As the 2025 season approaches, let’s examine how the AFC West teams compare with one another. We will rank each team position by position based on their overall strength at that position. While the performance of starters is crucial, depth also plays a significant role. Please remember that these are preseason rankings and may change as the season progresses.
Previously, we finished up on offense with the linemen. Today, we will take a look at the other side of the line of scrimmage. Since the teams in this division employ different defensive schemes, we will be combining defensive linemen with edge rushers for our analysis. Let’s get started!
4. The Los Angeles Chargers
Starters: Khalil Mack, Da’Shawn Hand, Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Tuli Tuipulotu
Depth: Bud Dupree, Caleb Murphy, Justin Eboigbe, Scott Matlock, Naquan Jones, Kyle Kennard, Christopher Hinton, Jamaree Caldwell, TeRah Edwards, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, Kylan Guidry, Garmon Randolph
The Chargers have many new faces up front entering the 2025 season. Joey Bosa’s departure presents the biggest change, giving Tuli Tuipulotu a full-time starting role that he deserves.
Los Angeles needs him to step up in a big way, as the closest thing to a star up front is an aging Khalil Mack. Luckily, Los Angeles does have some promising rookies in Kyle Kennard and Jamaree Caldwell. This unit could surprise some people, but, for now, they sit at the bottom of this list.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Starters: Mike Danna, Mike Pennel, Chris Jones, George Karlaftis
Depth: Ashton Gillotte; Omarr Norman-Lott; Jerry Tillery; Charles Omenihu; Felix Anudike-Uzomah; Marlon Tuipulotu; Fabien Lovett Sr.; Malik Herring; Coziah Izzard; Janarius Robinson
This group has a couple of studs in Jones and Karlaftis. Jones remains one of the league’s top defensive linemen, while Karlaftis is emerging as a formidable force. However, the rest of this group is fairly underwhelming. Danna and Pennel are adequate at best. They could possibly give way to rookies Gillotte and Norman-Lott.
Additionally, Jerry Tillery consistently contributes, regardless of the AFC West team he is currently playing for. That being said, everyone reading this knows that if you are resorting to Tillery having a major role, things probably are not going super well along the defensive front.
2. The Las Vegas Raiders
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler; Jonah Laulu; Malcolm Koonce
Depth: Tyree Wilson, Thomas Booker IV, Zach Carter, Leki Fotu, Charles Snowden, Tonka Hemingway, Tank Booker, JJ Pegues, Jah Joyner, Jahfari Harvey, Keondre Coburn, Treven Ma’ae, Andre Carter II, Ovie Oghoufo
Quick note: While Laulu is listed as a starter on the depth chart, expect to see a lot of Tyree Wilson and Thomas Booker. Nevertheless, this unit starts and stops with Crosby. At his best, he is a top-three edge defender in the league. That is what the Raiders need, as they have very little star power elsewhere up front after the departure of Christian Wilkins. However, Adam Butler getting re-signed softens that blow.
The same goes for Malcolm Koonce, who looked poised for a breakout year in 2024 before missing the entire season due to injury.
1. The Denver Broncos
Starters: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto
Depth: Jonah Eliss, Dondrea Tillman, Eyioma Uwazurike, Malcolm Roach, Jordan Jackson, Garrett Nelson, Andrew Farmer II, Sai’vion Jones, Jordan Miller, Matt Henningsen, Que Robinson, Kristian Williams
While some of these names may be unfamiliar to you, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with them. Outside linebackers Bonitto and Cooper are especially blossoming into stars. The pair combined for 24 sacks last year. Denver is also returning all three of their starting defensive linemen from last year. Together, these five starters alone accounted for over 40 sacks in 2024. These players are not merely one-dimensional players.
Forget the AFC West; this lineup was the league’s third-best run defense last season. Expect this relatively young unit to build on that success heading into 2025.
Related: Can The Raiders Bounce Back In Week 2 Of The Preseason?
*Top Photo: Getty Images