One Bold Draft Move for Every AFC West Team

Presenting one scenario for each team in the AFC West that could shake up the draft or at least buck conventional thinking

The best player acquisitions in sports often come with risk. Signing a free agent pitcher to a seven-year deal with a big salary locks a team into a top-line contract while knowing that pitchers get hurt more often than any other position.

That general manager takes the risk because of the upside: An ace who can lead the team through the playoffs to a World Series championship. Bold moves pay off sometimes for those willing to take the risk.

I am going through each NFL division and naming one bold move each team could make either during or around the draft. For some, this means aggressively adding a player at a position of need; others would be bold by changing their usual strategy.

The AFC West is perpetually chasing the Chiefs until Patrick Mahomes decides to retire. The other three teams can’t play it safe if they want to contend for the division, so bold moves are as important here as anywhere in the league.

Denver Broncos

Trade out of the first round

The Broncos have a dearth of talent largely due to the deals for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, which cost the team three first-round picks and three second-round picks (they did get a third rounder back while sending out a fifth). Finally with a pick in the first round, they could look to reverse that fortune and gain a lot of current and future draft capital.

Getting out of the first round would probably happen over multiple moves, since a team moving up to No. 12 from the second round would be a huge cost. Depending on how they feel about future picks versus those in 2024, Denver could probably pick up a first-round pick and two second rounders plus more.

Using the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, we can approximate a few moves that would help replenish the roster in Denver. Moving back to Miami’s pick at No. 21 could return the Dolphins’ second-round pick (55) and one or two mid-round picks.

Sliding down from 21 to the Chiefs’ 32nd pick, the last of the first round, would fall along the same lines, bringing back Kansas City’s second round pick (No. 64) with more possibly involved.

The last step would be to acquire a first rounder next year by trading the 32nd pick to a team that wants to move up for a quarterback. The Giants have been linked to a trade up in the second round to grab either Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr., so would the Broncos accept next year’s first-round pick and not much else to let the Giants get to 32?

It would mean Denver’s top picks would be the acquired second rounders, 55 and 64, but New York has a great chance to have a top-10 pick again next year, so this would be a lottery ticket with eyes on a premium pick; if nothing else, it can’t be lower than No. 32.

A tactic like this is aimed at the future and maybe not what a coach like Payton wants to do. More likely, the team will make their selection at 12 or make a modest trade down and stay within the top 20. A bold strategy, though, could help make up for years of lost value.

Kansas City Chiefs

Take a cornerback in the top 20

As mentioned above, the Chiefs have the 32nd overall pick that comes with winning the Super Bowl. They have been aggressive in trading up for players they like, notably corner Trent McDuffie in 2022.

KC traded up from No. 29 to No. 21 to grab McDuffie, giving New England third- and fourth-round picks that year (94 and 121). The Rams own the 19th pick and have shown that they aren’t afraid to trade their first rounders while also valuing Day 2 and 3 picks highly.

According to the Johnson chart, the Chiefs could give LA their second rounder and either the first pick of the seventh round (221) or a future mid-round pick to make the swap between 32 and 19. This would be the same idea as the McDuffie trade, identifying a player at a premium position and making a move to grab him.

Who would they target? Conventional wisdom says they should replicate McDuffie, but the team just lost L'Jarius Sneed and may look to find a corner with more size than the 5’11 McDuffie. Clemson’s Nate Wiggins fits the profile, and while he could be available when they pick at 32, Kansas City might have a player earmarked to trade up for at a certain spot.

Las Vegas Raiders

Ignore the quarterbacks completely and take the best player at each pick

With superstars like Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby on the roster and the huge deal given to Christian Wilkins in free agency, the Raiders clearly aren’t looking to rebuild. They also signed quarterback Gardner Minshew to compete for the starting job with Aidan O'Connell (and hopefully win).

An urgent move would be to trade up to the fourth pick or even third if they could get the Patriots to budge, but that would set back the team’s draft picks through 2026 possibly, likely causing more harm than good. It would be bold, but let’s go the other way.

Rather than rushing into things with a new GM and permanent head coach, building up the defense and offensive line would behoove the team. Vegas has one pick in each round (and two picks in the seventh), so they can add a lot of talent in this draft.

The Raiders as a franchise are known for making big moves and doing things their own way. That worked when Al Davis was coherent, but they have been bad most of the last two decades and could use a more measured approach to building the roster.

Los Angeles Chargers

Stay at No. 5

New GM Joe Hortiz comes from Baltimore, a team that loves to trade down, acquire extra picks, and take advantage of the compensatory draft system. Many project that LA will trade down from their initial position, particularly if J.J. McCarthy is still on the board. It makes sense; they could likely get three first rounders from the Vikings (11, 23, and a 2025 first).

It's a smart strategy for a team that lost a lot of talent this offseason, but it takes away the chance to grab a blue-chip prospect, like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or left tackle Joe Alt. Either solidifying the edges or bringing in a new WR1 would be a great way to support Justin Herbert.

I prefer the idea of the Chargers trading back to get as many picks as possible. This is about bold moves, though, and putting all their eggs in a stronger basket is the best way to get to a competitive level fast.

The decision may also depend on the trade offers they receive. The Minnesota deal receiving three first-round picks is great, but what if the Vikings only offered two firsts? The draft charts show that trade making sense, but it might not be enough to sway the Chargers into passing on their preferred player.

Staying at fifth overall and taking the best player available will raise the floor of LA’s roster.

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