Every year to preview the divisions I create an all division team. Today we delve into the AFC West.

QB
Patrick Mahomes

Really no other way to go here. Mahomes is just the best QB in the NFL and only really rivaled by Russell Wilson it is that simple. Last year he took the next step of being able to analyze a defense and exploit its weaknesses, you would imagine he’ll be even better now in what will only be his third year starting. It is so impressive what he’s done for how young he is at this point. The rest of the division is full of question marks at signal caller. Drew Lock is a guy that could take a huge step forward with weapons around him but there is some concern with the OC being Pat Shurmur. He did everything well except throw the ball deep which he didn’t do much. The sample size is so small that you can’t really make any marked comments on his game. High upside but a lot of unknowns. Derek Carr is not as bad as some people think he is. He just isn’t, he’s a fine quality starting NFL QB, he isn’t flashy but he can do everything you want an NFL starter to do. The problem with Carr is that no part of his game is exceptional, he’s just incredibly average at everything he does. That doesn’t make him a bad QB though and the Raiders didn’t have the means to upgrade at QB anyways this offseason. Marcus Mariota could do well in this offense if things get off to a slow start early. Anthony Lynn needs to stop fooling around. Start Justin Herbert, the surrounding talent is there so that he can have success. If they start him, they might be a playoff team, they won’t start Herbert though it seems especially with a curtailed off season. Get ready for subpar QB play from weeks one through four.

RB
Denver: Melvin Gordon Phillip Lindsay

The depth is the reason this running back pair works out. Phillip Lindsay remains the league’s most under appreciated running back. Melvin Gordon was fine last year, and the Broncos got him at a discount, compared to what he was asking for. Gordon can be an asset in the passing game though and will find a second career wind as it were with Denver. The Chiefs run deep at running back, Damien Williams probably should have been the Super Bowl MVP and he was awesome down the stretch for the Chiefs. Add Clyde Edwards Helaire and you would imagine Darwin Thompson might see the field a bit more this year as well. Josh Jacobs, if he can improve in the passing game, is hands down the best back in the division. If the Raiders are a run first team they can be a playoff team. Austin Ekeler probably comes in second in the division as far as running back skills go but they don’t have a ton of depth in Los Angeles. He’s going to be a fantasy stud.

WR
Kansas City: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelce

A lot of different ways you can go here but I still stick with Kansas City. Mecole Hardman is going to be even better in year two, analytics tells us that. If he can emerge as a true slot stud this team is basically unstoppable through the air considering you have the best pass catching tight end in the league in Kelce as well. That’s right, George Kittle is still the best but as an offensive pass catcher you won’t find anyone better than Kelce. The Broncos boast the best wide out in the AFC in Courtland Sutton. He produced at a high rate through all three QBs last year and his production went down with Lock only because of fewer games and because Lock was willing to look at different options. According to draft Twitter Jerry Jeudy is the guy. If KJ Hamler pans out the Broncos could run four deep at wide out and Noah Fant emerged at the end of last season, no excuses for Drew Lock. The Raiders add a speed demon in Henry Ruggs, but he’s so much more than that. Tyrell Williams was great last year and Hunter Renfroe is a fine number three option. Darren Waller is the second-best tight end in a division full of great tight ends not to mention that the Raiders roll about three deep at that position with rookie standout Foster Moreau entering his second year and the addition of Jason Witten as a depth option. The Chargers might boast the best one two combo in the division though, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams will give Justin Herbert some top notch weapons when he steps into the starting roll. What the Chargers lack for depth at wide out outside of those top two guys they make up for with tight end Hunter Henry and due to injury concerns a solid backup in Virgil Green.

DL
Los Angeles Chargers: Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Linval Joseph, and Justin Jones

Though the division boasts some tremendous lines the only way to go is the Chargers. Joey Bosa continues to produce at a high level and even though Melvin Ingram’s pass rush numbers went down he can still be a factor. Not to mention the tremendous addition of Linval Joseph who brings excellent run stuffing ability to the line. The Chiefs of course boast the best lineman in the division in Chris Jones and Frank Clark was a monster last year but I’m not high on the other half of the front. The Raiders could end the year as the best group in the division. My favorite pass rusher to watch this off season was Maxx Crosby and I believe Clelin Ferrell will take his next steps in the pass rush game, but he is already a fantastic run stuffer. Maliek Collins adds a pocket collapsing presence up the middle but needs to improve production. The Broncos have Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris returning up front and add perennial pro bowler Jurrell Casey. You really shouldn’t be able to run on the Broncos and Casey provides pass rush up the middle which could make Denver the most intense pass rushing line in the division.

LB
Denver: Von Miller, Todd Davis, Alexander Johnson, and Bradley Chubb

Von Miller did take a slight step back last year, however, he also had limited help in rushing the passer outside of Shelby Harris who only added six sacks for the Broncos last year. Bradley Chubb’s return should help Miller, Chubb will be a candidate for comeback player of the year, he was just finding his role in Fangio’s defense last year when he tore his ACL. Up the middle the only pair that can even match the Broncos linebacking talent is when the Chiefs put Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorenson in the box. Nick Vigil was awesome last year for the Bengals and if Kenneth Murray can be solid the Chargers probably have the third best linebacking core in the division behind the Raiders who add maybe the best all around linebacker Corey Littleton who is listed as an outside guy but played a lot of Mike in Los Angeles.

CB
Los Angeles Chargers: Casey Heyward and Chris Harris Jr.

This might all in all be the best secondary in the division. You add Chris Harris Jr. to a position group that now runs four deep. The Chiefs corners concern me, I just don’t know how much I trust them. Travon Mullen was awesome for the Raiders down the stretch and could develop into a top corner this year but the depth in Vegas is a bit concerning. AJ Bouye is not a huge downgrade from Chris Harris Jr. but the Broncos secondary struggled last year even when CHJ was in the lineup. Isacc Yiadom was better down the stretch but still not good.

S
Denver: Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson

So many great tandems to pick. I would say this is actually a tie. The Chiefs have the best Safety in the division in Tyrann Mathieu pair that with depth in Juan Thornhill and Daniel Sorenson. The Broncos have my favorite safety in the division to watch though and that’s Kareem Jackson, well that is also a flat out lie, Derwin James owns that title and he is coming back at full health. Not to mention Nassir Adderly and Rayshawn Jenkins. Johnathan Abrams receives a ton of hype but the sample size is small we will learn a ton about him this year.

Outlook

Best offense: Can’t go with anyone but the Chiefs. The king is Patrick Mahomes and though the Broncos and Raiders have loaded up and the Chargers group is no slouch, no one can keep up with the Chiefs.
Best defense: Chargers. That simple, this is the second best unit in the AFC, only behind the Steelers in my book. That said the Chargers do this every single year, they suck you in and then get injured in training camp and finish as a mediocre unit. The back up squad for me would probably be a tie between the Broncos and Chiefs.
Coach under the most pressure: It’s Anthony Lynn. He hasn’t really done that much during his tenure. The Chargers made a ton of moves this off season to improve the line and the defense, if Lynn hangs with Taylor for too long at QB it could spell disaster for his job security.

Predictions

Chiefs 12-4
Broncos 11-5
Raiders 10-6
Chargers 7-9