The NFL Draft is the best way for teams to address their biggest needs, and every single team in the AFC West will use the event to bolster their roster and try to compete for divisional dominance. While the Chiefs are clearly the best of the bunch here, each team should be able to compete for the playoffs if they make the right decisions in the draft.
Top Draft Need For Every AFC West Team
Denver Broncos: Offensive Tackle
One could easily argue that quarterback should be the biggest draft need for the Broncos, and perhaps that will be the case at this point next year. However, given the structure of Russell Wilson’s contract, the team will have to stick with him for at least one more season. So, if you can’t change the quarterback, then you might as well try and make his life as easy as possible. Wilson’s erratic style of play naturally leads to a lot of pressure, but even when you account for that, Denver’s offensive line is still a mess. The Broncos don’t have a pick until the third round, but they should be able to find someone capable of competing for a starting job.
Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver
It’s strange for an offense this good to have such a glaring hole at wide receiver, but that’s just where the Chiefs find themselves after losing Juju Smith-Schuster in free agency. If the season started today, Kansas City would walk into the season with Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore as their top wide receivers. While Toney and Moore are both high-risk, high-reward players, the Chiefs need to add another body in case neither player reaches their potential in 2023. It’s no secret that Kansas City is in love with speedy players, which makes Jalin Hyatt a perfect fit near the end of the first round. While he is dramatically different from Smith-Schuster, his ability to stretch the field will be an invaluable asset for Mahomes and the Chiefs.
I’m a fan of Jalin Hyatt. pic.twitter.com/Le175ahMqE
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) April 4, 2023
Las Vegas Raiders: Offensive Tackle
Chances are, Josh McDaniels only has one year to turn around the Las Vegas Raiders. The team effectively chose Jimmy Garoppolo over Derek Carr, and Garoppolo’s injury history means that the team is going to have to do something about that offensive line. The unit was one of the worst in football last year, and if Garoppolo takes the same beating that Carr did, there is a very real chance he won’t make it through a full 17-game season. Fortunately, the Raiders hold the seventh pick in the NFL Draft, and talent and need should align perfectly here. Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, and Darnell Wright would all be worthy selections.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tight End
The Los Angeles Chargers should know better than anyone just how important it is to have multiple reliable pass catchers. Last year, this offense was nearly unstoppable when Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were both healthy. However, when they missed time, the Chargers offense took a major step back. This team needs a third reliable weapon, and with Allen and Williams both coming back, the best way to improve the offense could be by adding a tight end.
Fortunately for the Chargers, this is the best tight end draft class in quite some time. While the team could add Michael Mayer in the first round, they might be smarter to address a different position with their first-round pick and draft someone like Luke Musgrave in the second round. After all, the jump in talent from Mayer to Musgrave isn’t nearly as dramatic as the jump from Jordan Addison to a second-round wide receiver.
Main Photo: Brianna Paciorka – USA Today Sports
