Now that the NFL draft is wrapped up and most undrafted free agents have signed, it is a good time to revisit the AFC West power rankings. Most major roster moves are complete, and teams have a clearer picture of who will be heading to training camp. That makes this the right moment to see how these divisional rivals stack up heading into the summer.
Starting at the bottom and working up…
4. The Las Vegas Raiders
Apologies, Raider Nation, but the Silver and Black remain in the division’s basement, at least for now. Las Vegas had a strong offseason and there is plenty to be excited about, though much of that excitement is pointed toward the future. This is a young team with a coaching staff full of coaches in their first season at their respective positions. The Raiders have begun closing the gap on the rest of the division, but they still have ground to cover. That could change depending on how the season unfolds.
So who are the Raiders chasing in the AFC West?
3. The Kansas City Chiefs
It may be time to acknowledge that the Chiefs are in the midst of a soft rebuild. Trading away cornerback Trent McDuffie feels like a clear indication of that shift. Kansas City has still made meaningful improvements this offseason, most notably adding Kenneth Walker to an offense that badly needed skill position talent.
The Chiefs also infused significant depth on the defensive side through the draft. Even so, Patrick Mahomes will likely need time before he is fully healthy and capable of carrying the team the way he has in years past. That reality puts a hard ceiling on what Kansas City can accomplish this season.
Speaking of teams looking to bounce back from injuries…
Related: AFC West draft grades for all 4 squads
2. The Los Angeles Chargers
The best thing to happen to the Chargers this offseason was getting healthy. Los Angeles also completely revamped its interior offensive line. Tyler Biadasz should be a significant upgrade at center, though questions remain about what the team will get from whatever combination of Trevor Penning, Cole Strange and rookie Jake Slaughter ends up starting at guard.
On the defensive side, rookie Akheem Messidor should provide an immediate jolt to the pass rush, and at 25, he arrives with more polish than most first-year players. The Chargers look positioned to improve, though that is a familiar refrain in Los Angeles, and the results have not always followed.
Finally…
1. The Denver Broncos
The Broncos were the best team in the division last year, and they arguably got better this offseason. Denver’s biggest need was to give Bo Nix more weapons, and the team addressed that directly by sending a first-round pick to Miami for Jaylen Waddle. The draft added further depth, with Jonah Coleman and Justin Joly bolstering the running back and tight end rooms, respectively.
If the offense can take even a modest step forward, Denver may not need to lean on its historically dominant defense quite so heavily. A more balanced attack could be all it takes for the Broncos to make a run at the conference as a whole.
*Top Photo: Courtesy of NFL.com