The AFC West is home to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, who have the fifth-most players ranked in Pro Football Network’s NFL Top 100 list.
Although Patrick Mahomes tops the list, how many of his Chiefs teammates made it? Did each team in the AFC West have a player on the list?
AFC West Players in PFN’s NFL Top 100
1) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (1st overall)
Already considered one of the best players in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes is the top player in the league heading into 2024.
A three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time league MVP through six NFL campaigns, Mahomes has a path to becoming the greatest player in the NFL’s record books. Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid are on the verge of creating the league’s next indelible dynasty with the Kansas City Chiefs.
2) Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders (9th overall)
Availability is the best ability, but talent is helpful, too. Luckily for the Las Vegas Raiders, Maxx Crosby offers both in spades. He was the only defensive lineman to play over 1,000 snaps in 2023, leading DL in playtime for the second consecutive season.
Crosby is dynamite against the run and finished fourth among edge rushers with 86 pressures.
3) Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (16th overall)
Chris Jones occupied two blockers a whopping 73% of the time, the highest rate in the league. With offensive linemen focused on Jones, other Chiefs pass rushers like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Charles Omenihu were able to reach opposing QBs.
Of course, Jones did alright for himself, posting 10.5 sacks in 16 games. His 42 sacks and 103 QB hits over the last four years rank first among defensive tackles.
Jones might have a better shot of winning a Defensive Player of the Year award now that Aaron Donald is out of the league.
4) Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (21st overall)
Although Travis Kelce couldn’t match his 2022 statistics last year, he still ranked second among tight ends in yardage (984), third in receptions (93), and scored five touchdowns, continuing to add to his Hall of Fame résumé in his age-34 campaign.
Kelce’s unparalleled connection with Mahomes and his ability to find open space make him the NFL’s top tight end entering 2024.
5) Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (25th overall)
Davante Adams is still the best route runner in the game, and his release package is unparalleled. He earned three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods to begin the decade, but his production took a hit in 2023 (mainly due to the Raiders’ QB play).
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He’s posted at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards in five of the last six years, including four straight. While Vegas’ quarterback situation didn’t improve this offseason, Adams should continue to receive plenty of opportunities. In 2023, he ranked first league-wide in air yards share (44.2%) and second in target share (33.1%).
6) Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos (33rd overall)
Patrick Surtain II wasn’t quite as dominant in 2023 as he was in his 2022 All-Pro season, but that’s the life of an NFL cornerback — even an elite one. The Denver Broncos’ defense was a disaster early last year, and Surtain’s coverage numbers dipped during that stretch. Still, he’s typically as reliable as any corner in the league.
While he was mentioned as a speculative trade candidate as the Broncos pursued a rookie QB, Surtain was too valuable for Sean Payton to give up. He should rebound in 2024 if the rest of Denver’s defense plays up to par. Surtain’s perfect technique lets him cover any receiver in the NFL.
7) Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (47th overall)
With L’Jarius Sneed playing boundary corner in 2023, the Chiefs primarily deployed Trent McDuffie in the slot. He was lethal from the inside and was critical in Kansas City’s Super Bowl win.
McDuffie broke up three passes and executed a perfect fourth-quarter slot blitz against Purdy, enabling the Chiefs to get the ball back. He’s K.C.’s most valuable defender not named Chris Jones.
8) Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (51st overall)
Justin Herbert hasn’t achieved the same level of team success as other quarterbacks on this list, but he’s been a high-end passer in his own right – despite the Los Angeles Chargers failing to optimize his offensive environment.
Herbert posted a 60+ QBR in all four of his pro campaigns, setting a career-high 70.9 mark in 2021. One of the most physically talented QBs in the NFL, Herbert should finally get his flowers if and when the Chargers start winning games under Jim Harbaugh.
9) Joe Thuney, G, Kansas City Chiefs (60th overall)
Although the Chiefs’ offensive tackles struggled in 2023, the club’s interior line remained strong.
Joe Thuney’s 99% pass block win rate ranked first among guards, and he was only penalized twice on more than 1,000 snaps (neither was accepted). Mahomes is excellent at avoiding pressure, but having a guard like Thuney up front helps.
10) Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs (61st overall)
Thuney isn’t the only brute force helping to protect Mahomes in Kansas City. Creed Humphrey, a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2022, is arguably the NFL’s best center now that Jason Kelce has retired. He could become the league’s highest-paid pivot, but center contracts are so stagnant that Humphrey may only land $14 million annually.
11) Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers (68th overall)
Talk about turning back the clock. After averaging just eight sacks per season from 2019 through 2022, aged pass rusher Khalil Mack racked up 17 sacks for the Chargers in 2023 while playing solid run defense.
He’ll be 33 next year, but Mack’s production wasn’t a fluke, as he ranked ninth in pass-rush win rate.
12) Christian Wilkins, DT, Las Vegas Raiders (70th overall)
Christian Wilkins had always been a productive player heading into 2023, but he stepped up his game in his fifth NFL campaign.
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The former first-round pick posted 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits from 2019 to 2022 — Wilkins put up nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2023 alone. The Raiders liked what they saw and made Wilkins the NFL’s second-highest-paid DT this offseason.
13) Rashawn Slater, OT, Los Angeles Chargers (95th overall)
The Harbaugh-led Chargers plan to build through their offensive line – left tackle Rashawn Slater and rookie right tackle Joe Alt will be the faces of that effort. Slater has sandwiched two elite campaigns around an injury-ridden 2022 campaign.
Although he’s undersized at 6’4” and 315 pounds, Slater’s flawless technique allows him to hold up despite his physical limitations.
