AFC West Report Card: Chargers Must Prove They’re Worth Watching Out For

With the Chiefs the clear favorite to win the division, Los Angeles must take advantage of talent it already has if it wants to compete after a quiet offseason.

Last offseason, the AFC West was lauded as perhaps the best division ever assembled. The Broncos had traded for Russell Wilson and signed Randy Gregory. The Raiders made headliner acquisitions of Davante Adams and Chandler Jones. In Los Angeles, the Chargers signed J.C. Jackson and made a deal for Khalil Mack.

All were supposed to threaten and perhaps usurp the Chiefs. Then Kansas City won its seventh straight AFC West title and a second Super Bowl in the Patrick Mahomes era.

This year, the expectations are more muted (save for the Chiefs), but moves have been made regardless. Here’s how we grade the four offseasons, while giving a look at where each team sits headed into the summer.

Denver Broncos

Key additions: RT Mike McGlinchey, G Ben Powers, DE Zach Allen, RB Samaje Perine

Key subtractions: DE Dre’Mont Jones

Where they stand: The Broncos are making a second run at the Russell Wilson experiment, but this time with a known hand in coach Sean Payton. After a year away from the league, Payton is joining his second organization, inheriting a team with a litany of questions.

None of them are bigger than quarterback Russell Wilson, who signed a five-year, $245 million extension before last season and then promptly threw 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in a 5–12 season. In an effort to improve both Wilson and their record, the Broncos hired Payton, and then signed guard Powers and right tackle McGlinchey to big-money deals. Add in the expected return of receiver Tim Patrick from a torn ACL, and Denver has reason to expect substantial growth.

However, there’s also reason to think one of the NFL’s best defenses will regress. The Broncos lost coordinator Ejiro Evero to the Panthers in the offseason, one of the better young minds on the coaching circuit. Evero was replaced by Vance Joseph, who has experience both as a coordinator and in Denver, but favors a single-high, blitz-happy scheme. That could spell major trouble against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

Final grade: B

All told, the Broncos had a good offseason. They upgraded the offensive line and didn’t lose any notable pieces on offense. Defensively, they essentially traded Dre’Mont Jones for Zach Allen. The personnel differences are minimal, although Denver will return many of its injured starters, including Patrick and left tackle Garett Bolles, among others.

Ultimately, the grade is good because Payton is an enormous get, even if the price tag was high and the concerns are real. Payton won a Super Bowl with the Saints and has long been one of the league’s best offensive schemers. If anybody can fix Wilson, Payton is close to topping the list.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key additions: RT Jawaan Taylor, LT Donovan Smith, DE Charles Omenihu, S Mike Edwards, LB Drue Tranquill, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, WR Rashee Rice

Key subtractions: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, DE Frank Clark, DE Carlos Dunlap, S Juan Thornhill, LT Orlando Brown Jr., RT Andrew Wylie

Where they stand: Coming off their second title in four years, the Chiefs didn’t have to do much this offseason to remain among the NFL’s elite. Yet they ended up making ample moves, including shuffling both tackle spots on the offensive line. Out are Brown and Wylie, replaced by veterans Smith and Taylor.

The offense also lost receivers Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman Jr., adding rookie Rice and free-agent signing Richie James to replace them. Factor in a full year of Kadarius Toney, and Kansas City has enough firepower to win an eighth consecutive AFC West title.

Defensively, the Chiefs bolstered a strong, young unit with the signings of defensive end Omenihu and safety Edwards (replacing Clark and Thornhill). General manager Brett Veach also selected Anudike-Uzomah in the first round, an edge rusher who should rotate in alongside Omenihu and second-year man George Karlaftis.

Despite being a title-defending team, the Chiefs are one of the youngest contenders in the league. The only critical pieces of the team over the age-30 threshold are tight end Travis Kelce (33) and guard Joe Thuney (30), and both are coming off All-Pro seasons.

