What positions should the teams in the AFC West look to address in the 2023 NFL Draft?
In the months leading up to the 2022 NFL regular season, the AFC West was all the rage. In his third season, could Justin Herbert turn his prolific individual passing numbers into a playoff berth for the Chargers?
Would the Denver Broncos’ offseason acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett make them a contender again? After a playoff berth for Las Vegas in 2021, could new head coach Josh McDaniels take this unit to the next level?
Or would Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the dynamic Kansas City Chiefs again reign supreme?
It didn’t take long for us to get answers. The Raiders started 2-7, with many of their passionate fans calling for McDaniels’ firing. That did not materialize, but the Raiders limped to a 6-11 finish and an imminent transition away from longtime quarterback Derek Carr. Nathaniel Hackett was not as fortunate, relieved of his duties after just 15 games at the helm for Denver.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s numbers actually dipped this season, as he played through an injury for a significant stretch. His favorite playmakers were dinged up at points as well. That said, the Chargers managed a 10-7 record and made their first playoffs in Herbert’s NFL career. But the cream of the crop? The Kansas City Chiefs enter the playoffs with a first-round bye and are the betting favorite to win Super Bowl 57.
These four franchises will enter the offseason at different places; let’s take a look at how each team can address its biggest holes in the NFL Draft.
2023 NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a very good team with a very real chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in the air once again. Simultaneously, they have a unique challenge of roster management going forward, as the Patrick Mahomes contract is substantial. The Chiefs have a good handle on the ways to work around that, but drafting well is imperative to ensure Mahomes delivers Super Bowls to the city of Kansas City on a routine basis.
Top Draft Needs: OT, S, EDGE
Kansas City has issues at the offensive tackle position. Franchise-tagged left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. wanted a record contract extension last summer, rebuffed Kansas City’s best offer (6yr/$139m), and negotiations are expected to pick up again this offseason. Brown may come to regret not signing on the dotted line. For someone making over $16 million on the franchise tag this season, he has played quite poorly, allowing four sacks and 38 pressures.
Counterpart Andrew Wylie’s play was also rough, as he allowed nine sacks and 49 pressures. The interior offensive line has been good, but I expect the Chiefs to draft an offensive tackle in April. I do believe Kansas City and Orlando Brown Jr. will eventually come to an agreement and Brown should return to an elite level of play, but the Chiefs need to get more out of the right tackle position.
Safety is another position to keep an eye on, as Deon Bush and Juan Thornhill are due to be free agents this offseason. The Chiefs did draft Bryan Cook in the second round of last year’s draft but depending on if they resign either Thornhill or Bush, I expect Kansas City to add to that position group.
The Chiefs should also look to pair another rookie EDGE with George Karlaftis. The pass rush needs improvement and age is a factor. Carlos Dunlap is turning 34 next month and Frank Clark will be 30 this summer. Clark’s 2023 cap number could make for a potential offseason cut as well.
2023 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Chargers
When the Chargers signed cornerback J.C. Jackson and EDGE Khalil Mack in the 2022 offseason, the expectation is that these splash signings would provide a competitive edge to the defense in what was anticipated to be an explosive division and conference.
What Los Angeles received was four and a half games of subpar play from Jackson. Mack fared better with eight sacks and a Pro Bowl, but he is about to turn 32 and can’t be seen as a long-term solution opposite the oft-injured Joey Bosa.
Top Needs: CB, EDGE, OT
Because of this, both cornerback and EDGE are on the offseason priority list once again. Torn patellar tendons are a particularly difficult injury to recover from, especially at that position. J.C. Jackson may never truly return to form. On top of that, slot cornerback Bryce Callahan is due to be a free agent and Michael Davis is set for free agency next offseason. The Chargers could look to add a perimeter corner and/or a slot corner in April.
