The first waves of free agency have come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 18th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s continue with the AFC West.
Denver Broncos
Key acquisitions: CB A.J. Bouye, G Graham Glasgow, RB Melvin Gordon, DT Jurrell Casey, TE Nick Vannett, P Sam Martin, QB Jeff Driskel
Re-signed: S Justin Simmons (franchise), DT Shelby Harris, DE Jeremiah Attaochu
Departures: CB Chris Harris Jr. (Chargers), C Connor McGovern (Jets), DT Derek Wolfe (Ravens), QB Joe Flacco, S Will Parks (Eagles), LS Casey Kreiter (Giants)
Remaining free agents: G Ronald Leary, RB Devontae Booker, DE Adam Gotsis
Analysis: I think the Broncos might be back. That’s still TBD, but the moves they’ve been making are making me think they are approaching relevance once again. The made a huge trade before free agency, acquiring former Jaguars and Texans Pro Bowl corner A.J. Bouye. The Broncos were once known for their elite secondary, but with Chris Harris gone to the Chargers, they needed to retool the back end of the defense. The Jaguars are shipping anybody and everybody right now, and the Broncos swooped in and gave up a fourth for a No. 1 corner. They also gave star safety Justin Simmons the franchise tag, and are actively negotiating a long-term deal, so he should anchor that secondary for years to come. They also acquired another Pro Bowl defensive player in longtime Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, and only gave up a seventh round pick, likely due to the salary, but still minimal compensation for the 5-time Pro Bowler, each the past five seasons if I might add.
I believe, and I think the Broncos also believe, that they’ve found their next quarterback in Drew Lock, so they worked this offseason to build around him. To help protect him, the Broncos gave former Lions center/guard Graham Glasgow a four-year deal, arguably the top interior lineman on the market. The also made a splash at running back bringing in a division rival in former Chargers Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon. I was a bit surprised by the landing spot, as the Broncos already have a Pro Bowl back in Phillip Lindsay, but maybe they have a plan for them to split carries and be a run-heavy offense. Also add in both players pass catching ability and you’ve got a dynamic duo.
Conclusion: Like I said, I think the Broncos are back, at least they’re heading in that direction. The defense is putting some things together, combining veteran talent with young draftees. With the loss of Derek Wolfe, Casey and Shelby Harris will anchor the defensive line, not to mention youngsters in Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker. We all know about star edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Their inside linebackers aren’t well-known, but the play of Alexander Johnson last year was elite, and deserved Pro Bowl recognition, alongside Todd Davis and Josey Jewell. The secondary needs some work, but they’ve got some new guys they like and could be long-term starters. That includes Duke Dawson and Isaac Yiadom, alongside veteran safety Kareem Jackson and nickel Bryce Callahan, both signed last year.
What needs some work right now is the offense. Lock played very well last season as a rookie, going 4-1 as a starter. I already mentioned the running back talent, but they need help at receiver. Courtland Sutton emerged as the No. 1 receiver, posting 1,000 yards and a Pro Bowl, but they need a guy to pair alongside Sutton. The days of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are long over, and it’s time to get Sutton a partner in crime. I see them taking a receiver in the draft, and with them picking 15th, they very much could get a top guy, like Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, or Henry Ruggs. I really like Noah Fant at tight end, an uber-athletic freak, and their o-line is improved.
The Broncos did real good work in free agency, and now it’s time to look towards the draft. They have to get a receiver. That’s their clear top need and what a perfect draft to have this position as a need.
Kansas City Chiefs
Key acquisitions: OT Mike Remmers, CB Antonio Hamilton, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
Re-signed: DT Chris Jones (franchise), WR Demarcus Robinson, CB Bashaud Breeland, DT Mike Pennel, FB Anthony Sherman, QB Chad Henne
Departures: CB Kendall Fuller (Redskins), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (Dolphins), LB Reggie Ragland (Lions), G Stefen Wisniewski (Steelers), S Jordan Lucas (Bears), TE Blake Bell (Cowboys)
Remaining free agents: G Cameron Erving, RB LeSean McCoy, CB Morris Claiborne, LB Darron Lee, DE Terrell Suggs
Analysis: Honestly, not much to talk about here. The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champs and they made pretty meaningless additions in free agency. Remmers is a nice depth move, but he likely won’t be asked to start as they have two very good tackles. Hamilton is a nice special teamer and Seals-Jones is a depth option at tight end.
