NFL Draft Preview - AFC West — Best Coast Sports Connection

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a victory in the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs return most of their championship squad, and do not have many glaring positions of need. But the rest of the AFC West has a ton of ground to gain in order to challenge the clear division favorite. The Broncos (7-9), Raiders (7-9), and Chargers (5-11) all had losing records in 2019, and with holes on both sides of the ball, this weekend’s NFL Draft presents the best opportunity for these teams to get better quickly.

So this week we asked the BCSC Podcast hosts and special Raiders correspondent, Chris Engelage, to preview the NFL Draft for the AFC West’s four teams. Here is what we learned.

Joey Bosa is the best Chargers draft pick in recent memory. (Photo:©Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)

LOS ANGELES-CARSON-SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

2019 RECORD: (5-11)
fourth place - afc west
2020 Draft Picks - 7 (6, 37, 71, 112, 151, 186, 220)

The Los Angeles Chargers knew they needed to become more aggressive in rebuilding the roster this off-season. Their first move was parting ways with Philip Rivers as they wanted to make a big splash in free agency by pursuing Tom Brady. Only the Chargers would try to replace a 38-year old quarterback with a 43-year old model.

But Brady was not leaving the New England Patriots for a team that had not won a playoff game in 12 years. His decision was not about the guaranteed money or the possible business ventures that could be gained by playing in Los Angeles. No, Brady could play football on the moon and big companies would be vying to do business with him. He declined the Spanos Family’s contract offer because they could not provide a clear path to another Super Bowl appearance.

The spurning by Brady left the Chargers at the proverbial “fork in the road” as the team desperately needs to acquire a star player. The only course for Chargers general manager Tom Telesco is drafting Tua Tagovailoa as he is the lone franchise quarterback available in the draft that will peak Los Angeles sports fans interest and re-define the Chargers in town. But that means being all in and trading up in the first round if needed to acquire him. And that may include mortgaging their future to secure Tua T’s services.

The Chargers made a number of mistakes with their move to Los Angeles, but their biggest was not understanding the landscape of the city’s sports market. LA sports fans are much like a weather vane in that they move in whatever direction they feel like at that moment. And drafting Tua could be that small gust of wind that changes the direction of the weather vane.

Tua Tagovailoa has the star power that could boost ticket and jersey sales without ever having played a down in the NFL. It is the type of draft-day trade that gives the Chargers a fighting chance to win the battle of LA with their landlord, the Los Angeles Rams.

-Thomas Conroy

Tua Tagovailoa will likely hear his name in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night. (Photo:©Vasha Hunt/Associated Press)

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

2019 RECORD: (7-9)
third place - afc west
2020 Draft Picks - 7 (12, 19, 80, 81, 91, 121, 159)

After starting the 2019 season 6-4, the Raiders stumbled to the finish line as they ended 7-9. Despite the lackluster finish, there was a multitude of things for Raider Nation to gleam over. One of the biggest bright spots from the season was a highly successful rookie class. Of the Raiders nine 2019 draft picks, eight of them played throughout the year with safety Jonathan Abram suffering a season-ending injury in week one and Quinton Bell (a seventh-round draft pick) being the only one who was cut. The Raiders even found gems after the draft by adding starting fullback Alec Ingold, wide receiver Keelan Doss, and offensive lineman Andre James.

With so much production coming from the rookies in 2019, it has since softened the blow from trading future Hall of Fame edge-rusher Khalil Mack. As we all know, the Raiders got quite the haul of draft picks from the Bears in the deal, and the 2020 NFL Draft is slated to culminate one of the most historic trades in NFL history.

Prior to the draft hype, general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden executed the free-agent signing period to near perfection. One of the signings that received a lot of fanfare was making Marcus Mariota the NFL’s highest-paid backup QB, although if you ask me, it is what was done on defense that stood out.

The linebacking corps for the Silver and Black last season was horrendous, and that might even be an understatement. As such, the team added Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski amongst other stellar signings. Based on the previous draft success and excellent free agent haul, Raider Nation should be salivating as we quickly approach the 2020 NFL Draft.

