Chargers News: FS1 Analyst Gives His Take On 2023 AFC West Outcome

Where do the Bolts rank?

Jan 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) gestures at the line of scrimmage in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

As the transactional portion of the NFL's active settles and the August preseason approaches (it's just over a month away now!), pundits have already begun predicting how the 2023 season could play out.

Recently, Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports 1 outlined his prognoses for the regular season results of all 32 clubs in the league, breaking down their projected futures by division.

When it came to your Los Angeles Chargers' AFC West Division, Cowherd did opt to rank the reigning Super Bowl champs ahead of the Bolts, but was otherwise fairly bullish on their season.

Cowherd pegged Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the rest of his Kansas City Chiefs to make the postseason once again. Shocking, we know.

Just below the Chiefs, Los Angeles was assumed by Cowherd to finish second in the division, and to make the NFL playoffs for the second straight season.

Cowherd believed that the Denver Broncos would finish third in the division and miss the playoffs entirely, with the reeling Las Vegas Raiders rounding out his AFC preseason power rankings, despite the free agent addition of a former Super Bowl starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, arriving in the 2023 offseason as the club's new quarterback.

"I think Vegas ends up being pretty bad," Cowherd opined. "I think Denver's significantly better, battles until the last weekend for the Chargers for a playoff spot. Kansas City, who played nine rookies last year, they're only going to get better. Kansas City will finish as the No. 2 seed in the AFC to Jacksonville, but Kansas City wins the division."

The Chargers brought in an experienced linebacker, Eric Kendricks, as their splashiest free agent signing, plus offensive tackle Trey Pipkins and interior defender Morgan Fox. 

Wide receiver Quentin Johnston top-lined the seven rookies LA drafted, which also included two of Johnston's Texas Christian University teammates in wide receiver Derius Davis (the 125th pick) and quarterback Max Duggan (the 239th pick). 

The Bolts also poached offensive coordinator Kellen Moore away from the Dallas Cowboys to goose up the team's scheming around 2021 Pro Bowler Justin Herbert.