With the 2020 NFL Draft in the books, attention will now turn to the offseason. As coaches slowly return to their offices, every team will have a storyline that could make or break the impending season. In our last article, we looked at the top 2020 storylines for the AFC South, with our attention now turning to the AFC West.
Every franchise in the AFC West improved this offseason, which should make for a fascinating 2020 season. Denver is building around rising star Drew Lock on offense, while the Raiders finally addressed their linebacker woes. The Chargers have a new face under center that could thrive while also adding two defensive gems to complete their roster. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will still be heavy favorites to hoist another Lombardi Trophy after barely losing any key players from their Super Bowl LIV winning roster.
In our new series for PFN, lead NFL writer Cole Thompson and NFL columnist Tommy Call III will be breaking down each team’s top offseason storyline. Here’s what fans of the AFC North should be looking towards in the coming months.
Top storylines in the AFC West
Denver Broncos
Drew Lock as John Elway’s answer
John Elway is a Hall of Fame quarterback in Denver, but his success at drafting the next one is not. After he succeeded playing limited snaps last season, perhaps the Broncos’ GM has finally found the answer at the position in Lock.
The former Missouri star showed plenty of promise late last season, throwing for 1,020 yards and posting a 4-1 record to close out the year. Buying into the hype, Elway fixed the offensive line by adding Graham Glasgow and Lloyd Cushenberry to solidify the trenches.
If that wasn’t enough, Elway used his first two picks in April on Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Penn State’s KJ Hamler. Jeudy has future star qualities thanks to elite route-running skills and surefire hands in coverage, while Hamler’s blazing speed will allow him to thrive in the slot as the team’s third or fourth option. Throw in Courtland Sutton‘s stardom and the hopeful progression of Noah Fant, Denver could be the next great AFC contender in the coming years.
It’s hard to put this much pressure on Lock in his second season, but Elway has missed so many times at the position that he has to hit eventually. If he doesn’t, this could lead to a change in the front office with someone who can get it right coming in.
Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl hangover
Until otherwise, expect the Kansas City Chiefs to be the next great franchise in the NFL. Despite an underachieving defense, the offense is thriving with Patrick Mahomes, a quality offensive line and solid weapons to compete for another Lombardi Trophy come 2020. But, like many other teams, the party must come to an end. The Super Bowl hangover is real, so the Chiefs need to avoid falling into the trap before next February.
According to Caesars Palace, Kansas City posses the best Super Bowl odds at 4-1 to repeat. Since the Patriots did it in 2004 and 2005, there hasn’t been a team that’s won back to back titles. With higher expectations moving forward, the offense could stumble against a division rival and perhaps fail to get that now all-important top seed.
Denver, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles all improved on paper, so they should be more of a threat this season. The Chiefs did make any headline-grabbing moves this past offseason but still will bring back 20 full-time starters that made an impact in Super Bowl LIV. However, with increased competition in the division, a slump at any point could have Kansas City stumbling towards the finish line, thus creating problems when it comes to seeding in the postseason.
Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr’s last chance
Changes are coming for the Raiders to begin the new decade. Along with a move to “Sin City,” this could be the chance to move on from Derek Carr, who has underwhelmed since his 2016 MVP caliber season.
Las Vegas nearly made the postseason last year, finishing 7-9 under John Gruden in his second season. Carr played reasonably well — throwing for 4,054 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions — with a limited arsenal. Mike Mayock addressed the need for a true No. 1 target by selecting Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III with the No. 12 pick.
The former Crimson Tide star possesses the blazing speed to win in man coverage and becomes the first premier target for the franchise since Amari Cooper departed. The team also added a big-bodied receiver in Bryan Edwards and do-it-all weapon Lynn Bowden Jr. as options to pair with Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller.
If the rookies develop quickly, Carr will have zero excuses for poor play. With Marcus Mariota hoping to have a “renaissance like” season, one horrendous outing could send the former 2014 second-round steal to the bench. Only under contract until 2022, Carr will need to prove that he still is the answer under center.
Los Angeles Chargers
Battle for QB1
Much like the Bengals and Dolphins, Los Angeles built for their future by drafting a quarterback. Unlike Cincinnati, they don’t possess the need to start Oregon’s Justin Herbert immediately.
Herbert has the size, arm strength and mentality to become a quality starter for the Chargers. That said, he still has holes in his overall game that will need time to develop with the right coaching staff. The Chargers have veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor, who helped the Bills make the postseason in 2017, ready to begin the year as the team’s starter.
If Herbert stands out in training camp and during the preseason, there’s a chance the team could call his number early. If he struggles, that could hurt his overall confidence and stunt his growth in becoming the next great NFL starter. The defense should be the identity of Los Angeles, while Taylor instruments the offense to wins early on.
While the Bengals will be forced to start Burrow following their release of Andy Dalton, unless Taylor struggles immensely, expect Herbert to be learning from the sideline for the first half of 2020. However, one slip up from the veteran, and the former Oregon Duck could either sink or swim early in his career.
Cole Thompson and Tommy Call III serve as the lead NFL writer and NFL columnist, respectively, for Pro Football Network. Follow them on Twitter at @MrColeThompson, @Tommy_III, and @PFN365 for all up to date NFL content.
Join Theo Ash: Your Football Opinion
Listen to the Your Football Opinion with Theo Ash! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Find us on the Pro Football Network YouTube Channel!