-Chris Engelage

Von Miller (left) and Bradley Chubb (No. 55, right) lead a stout Broncos defense. (Photo:©Nicki Jhabvala/The Athletic)

DENVER BRONCOS

2019 RECORD: (7-9)
second place - afc west
2020 Draft Picks - 12 (15, 46, 77, 83, 95, 118, 137, 178, 181, 237, 252, 254)

The Broncos have not sniffed the playoffs in four years since winning Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. After finishing 7-9 in head coach Vic Fangio’s first season, there is hope for the Mile High faithful that they can return to form in 2020. Denver possesses an above-average defense led by Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, and added two key pieces this offseason via trade in defensive lineman Jurell Casey from Tennessee and cornerback A.J. Bouye from Jacksonville. The biggest question in Denver is can the offense pull its weight this year?

The quarterback position has been a revolving door the past several years and that needs to stop for the offense to find its footing. With notable quarterbacks (Jameis Winston and Cam Newton) still on the free agent market and several expected to go in the top 10 of Thursday’s draft, it does not appear that Broncos General Manager John Elway will be making any moves. Earlier this week Elway said he is comfortable with second-year quarterback Drew Lock at the helm, and that the team will look to build around him. Lock, a second-round pick from Missouri in 2019, started the last five games and led the Broncos to a 4-1 finish after the team was 3-8 behind a combination of Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen starts.

During the offseason, Elway added two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon to compliment Phillip Lindsay in the backfield. The squad has good options on the receiving end with wide receiver Courtland Sutton and tight end Noah Fant who impressed the team in his rookie season. With that said, Denver could really use another receiving threat opposite of Sutton. It is certainly a position they will address in the draft, possibly as early as the first round with their No. 15 pick.

Many experts have the Broncos taking a top-tier wideout with it being such a deep class in 2020. The list of possible targets includes Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, and LSU’s Justin Jefferson. If Denver decides to go defense in the first round, it would likely be in the secondary. Alabama safety Xavier McKinney and Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson are a couple names who may still be on the board in the middle of the first round. This all assumes the Broncos stay with that No. 15 pick. With three picks in the third round at their disposal, they could very well trade up to acquire a player they think will have an immediate impact.

-Andy Bishop

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

2019 RECORD: (12-4)
first place - afc west (Super Bowl Champions)
2020 Draft Picks - 5 (32, 63, 96, 138, 177)

The Kansas City Chiefs are in a position of power heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Having reached the ultimate heights in 2019 with a Super Bowl title, Kansas City returns a majority of its roster and has very few glaring weaknesses. The Chiefs only have 5 picks heading into the draft, but all 5 picks are in the first 5 rounds, so they have an opportunity to add value with the team’s limited draft stock.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs struggled against the run. They will return 9 of 11 starters from the Super Bowl, with the loss of a linebacker and a defensive back, so it is likely that they will add both a linebacker and a defensive back in the draft. There is a belief that the Chiefs will use their first round pick to fill one of those defensive holes.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Chiefs are stacked. They have one of the most explosive offenses in the league, and will return 10 of 11 offensive starters from the Super Bowl. They have one of the elite Tackle combinations in the NFL with LT Eric Fisher and RT Mitchell Schwartz, who has started all 112 games for the Chiefs since being drafted with the 37th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. The only departing offensive starter is in the interior of the line, and although the Chiefs have already brought in a presumptive replacement starter at guard, look for Kansas City to add a guard or center in the draft for added depth.

The thinking here is that the Chiefs two later round picks will be used for depth at wide receiver and running back. Although the Chiefs return their starting receivers and running back, RB Damien Williams, WR Sammy Watkins, and WR Demarcus Robinson are all set to become free agents after the 2020 season. One name to keep an eye on is LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He is a 5’8”, 209-pound back with explosive power and pass-catching ability. He fits the mold for what Kansas City likes to do with its backs, and he figures to be available in the middle rounds.

-Brian Vilven

LSU Running Back Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be a perfect fit for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft. (Photo:©LSU Athletics)