What people aren’t talking about is all the losses they incurred, and that people are still penciling them into the Super Bowl again next year. While that is likely, these losses will loom large. They lost starting cornerback Kendall Fuller, who returns to Washington after being traded from there in the Alex Smith trade. They lost Emmanuel Ogbah, who was acquired from the Browns last year and played very well before getting hurt. They lose depth there, and they lose a starting linebacker in Reggie Ragland, who was acquired from the Bills in 2018. Also lost guard Stefen Wisniewski, who was signed mid-season and became the starting left guard for the postseason, and played well. Oddly enough a lot of the guys they lost were trade acquisitions, which says to me the Chiefs mentality the past couple seasons was “let’s acquire these guys who may be castoffs, turn them into starters, win a Super Bowl, then let them walk in free agency and get compensatory picks for them”, a page taken straight out of the Patriots playbook.
Conclusion: Although they lost some starters on defense, they still have a deep enough roster where they can be replaced. In the secondary at cornerback, they brought back Bashaud Breeland to start, and they have Charvarius Ward who can play as well. I see this as their top priority in the draft, and with the 32nd pick, they’ll probably trade out, but they can get good talent back of the first or beginning of second. At linebacker, they still have Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson, but could use some help. The front is really good, with the franchised Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Alex Okafor, Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, and plenty more.
The offense is virtually unchanged. They have all their running backs minus LeSean McCoy, who wasn’t a contributor done the stretch, they have all their receivers afte re-signing Demarcus Robinson and restructuring Sammy Watkins’ contract, and they still have a top 3 tight end in Travis Kelce, plus a solid offensive line. I could see them adding an interior lineman early, but this is not a draft where you should take one in the first round, maybe mid-second round.
There’s no reason to believe the Chiefs won’t be Super Bowl favorites. Most of the roster is returning, minus a few pieces, which they can fill in the draft and during training camp. Chiefs are primed to defend their title.
Las Vegas Raiders
Key acquisitions: LB Cory Littleton, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Damarious Randall, QB Marcus Mariota, DE Carl Nassib, DT Maliek Collins, WR Nelson Agholor, TE Jason Witten, S Jeff Heath, G Eric Kush, TE Nick O’Leary, DT Daniel Ross
Re-signed: RB Jalen Richard, RB Rod Smith, LB Kyle Wilber, G Jordan Devey
Departures: LB Tahir Whitehead (Panthers), S Karl Joseph (Browns), RB DeAndre Washington (Chiefs), DE Benson Mayowa (Seahawks)
Remaining free agents: CB Daryl Worley, LB Vontaze Burfict, S Curtis Riley, LB Will Compton, WR Dwayne Harris, DE Dion Jordan, DE Josh Mauro
Analysis: For the second year in a row under GM Mike Mayock, the Raiders were very active in free agency. Their focus was at linebacker after parting with Tahir Whitehead, signing for Ram Cory Littleton and former Bear Nick Kwiatkoski. While these guys got multi-year deals, most of the guys they signed were for one year. They signed a couple veteran safeties in former Cowboy Jeff Heath and former Brown and Packer Damarious Randall after moving on from former first-rounder Karl Joseph. They also brought in a couple defensive lineman in another former Cowboys second-rounder Maliek Collins and former Buccaneer and Brown Carl Nassib.
On offense, they brought in a new quarterback to compete with Derek Carr in former Titans 2nd overall pick Marcus Mariota. Jon Gruden loves quarterbacks, and it’s possible Mariota could push Carr out the door. They also signed former Eagles first rounder Nelson Agholor, who was not well liked in Philly, but gets a fresh start in Vegas. They also brought in longtime Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who at age 37 won’t be the top guy, but he’s a nice locker room depth guy. Plus he can talk to Gruden about how to be better at calling Monday Night Football games.
Conclusion: The Raiders haven’t really moved forward from last year, kind of following the same formula as last year: sign a bunch of free agents to one-year deals then let them walk, rise and repeat. They’ll keep a couple guys, but it’s an interesting roster building technique by Mayock. They currently have 79 players on the roster before the draft, so they got a full roster with no noticeable holes. They got four quarterbacks right now, so adding a rookie would not be smart in my opinion. I love Josh Jacobs, their first-round running back who should’ve won rookie of the year, plus they re-signed third-down back Jalen Richard. The receivers are not as bad as people are making them out to be. I like Tyrell Williams and Agholor with Hunter Renfrow in the slot, not to mention Zay Jones and Keelan Doss are solid back end guys. I wouldn’t consider those guys true No. 1 receivers, but Williams could be that. Darren Waller really had a life-changing season last year after battling back from suspension and addiction to have a 1,000 yard season. The offensive line is also among the best, with high-priced free agents and drafted talent.
