Draft 1.0 – Round 2, Pick 37: The Las Vegas Raiders
The Board
The second round starts with several more defensive players coming off the board. This bodes well for the Raiders, who should not need much help on defense if they re-sign most of their starters from last year that are up for new deals. That would allow them to continue to focus on the offense in the draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders Select… Elic Ayomanor, Wide Receiver, Stanford
I implore you to go watch Ayomanor’s 2023 tape against Colorado. The Stanford wideout dominated Travis Hunter all night with a combination of outstanding speed, route running, and being an absolute bully on contested catches. The Raiders already got their quarterback of the future in round one; now they can give him another reliable weapon in round two.
Round 2, Pick 52: The Denver Broncos
The Board
Unfortunately for the Broncos, they have kind of missed the boat on their two biggest defensive needs, with four linebackers and a safety coming off the board since their last pick. Luckily, there is still a ton of offensive talent available.
The Broncos Select… Gunnar Helm, Tight End, Texas
Like I said before, Denver must load up on offensive weapons in order to maximize what they have in Bo Nix. They could possibly go with a running back here, but that class is so deep that they could likely find better value in the third round. For now, I have them grabbing a guy that would likely be the first tight end off the board in a lot of classes. Gunnar Helm is big, athletic, a natural receiver, and a tough blocker.
Payton could deploy him similarly to how he used Jimmy Graham in New Orleans, but Helm also has the ability to line up in-line and contribute as a blocker. After two rounds, the Broncos have made Nix’s job much easier which spells trouble for the rest of the AFC West.
Round 2, Pick 54: The Los Angeles Chargers
The Board
Two picks later, the Chargers find themselves with a lot of options that meet their needs. They find themselves right in the thick of deep running back and wide receiver classes.
The Chargers Select… Tre Harris, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Los Angeles desperately needs someone that can possibly supplant Quinton Johnston as the team’s number two receiver. Harris can do exactly that. His size and his burst of the snap allow him to bring many things to the table that Johnston does, but there is also much more to him than that.
Harris moves surprisingly well with the football for someone his size, which makes him a threat in the screen game. Also, while his hands and route running could still use some work, they are still further along than the guy he would possibly be pushing out.
Round 2, Pick 64: The Kansas City Chiefs
The Board
The back end of the second round has mostly been a run of receivers and linemen. The Chiefs do not have a ton of options left, but some guys have slipped through the cracks.
The Chiefs Select… Donovan Jackson, Tackle, Ohio State
Kansas City goes back-to-back on offensive linemen with their first two picks, and for good reason. It is arguably the weakest position group on their roster right now, and it shows. This year, Mahomes has experienced 36 sacks, the most in his career. Adding Jackson to the mix could give the Chiefs a multitude of ways to bolster their offensive line.
The Ohio State product has the ability to play both guard and tackle and has done so at each position at a high level throughout his college career. The rich get richer in the AFC West.
*Top Photo: The Raider Ramble