Now that the draft is over, and free agency has simmered, it’s time to look ahead to the 2020 season, and take a look at how each team looks.
The target is now on the back of the Kansas City Chiefs after winning the Super Bowl. Is it possible that their offense got even more dangerous after drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire? It’s quite clear that the Broncos and Raiders are each trying to build their team to compete in shootouts against the Chiefs after selecting field-stretching wide receivers in the early rounds. The Chargers have a Super Bowl roster, however their team will be run by a career backup in Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert. It’s a division that has certainly a lot of juice, but will anybody be good enough to take down the Chiefs? Let’s look at the AFC West.
Rookies will be noted with * and players from the 2019 Pro Bowl will be in bold.
Denver Broncos
Offense
QB: Drew Lock
RB1: Melvin Gordon
RB2: Philip Lindsay
FB: Andrew Beck
WR1: Courtland Sutton
WR2: Jerry Jeudy *
WR3: KJ Hamler *
TE1: Noah Fant
TE2: Jeff Heuerman
LT: Garett Bolles
LG: Dalton Risner
C: Lloyd Cushenberry III *
RG: Graham Glasgow
RT: Ja’Wuan James
Defense
DE: Shelby Harris
NT: Mike Purcell
DE: Jurrell Casey
OLB: Bradley Chubb
ILB: Alexander Johnson
ILB: Todd Davis
OLB: Von Miller
CB: AJ Bouye
FS: Justin Simmons
SS: Kareem Jackson
CB: Bryce Callahan
Special Teams
K: Brandon McManus
P: Sam Martin
It’s been years since the Broncos were frisky on offense. That should change this season. Drew Lock showed some promise in a small sample size, but their passing game last year was Courtland Sutton and no one else. As a result, John Elway drafted receivers with their first two picks: Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, who many believed was the best receiver in the class, and speedy slot nightmare KJ Hamler from Penn State. Not to mention Melvin Gordon joining a backfield to tag team touches with Philip Lindsay. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos are a top 10 offense this year.
Kansas City Chiefs
Offense
QB: Patrick Mahomes
RB1: Clyde Edwards-Helaire *
RB2: Damien Williams
FB: Anthony Sherman
WR1: Tyreek Hill
WR2: Sammy Watkins
WR3: Mecole Hardman
TE1: Travis Kelce
TE2: Ricky Seals-Jones
LT: Eric Fisher
LG: Nick Allegretti
C: Austin Reiter
RG: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
RT: Mitchell Schwartz
Defense
DE: Alex Okafor
DT: Chris Jones
DT: Derrick Nnadi
DE: Frank Clark
LB: Damien Wilson
LB: Anthony Hitchens
CB: Charvarius Ward
FS: Juan Thornhill
SS: Tyrann Mathieu
CB: Bashaud Breeland
NB: Rashad Fenton
Special Teams
K: Harrison Butker
P: Tyler Newsome
We all know that the Chiefs’ offense is already loaded. Now they add Clyde Edwards-Helaire as a complimentary piece to Damien Williams. With the Legion of Zoom taking the coverage deep down field, Edwards-Helaire can be Patrick Mahomes’ safety valve. Outside of the rookie running back, there weren’t many eye-popping moves that the Chiefs made this offseason. As Super Bowl champions, it may not be necessary to have too much of a facelift.
Las Vegas Raiders
Offense
QB: Derek Carr
RB1: Josh Jacobs
RB2: Jalen Richard
FB: Alec Ingold
WR1: Henry Ruggs III *
WR2: Tyrell Williams
WR3: Hunter Renfrow
TE1: Darren Waller
TE2: Jason Witten
LT: Kolton Miller
LG: Richie Incognito
C: Rodney Hudson
RG: Gabe Jackson
RT: Trent Brown
Defense
DE: Clelin Ferrell
DT: Maurice Hurst
DT: Maliek Collins
DE: Maxx Crosby
OLB: Nick Kwiatkoski
MLB: Cory Littleton
OLB: Nicholas Morrow
CB: Prince Amukamara
FS: Johnathan Abram
SS: Damarious Randall
CB: Trayvon Mullen
NB: Lamarcus Joyner
Special Teams
K: Daniel Carlson
P: AJ Cole III
You won’t find many teams with younger players than the Las Vegas Raiders. Henry Ruggs III was the fastest receiver in the draft, and he gives a dangerous threat that Derek Carr desperately needed last year. Ruggs joins an offensive nucleus with Josh Jacobs coming off a 1,150 yard rookie season, a breakout tight end in Darren Waller, and two Pro Bowlers on the offensive line in Rodney Hudson and Trent Brown. The defense is the bigger question mark. Can Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski be difference-makers at linebackers? Will Clelin Ferrell have a breakout season after a quiet rookie year? Will Johnathan Abram’s return spark the secondary? It should be a fun first season in Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers
Offense
QB: Justin Herbert *
RB1: Austin Ekeler
RB2: Justin Jackson
WR1: Keenan Allen
WR2: Mike Williams
WR3: KJ Hill *
TE1: Hunter Henry
TE2: Virgil Green
LT: Bryan Bulaga
LG: Dan Feeney
C: Mike Pouncey
RG: Trai Turner
RT: Sam Tevi
Defense
DE: Joey Bosa
NT: Linval Joseph
DT: Jerry Tillery
DE: Melvin Ingram
OLB: Nick Vigil
MLB: Kenneth Murray *
OLB: Uchenna Nwosu
CB: Casey Hayward
FS: Nasir Adderley
SS: Derwin James
CB: Chris Harris
Special Teams
K: Michael Badgley
P: Ty Long
Don’t be surprised if the Chargers lead the NFL in pass defense in 2020. Derwin James had a mostly lost second season due to injury, but with his return attached to the addition of lockdown corner Chris Harris from the rival Broncos makes the Chargers a frisky secondary. The question is will the defense be put in bad positions because of rookie mistakes by Justin Herbert? I’m expecting the former Duck to be the week 1 starter, and like all rookie quarterbacks, expect a rollercoaster box score. At least he’s surrounded by reliable pass catchers like Allen, Williams, and Henry, and the offensive line should be better after signing former Packer Brian Bulaga and trading for ex-Panther Trai Turner.
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