The defense is what is an unknown. They have a bunch of guys, but can they play in this system. The pass rushers are led by draft picks last year in Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell along with Nassib and Arden Key. The interior guys are led by Maurice Hurst, Collins, Johnathan Hankins and P.J. Hall. The linebackers is what many draft experts are saying is a hole, which I could see, but they invested heavily in free agency there, so maybe they’ll turn for what I think their biggest position of need is which is cornerback. Their top CB from a year ago, Daryl Worley, is still a free agent, but that spot appears to be taken by 2019 second-rounder Trayvon Mullen, who people are raving about. Other options include 2019 fourth-rounder Isaiah Johnson and veteran Nevin Lawson. Many are connecting Clemson CB A.J. Terrell to the Raiders to join former college teammate Mullen. The safeties is what they have a surplus in. After drafting Johnathan Abram in the first round, he was projected to be the next big safety, but he got hurt in Week 1 and was lost for the year. Fully healthy, he’ll be playing alongside Lamarcus Joyner, Erik Harris, and newbies Randall and Heath.
The Raiders formula and roster-building method is an interesting one, looking exactly like what they did in 2019, and they went 7-9. They need to build in the draft, which they did well in last year with Ferrell, Jacobs, Abram, Crosby, Foster Moreau, among others. This is the year for the Raiders to take a leap, quit staying the same.
Los Angeles Chargers
Key acquisitions: G Trai Turner, OT Bryan Bulaga, CB Chris Harris Jr., DT Linval Joseph, LB Nick Vigil, WR Darius Jennings
Re-signed: TE Hunter Henry, RB Austin Ekeler
Departures: QB Philip Rivers (Colts), RB Melvin Gordon (Broncos), OT Russell Okung (Panthers), S Adrian Phillips (Patriots), LB Jatavis Brown (Eagles), FB Derek Watt (Steelers), LB Thomas Davis (Redskins), DT Brandon Mebane, S Jaylen Watkins (Texans), WR Travis Benjamin (49ers), LB Nick Dzubnar (Titans)
Remaining free agents: G Michael Schofield, DT Damion Square
Analysis: The Chargers did something in free agency! They never make splashy moves, signing a couple guys here and there, but never anything too flashy. Before the signings, they pulled off a big trade with Carolina, acquiring 5x Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner for oft-injured left tackle Russell Okung. He’s an immediate upgrade over Michael Schofield at right guard in a rebuilt line that also added longtime Packers starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga. But the biggest story for the Chargers is that former franchise QB Philip Rivers is now in Indy, which means Tyrod Taylor is the starter. They also have a new starting running back, as Austin Ekeler will be taking on the featured role after receiving an extension and parting with Melvin Gordon after his ineffective holdout last year. I’ll give some fullback love, Derek Watt is out the door to join his brother in Pittsburgh, and the speedy Travis Benjamin flew north to San Francisco.
On defense, they brought in a Pro Bowl cornerback who’ll join an already star-studded secondary. Chris Harris Jr. leaves the division-rival Broncos to start alongside Casey Hayward and Desmond King. They also signed a new linebacker in former Bengal Nick Vigil, who’s been sneaky a solid player for Cincy the past few seasons. The unit lost Jatavis Brown and Thomas Davis, so they’ll need to retool that position, but they still have veteran Denzel Perryman and 2019 fourth-rounder Drue Tranquill in the building, so Vigil will pair nicely with them. LA also made a big move on the defensive line, signing former Vikings Pro Bowler Linval Joseph. The Chargers have always had a big hole at defensive tackle, and Joseph immediately upgrades the position as one of the best in the game. He’ll join 2019 first-rounder Jerry Tillery and 2018 third-rounder Justin Jones.
Conclusion: The Chargers struck out on the Tom Brady sweepstakes, so right now their starting QB is Tyrod Taylor, unless they do what many believe and take a QB with the 6th pick, whether it be Tua or Justin Herbert. If that’s the case, the youngster will have some of the best offensive weaponry in the league, with star receiver Keenan Allen, along with Mike Williams, along with franchise tagged tight end Hunter Henry and Ekeler. The offensive line needs some work at tackle, and the receiver could use more depth, but nonetheless I expect the Chargers to do very well in the draft, because they have to be. The defense is also a bright spot, with some new defensive tackles on the inside with star pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on the edge. The secondary is phenomenal, with Harris, Hayward, and King, with star safety Derwin James alongside Rayshawn Jenkins and Nasir Adderley.
Although the quarterback position is not quite where Chargers fans would like it to be right now, but they have to believe it will be the top target in the draft. The Chargers were finally very active in free agency, and it paid off. Maybe they should do it more often.
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