What NFL Draft Moves do the Broncos Need to Make to Challenge the Chiefs in the AFC West?
Three moves for every team in the AFC West to walk away with a successful draft.
The AFC West has been dominated by the Chiefs for nearly a decade, as they have been the division champion every year since 2016. It's hard to picture someone else taking the crown; even as the Broncos and Chargers took jumps forward last season, they are both seemingly a step below the team that has gone to the Super Bowl in five of the past six seasons.
The draft is a time of hope, though, and everyone feels that the right pick could push them over the top. Maybe one of those teams can find a new superstar pass rusher, cornerback, or receiver who will change the outlook of the team on the way to overtaking Kansas City.
Teams have different goals in the draft depending on where their roster is and how close they are to competing. A successful draft for the Chiefs this year doesn't necessarily look the same as a successful draft for the Raiders.
Below are three draft moves for each AFC West team. It will include specific picks, positions to focus on, trades, and anything else that makes sense for the team in question.
Check out the other division breakdowns:
Denver Broncos – No. 20
1. Get a new starting running back, maybe even in the first round (but preferably later).
If Ashton Jeanty fell this far, it would be a no-brainer. That's unlikely, so the Broncos will have to consider the next tier or running backs and could probably have their choice of non-Jeanty backs with the 20th pick.
UNC's Omarion Hampton is often seen as the most likely second running back off the board, but Denver would be better served by waiting until Day 2 to choose a guy in a deep running back class while getting a better prospect or a guy at a more premium position in Round 1.
2. Grab one of the top tight ends, Penn State's Tyler Warren or Michigan's Colston Loveland, if either falls this far.
Considering a trade up the board is reasonable and maybe necessary, as both guys are often seen as top-10 prospects in this class. If they are off the board, Denver could do well by grabbing one of the first-round receivers, like Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Matthew Golden (Texas), or others.
Quarterback Bo Nix played like an average quarterback last season; that's a pretty major feat for a rookie QB, especially the sixth player drafted at the position. With a strong defense, the team would do best by supporting him with skill players, like a new star pass catcher and a starting RB with upside.
3. Take high-upside players who could raise the ceiling soon.
Denver has a very balanced and full roster. Depth is always good because injuries happen every year, so they should grab players in the draft who they think can play right away. Without many holes to fill, though, the Broncos can take a few players with star-level potential who might not pan out.
That's not the best route to take in the first round, but pass rusher Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M and defensive tackle Walter Nolen from Ole Miss are guys who could be available with the 20th pick and have huge upside despite a lack of college production. Neither would have to play full snaps right away and would be surrounded by a lot of talent, putting them in position to thrive.
This is more of a task for Day 3, but we can't rule out anything with Denver pretty settled at most positions.
Kansas City Chiefs – No. 31
1. Trade up in the first round for a lineman or a safety.
The safeties would be either Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina or Malaki Starks of Georgia, two guys who are seen as first-round prospects who could slide due to their position. Justin Reid left for the Saints in free agency, leaving the Chiefs with an opening in the back of the defense. Either Emmanwori or Starks could be the first-round talent who can step in right away.
Otherwise, Kansas City is definitely on the radar for an offensive lineman in Round 1 and could focus on the defensive side if the board breaks right. For all their woes at left tackle, KC ranked eighth in pass blocking and seventh in run blocking, according to ESPN. Conversely, their defensive line ranked 19th in pass rushing and 21st in run stop win rate.
They have also taken steps toward filling the O-line: Kingsley Suamataia was drafted in the second round last year, and while he struggled in limited action, he will play this whole season at just 22 years old. The Chiefs also signed Jaylon Moore, who was working as a backup tackle in San Francisco. Moore graded out very well last season, so Kansas City is likely hoping he can keep up that level with a bigger workload and lock down left tackle.
2. Hit the other positions early in the draft with Day 2 picks.
Stretching back to Chris Jones in 2016, Kansas City has drafted seven defensive linemen on Day 1 or 2. Continuing off the first point, the Chiefs are likely to target the defensive line with a pick as early as Round 1, and they could also look that way with three Day 2 picks at No. 63, 66, and 95.
