How Chiefs’ rivals in AFC West have improved (and worsened) ahead of NFL Draft
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas City Chiefs added veterans: Top draft needs: corner, edge, tackle.
- Broncos traded multiple 2026 picks for Jaylen Waddle to bolster roster.
- Raiders hired Klint Kubiak and are expected to pick QB Fernando Mendoza.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been intentional with their plans this offseason, acquiring marquee running back Kenneth Walker at the start of free agency, along with defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and safety Alohi Gilman to bolster the defense.
The Chiefs have now turned their attention to the secondary waves of free agency while looking ahead to the draft — with top needs at cornerback, edge and offensive tackle, by my estimation.
But what about the rest of the AFC West?
If there is one theme across the division, it’s been offensive coaching changes. Eric Bieniemy is back as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton has handed play-calling duties to promoted offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
The Chargers added Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator following his dismissal from Miami. The Raiders, meanwhile, named Klint Kubiak their new head coach after his Super Bowl run as Seattle’s offensive coordinator.
The division feels more up for grabs than it has in a long time.
At the time of this writing, the AFC West futures have the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers as co-favorites (+180), with the Denver Broncos close behind (+200) and the Las Vegas Raiders a distant longshot (+1800).
Here’s what has stood out across the rest of the division:
Denver Broncos
While the Broncos snapped the Chiefs’ nine-season streak as AFC West champions, they had to feel sick about their playoff finish, which was a low-scoring 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Denver couldn’t overcome the Patriots’ defense with backup Jarrett Stidham on a snowy championship Sunday in Denver.
Biggest offseason move: Trading for WR Jaylen Waddle
Much like the Chiefs in Patrick Mahomes’ third season, the Broncos are going all in on 2026 with Bo Nix still on his rookie contract. With unrest in Denver amid a quiet start to the offseason, the Broncos made a splash last week when they surrendered three 2026 draft picks for former Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-rounder.
Adding Waddle to a wide receiver corps that already includes Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims gives Denver one of the best groups in the league.
Greatest loss: The picks used to acquire Waddle
The package Denver sent to Miami in exchange for Waddle shows the Broncos believe they were one piece away. The Broncos’ haul included their first (No. 30) and third-round (No. 94) picks, leaving them waiting until No. 62 in the second round as part of seven remaining draft picks.
Denver’s run to the AFC Championship suggests it could be right, but with a move that splashy comes real risk. The Broncos still could still use depth on both sides in the trenches as well as in their secondary.
Lingering question: Can Bo Nix be the guy?
At this point, there probably isn’t much debate as to whether the 2024 No. 12 overall pick is a franchise quarterback. Through two seasons, Nix has shown he can guide the Broncos to a division championship and even a conference title game.
But is he a Super Bowl quarterback?
The critiques of Nix revolve around low air yards and inconsistency. When a team adds a receiver as explosive as Waddle, it’s betting he can help get it to the promised land.
Las Vegas Raiders
It’s another year, another head coach for the Raiders, who hired Klint Kubiak — the offensive coordinator of the reigning Super Bowl champions — to become their sixth head coach since 2021. The offensive-minded Kubiak takes over for Pete Carroll, who was let go after just one season.
Kubiak transformed Seattle from the 18th-ranked scoring offense (22.1 points per game) in 2024 to third in 2025 (28.4) en route to a Super Bowl title.
Biggest offseason move: Selecting Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall
The Raiders’ biggest offseason move is one that hasn’t happened yet.
Despite recent national buzz surrounding Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, Las Vegas is still expected to select Indiana national champion Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in the NFL Draft, ending a run of a revolving door of starting quarterbacks since Derek Carr’s last snap in 2022.
Greatest loss: The respect of five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby?
The Raiders thought they had a lucrative trade in place with the Baltimore Ravens to send Maxx Crosby in a deal that would have netted them additional first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Crosby wanted out of Las Vegas after the Raiders shut him down near the end of last season while he claimed to be healthy enough to play.
Citing a failed physical due to Crosby’s lingering knee issue, the Ravens nixed the trade before the start of the league year and instead pivoted to free-agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, leaving Crosby back where he started.
Now, Crosby and the Raiders appear to be moving forward together, but how functional could it all be?
Vegas has to believe time heals all.
Lingering question: Is this finally the Raiders’ true reset to relevance?
The Raiders have been seeking a reset to relevance for two-plus decades.
With Mendoza likely on board and the hiring of Kubiak, the Raiders finally feel as though they have the right personnel in place to begin to take small steps out of the gutter. They made a splash in free agency to sign All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum, but they still have needs along the offensive line, as well as at wide receiver.
Fortunately for the Raiders, they hold 10 total selections in the NFL Draft. Picking well would help expedite the process to compete in what has suddenly become one of the best divisions in football.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers once again faced disappointment in the playoffs stemming from injuries to starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. In a 16-3 Wild Card loss to the Patriots, New England sacked Justin Herbert six times as part of 11 quarterback hits.
In addition to beefing up the interior of the offensive line, the Chargers could stand to add a pass rusher on either Day 1 or Day 2 of the draft.
Biggest offseason move: Naming Mike McDaniel offensive coordinator
The thought is that Jim Harbaugh replaced Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel in an effort to boost the play of Justin Herbert, with an expectation that the offense shifts to a blend of Harbaugh’s run emphasis with wide-open targets for the quarterback.
The caveat will be that it is unlikely to matter if his protection can’t stay healthy, which further underlines the need to solidify the line. Los Angeles added center Tyler Biadasz and right guard Cole Strange in free agency, leaving left guard as a priority.
Greatest loss: Losing Jesse Minter (Baltimore) as defensive coordinator
During the past two seasons, Jesse Minter was thought to be a surefire future head coach, especially after morphing a 24th-ranked scoring defense (2023) into the top scoring defense in the league (2024). In 2025, the Chargers dipped to ninth in scoring defense but remained in the top five in total defense.
Harbaugh replaced Minter with Chris O’Leary, who was a safeties coach under Minter (2024) before spending a season at Western Michigan (2025) as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Lingering question: Can LA win a playoff game with Herbert?
The Chargers have made the playoffs in three of the past four years, including back-to-back seasons under Harbaugh. All three have ended in heartbreak in the Wild Card round.
In 2022, Los Angeles blew a 27-0 lead in a 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, they were blown out 32-12 by the Houston Texans before last year’s stinker against the Patriots.
Harbaugh is wagering that McDaniel is the key to getting Herbert over the hump.
