NFL Betting: AFC West Offseason Changes

After the NFL Draft, the pro football world takes a breath and settles into the quietest part of the year, the two-month period of preparation and planning for summer training camp, the preseason, and the battles for roster spots heading into the regular season. Let’s look at what the four AFC West teams have done in the offseason and how different they might or might not be with the preseason a few months away.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have reached three straight AFC Championship Games, winning two of them. How are they going to remain on top? It’s very clear: They need to ensure that their offensive line in front of Patrick Mahomes remains strong. Not having Eric Fisher in the Super Bowl was a crusher against the Buccaneers’ strong front seven and pass rush. Mahomes was constantly chased, hit, harassed, and hounded, in one of the most amazing displays of pass-rushing superiority ever witnessed. The Buccaneers were overwhelmingly dominant. The Chiefs realized they had to get reinforcements. They did exactly that, getting Joe Thuney in free agency and Creed Humphrey in the draft. Thuney had played for the New England Patriots and was Tom Brady’s protector for several years. Humphrey protected Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma along with 2021 Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler. The Chiefs appear to have a strong offensive line once again, even with Fisher moving to the Indianapolis Colts.

Receiver Sammy Watkins went to the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs picked up interior defensive lineman Jarran Reed from the Seattle Seahawks.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders were very active in the offseason, though not necessarily for the best reasons. The Raiders did not want to retain center Rodney Hudson or interior offensive lineman Gabe Jackson. Hudson went to the Arizona Cardinals and Jackson went to the Seattle Seahawks. Trent Brown also went to the New England Patriots. The Raiders did grab an offensive lineman in the draft, Alex Leatherwood of Alabama, but their offensive line looks weaker than it did last year.

The Raiders did beef up their defense with pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, who played with the Ravens last season. Las Vegas got defensive lineman Solomon Thomas from the San Francisco 49ers and Quinton Jefferson from the Buffalo Bills.

Other additions include wide receiver John Brown from the Bills and running back Kenyan Drake from the Cardinals.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers drafted Rashawn Slater, an offensive lineman, to get protection for quarterback Justin Herbert. The Bolts lost cornerback Casey Hayward to the Raiders and tight end Hunter Henry to the Patriots. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor went to the Texans. However, the Chargers added center Corey Linsley from the Packers, tight end Jared Cook from the Saints, and edge rusher Kyler Fackrell from the Giants.

The other big change for the Chargers in the offseason was hiring former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as head coach, replacing Anthony Lynn. Staley developed one of the best and most relentless defenses in the NFL with the Rams.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos drafted cornerback Patrick Surtain II from Alabama. They got backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers. Drew Lock is still the starter until the Broncos say otherwise. Cornerback A.J. Bouye went to the Panthers. Right tackle Elijah Wilkinson went to the Bears. The Broncos picked up cornerback Kyle Fuller from the Bears and right tackle Cameron Fleming from the Giants.