Kelce scored 12 touchdowns for the Chiefs last season :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Final grade: B

The Chiefs are trying to become the first repeat champion since the 2003–04 Patriots, and they have a realistic chance as the favorite in most sportsbooks.

Kansas City has the league’s best quarterback-coach combination in Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. It also has a top-tier offensive line and a good group of weapons headlined by Kelce and second-year running back Isiah Pacheco. As for coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s group, it’s a mix of excellent veterans such as All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and corner L’Jarius Sneed, and emerging stars like linebacker Nick Bolton, corner Trent McDuffie and Karlaftis.

Once again, the Chiefs are poised to make a deep run. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Key additions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Jakobi Meyers, S Marcus Epps, DE Tyree Wilson, TE Michael Mayer

Key subtractions: QB Derek Carr, TE Darren Waller, TE Foster Moreau

Where they stand: It’s hard to be overly excited about the Raiders’ offseason. General manager Dave Ziegler watched the Raiders go from a playoff team in 2021 to a group that never threatened for a playoff berth last season, finishing 7–10. Las Vegas responded to that failure by releasing longtime quarterback Derek Carr and replacing him with the oft-injured Garoppolo, all while trading away tight end Waller.

In addition, the defense has long been a mess for the Silver and Black, and it’ll likely continue to be. The Raiders spent their first-round pick on edge rusher Tyree Wilson but did little else to bolster that side of the ball. In 2022, Las Vegas ranked 28th in total defense and yet the unit largely looks like the one from last year. It’s hard to justify such inaction.

If the Raiders are going to vastly improve and jump back into the playoffs, it’ll be because Garoppolo stays healthy, Wilson is a dynamo paired with edge rusher Maxx Crosby, and coach Josh McDaniels finally shows he can win in the big chair. Those are all big asks based on history.

Final grade: C

The Raiders feel like a team in limbo. They signed enough former Patriots to make you think they were doing an off-Broadway production of the Patriots, but little else was accomplished this offseason.

This is a huge year for McDaniels and Ziegler. If the duo goes backward once more, owner Mark Davis might feel he has no choice but to make changes once more. The pairing is betting big on Garoppolo to be a bridge quarterback to the future, but with a suspect offensive line and a poor defense, there’s real doubt as to who sees that future in Las Vegas.

Los Angeles Chargers

Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks, WR Quentin Johnston, DE Tuli Tuipulotu

Key subtractions: G Matt Feiler, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Kyle Van Noy, S Nasir Adderley

Where they stand: Last offseason, the Chargers went hard, signing a multitude of big names including corners J.C. Jackson and Bryce Callahan, defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and linebacker Van Noy, in addition to trading for edge rusher Khalil Mack. General manager Tom Telesco did the football version of going all-in, but ultimately fell short with a disastrous wild-card loss to the Jaguars.

This winter, the Chargers were one of the quietest teams in free agency, basically swapping linebackers by bringing inKendricks and allowing Tranquill to leave for Kansas City. Perhaps Los Angeles didn’t see much value on the market, but the reality is also a looming financial crunch in 2024, when the combined cap hits of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and edge rushers Mack and Joey Bosa equal an absurd $142.4 million.

For the Chargers, improvement must be found in a better job done by third-year coach Brandon Staley. Hailed as a defensive guru, Staley hasn’t seen his unit perform despite talent abound. Offensively, Los Angeles finally replaced the short game of Joe Lombardi with Kellen Moore, who should unlock the deep passing talents of quarterback Justin Herbert.

Final grade: C+

It’s hard to be bullish on the Chargers after the way last season ended. Staley played his starters almost the entirety of a meaningless Week 18 game, and it resulted in Williams breaking a vertebra in his back. Then the playoff game happened, and a 27–0 lead vanished.

After an offseason of relative nothingness, Los Angeles must find significant improvement from within, both on the sideline and between the lines. But for years, the offseason mantra has been: Watch out for the Chargers. At some point, they have to prove they’re worth watching out for.

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