KC didn't make any major additions in free agency, only adding Jerry Tillery on the inside (while re-signing edge player Charles Omenihu). A young player either on the edge or at defensive tackle (or even both) would fit in Round 2 or 3 to bring a little more depth and upside.
By the end of Day 2, the Chiefs would do well to add an offensive lineman, defensive lineman, and defensive back.
3. Don't overdraft a running back when valuable players at premium positions are available.
This relates to the first two spots, as those positions are valued more by NFL teams. There is a lot of buzz around the Chiefs grabbing an RB at some point, and, I guess, but this team has plenty of holes to fill, and Isiah Pacheco ran for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns between 2022-23.
Pacheco was injured last season and limited to seven games, but he should be healthy to start 2025. A Day 3 RB would be fine, especially if there's a pass-catching back at good value, but Kansas City has too many other needs to grab a back on the first two days of the draft.
Las Vegas Raiders – No. 6
1. Do NOT take Ashton Jeanty in the first round.
This would be a little more acceptable if they first traded back out of the top 10 and added premium picks, but the Raiders have too many needs to be targeting a running back in the first round.
The need is there: Vegas had the fewest rushing yards and lowest yards per rush attempt last season. They would do better, though, by upgrading the offensive line (which was 22nd in run blocking) early and grabbing a back later in the draft.
2. Trade back in the first round.
The defense is where the Raiders should really be focused. I mentioned trading back would make it more acceptable for the team to take Jeanty, but as a Raiders fan, I want to see the defense upgraded after the team made a major move for Geno Smith.
Cornerback is often listed as the biggest need for Las Vegas, and the value matches up that they could target a corner with the sixth pick, and it wouldn't be outrageous. My A-plus result would be the Raiders trading back, maybe to No. 10 while the Bears move up to take Jeanty, picking up a second- or third-round pick, and getting either Michigan's Will Johnson or Texas' Jahdae Barron to fill the major CB need.
3. Get the most value at every pick.
This means taking the best player available every time they do pick and being open to trading down whenever surplus value presents itself. While the other three teams in this division are likely looking for players who can help right away, the Raiders need more than just a few pieces. Setting themselves up with the best players/picks will be the best path toward getting back to contention.
Los Angeles Chargers – No. 22
1. Get a wide receiver on the first two days.
Ladd McConkey looks like a keeper and very capable WR2. The Chargers otherwise have two of their former first-round picks at different points in their career: Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston. Either or both of those two might be gone by next season, and the Chargers could use another young guy who could possibly be a future WR1.
Egbuka, McMillan, and Iowa State's Jayden Higgins are all bigger receivers who would fit better with the smaller, nimbler McConkey. LA also can wait until Day 2 because they have enough options to set a good base in 2025, so they don't need a guy to be the top option right away.
2. Draft a pass rusher in Round 1 if the board falls that way.
This means having a plan but not being stuck to it if defensive linemen fly off the board in the first 21 picks. This is seen as a draft with a lot of first-round pass rushers, and a guy like Mike Green (Marshall), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), Mykel Williams (Georgia), and Texas A&M's Stewart would fit the bill of value and availability.
If those pass rushers do start going early, though, shifting focus to one of the receivers mentioned above or one of the top two tight ends could make the most sense for their roster.
3. Get someone who might be able to start at center in a few years (or sooner).
This could be solved with a first-round pick, again, depending on how things go before the Chargers are on the clock. Gray Zabel (North Dakota State) is seen as a possible starter at either guard or center as a rookie and is projected to be drafted some time between pick 20 and 40. LA has Bradley Bozeman and Andre James, but both are on smaller contracts and could be easily released or traded.
Both Bozeman and James graded out below average last season, so looking for an upgrade makes sense. This could also come in the form of a prospect later in the draft who might not be an instant starter but could take over within a year or two. Georgia's Jared Wilson and Ohio State's Seth McLaughlin are seen as possible Day 2 guys who could be future starters.
