2023 NFL Draft: Handing out grades for the AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Kansas City Chiefs (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
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The AFC West could be an extremely competitive division next year, and part of that could be due to how they performed in the 2023 NFL Draft.  Each team in the AFC West do have solid arguments for being a good team in 2023, perhaps even great.

The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions.  The Chargers have a generational talent at quarterback and made the playoffs last year.  Josh McDaniels seemed to have gotten his quarterback of choice of Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Denver Broncos landed Sean Payton this offseason and boast a talented roster.

All four teams came away with solid talent in the 2023 NFL Draft, so let’s take a stab at grading each team’s class.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

2023 NFL Draft: Handing out grades for the AFC West – Denver Broncos

Here’s their 2023 NFL Draft class:

Round 2, Pick 63 – Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 67 – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Round 3, Pick 83 – Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
Round 6, Pick 183 – JL Skinner, S, Boise State
Round 7, Pick 257 – Alex Forsyth, C, Oregon

The Denver Broncos worked the draft boards and landed three picks in the top 100 even though they did not have a first or second round pick.

They landed a speed threat in Marvin Mims who looks to be a KJ Hamler replacement, and I think their seventh round pick, Alex Forsyth, can truly compete for a starting job.  Riley Moss is an exceptional athlete and JL Skinner went much later than he should have.

I’m not too fond of the Drew Sanders pick but I think Denver did well for themselves.

Grade: B+