As for pass rushers, Joey Bosa played a mere five games this regular season and has missed 30 regular season games in his seven seasons in the league. The aforementioned Mack is not going to perform at a high level forever, and the Chargers finished this season in middle of the pack (16th) in sacks (40). A high-ceiling pass rusher that can provide short-term depth and long-term starter potential is definitely a priority on draft night.
On the offensive side of the ball, Los Angeles needs to do a better job protecting Justin Herbert. The Chargers quarterback took 38 sacks this season (7th most) and he is one of the better quarterbacks in the league at eluding them. The Chargers drafted Rashawn Slater early in the 2021 NFL Draft and added Jamaree Salyer and Zion Johnson in the 2022 NFL Draft. If the Chargers can add a strong tackle with positional versatility to kick inside as needed, they would be making Justin Herbert a happy guy.
On offense, another position to keep an eye on is a field-stretching wide receiver. On defense, both an off-ball linebacker and a 3-technique defensive lineman would be strong adds, as Los Angeles is thin in both areas.
2023 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have needs across the board and are short their own first round pick, dealt to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade. They did recoup a first rounder from Miami in the trade that sent Bradley Chubb to South Beach, but it has to sting that their own first rounder ended up being the fifth overall pick. With needs on both sides of the ball, a few areas stand out.
Top Needs: OT, IOL, RB
First and foremost, the Broncos need to do a better job of protecting Russell Wilson. In his first season in Denver, Wilson took 55 sacks, tied for the league lead.
The performance of the offensive line has left much to be desired, but on top of that, there are several potential departures in free agency this offseason. The list includes starting left guard Dalton Risner and tackles Cameron Fleming (15 starts), Calvin Anderson (7 starts), Billy Turner (7 starts), and Tom Compton. Improving the offensive line needs to be the number one priority in Denver.
The Broncos could also look to add a running back in April. Second-year back Javonte Williams suffered a significant knee injury in Week 4 this year and his recovery timetable is unclear. What was expected to be a breakout season for Williams quickly became trouble for a Broncos offense mostly lacking playmakers. Latavius Murray, Chase Edmonds, Mike Boone, and Marlon Mack are not the solution to anyone’s problems. A healthy Williams return is ideal for Denver, but a second weapon in the backfield is needed regardless.
The Broncos could also eye an EDGE option (after trading Bradley Chubb at the deadline), an addition to the linebacker corps, or help in the secondary at both cornerback and safety.
2023 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders
The obvious hole on this Raiders team is quarterback. Derek Carr will almost certainly be moving elsewhere in the offseason after nine seasons as the Raiders starting QB. But are the Raiders moving toward a full-blown rebuild? This is a roster with some top-end talent, and I expect they will compete in 2023. I believe next season’s starting quarterback will be found in free agency.
Top Needs: QB, OT, IDL
Whether it’s Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or someone else, I think the Raiders will acquire a short-term starting option in free agency, as well as select their quarterback of the future in the NFL Draft. This could be a Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, or Hendon Hooker. Without the need to start right away, Josh McDaniels would have time to groom his guy, one that may not be as polished as the top-end options (Young, Stroud).
Whoever is under center will need better play out of the offensive line. While Kolton Miller has been tremendous at left tackle, the right side could use an upgrade. Jermaine Eluemunor had a surprisingly solid 2023 but should not be viewed as a long-term building block. He’s set to be a free agent and the Raiders should look to extend him but as a swing tackle or depth option.
Similarly, Alex Bars at the right guard spot is not the answer long-term. The Raiders could look for someone with the versatility to slide inside and play either role.
On the other side of the ball, the Raiders need help on the interior defensive line. Among the underperforming IDL group, only three players are under contract for the 2023 season, none of whom are high-end guys. Adding inside pressure through the NFL Draft should help the edge rush from Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones. For a defense that ranked 30th in sacks this season, getting more pressure is a must. Keep an eye on the secondary as well; the Raiders ranked 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game (242.9 ypg) and lack high-end talent at both corner and safety.