Catching Up with the AFC West

The first week of NFL free agency is in the books so it’s time for Kansas City Chiefs fans to catch up with the AFC West to see how everyone else has been doing. While the Chiefs have made their own waves by signing Eric Berry to the largest Safety contract ever and replacing Dontari Poe with ex-Philadelphia Eagles’ Nose tackle Bennie Logan, the other teams in the AFC West have made their own noise. So, let’s catch up with the AFC West.

Los Angeles Chargers

You have to know that I just began to type, “San Die” before I realized it was a mistake… an omen… and an “oh my God, what in the name of Sam Hill did I just type?” moment. It’ll take some time for all of us I guess.

The “Los Angeles” Chargers (they’re still called the Chargers, right?) have lost free agents but none bigger than Danny Woodhead who signed a three-year, $8.8 million with the Baltimore Ravens. However, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure which means that the loss of Woodhead to an ACL injury in September allowed the Chargers to call the name of Melvin Gordan more and that worked out great for them. So, in the long-run it looks like Woodhead leaving just means the Chargers would have more money to work with during free agency.

With Brandon Flowers being let go, here is a list of other Chargers signings, releases, and waivers:

The major move for the Chargers was the addition of OL Russell Okung. Here’s where they used a major portion of that cap money in signing Okung to a 4-year $53M contract, $25M in guaranteed coin. This also allowed them to move on from King Dunlap, who I thought was doing a good job for them.

If you read the Chargers fan blogs you’d find that they sound eerily similar to the Chiefs fan blogs because many fans want a quarterback in the draft to take Philip Rivers place down the line… and they want more OL help as well as another running back. The biggest change the Chargers will be dealing with this offseason is a new head coach, coaching staff and playbook. On January 12, 2017, two short months ago, Anthony Lynn became the first coach of the newly christened “Los Angeles” Chargers.

Denver Broncos

Another team in the AFC West with a new head coach is the Denver Broncos who hired Vance Joseph on January 11, 2017. I would say a bigger coaching move in Denver was the move of DC Wade Phillips to head west and join the L.A Rams (that’s right, “Rams” not Chargers). It was Phillips who really made the Denver defense into a championship squad that took them to a Super Bowl victory two years ago.

So many teams are looking for a quarterback and ever since Peyton Manning exited a year ago, the Broncos have been one of those teams. With last year’s first-round pick Paxton Lynch in the mix and last year’s starter Trevor Siemian working under the assumption that he’s going to be the starter, they may still go out and sign Tony Romo when he is finally released by the Dallas Cowboys.

One way or the other, the Broncos QB position appears to be in flux. If it’s Lynch, he is going to go through growing pains like a rookie. If it’s Siemian, he may progress a little but it’s obvious he will never carry a team. If it’s Romo, the team will be counting on a 38-year-old QB who hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to start in more than five games in the past two seasons. Of course last season, he was healthy half the year but by then rookie Dak Prescott had taken over control of the QB position and the future of that spot for the Cs.

Other losses come mostly in the form of cuts:

LB Todd Davis was named a restricted Free aggent.

As far as other losses go, none may be bigger than the retirement of Demarcus Ware. It’s been suggested that Ware is a first-ballot Hall of Fame lock and although I can’t say if that’s true, you can be certain that he had a big effect on each game he played. Also, you can bet that left tackles the league over, are saying there’s thank you prayers with his announcement. Another loss was the announcement that free agent DB/ST Kayvon Webster had signed with the Rams. Webster played mostly on special teams and made his impact known there.

The biggest issues in Denver surrounds their offense and it’s as much their offensive line as it is their QB situation that is the problem. So, GM John Elway signed ex-Raider Menelik Watson to play on the offensive line. The problem for Denver is, while Watson may be an upgrade… from worse to horrible… it’s still horrible. Menelik Watson received a 49.4 rating from Pro Football Focus in 2016 but more importantly, he was the 56th best (worst?) overall offensive tackle in the league last year.

The Broncos also signed OG Ron Leary. While many feel that is a big positive step for the Broncos, I’ve also heard others question whether or not Leary succeeded in Dallas because he was playing next to a couple of Pro Bowl linemen. No matter which is the case, Leary appears to be a step in the right direction for the Broncos. Denver also signed NT Domata Peko, DE Zach Kerr, and LB Kasim Edebali. Meh.

Las Voaklandgeles Raiders

The Raider have perhaps had the best offensive offseason in the AFC West to this point. They may also be headed to Los vegas in the near future. Heck, they could be back in L.A. before you can spell “Las Voaklandgeles Raiders.”

OT Marshall Watson was signed in free agency ostensibly to take Menelik Watson’s place, although he was ranked 46th overall among tackles at PFF while Watson was ranked 56th. So, it was an upgrade… I guess… maybe. RB Latavius Murray left for Minnesota along with his 12 TDs. LB Malcolm Smith left for the 49ers across the Bay along with his 225 tackles in the past two seasons. Other significant Raider’s cut include: DB D.J. Hayden and the following players:

Standout special-teams ace Brynden Trawick is taking his special sauce to the Titans. The Titans gave him a two-year, $4.75 million deal. Trawick will now be the highest-paid special-teamer in the league. That’s some spicy special sauce! The Rae-duhs also allowed defensive end, Stacy McGee, to walk this offseason. McGee signed this little contract with Washinton: a five-year, $25M deal. McGee’s contract has $9M guaranteed and includes a $4 million signing bonus. Goodbye west coast, hello east coast!

Now, for the Raiders huge additions: they signed WR Corrderrelle Patterson and TE Jared Cook. Patterson has had seasons of, 469, 384, 10, and 453 yards receiving since he came into the league. However, it’s his speed and ability to return kicks, including five 5 TDs returns, that helped him land this gig. That landed him a 2-year contract of $8.5M and a $2.5M signing bonus. He also gets $5M  guaranteed.

The Raiders other “big” acquisition was TE Jared Cook. Cook is an 8-year vet and has averaged 485 yards per season. He’s played for Tennessee and St. Louis but was with the Packers in 2016. The Raiders and Cook signed a 2-year, $12.2M deal.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs made S Eric Berry the richest Safety in history. They signed NT Bennie Logan to a $8M one-year deal before Dontari Poe left for Atlanta for approximately the same amount (excluding bonuses). They re-upped with S Daniel Sorenson. A good move for an ascending young player who worked his booty off. They signed OL Mike Person. He’s more than just a body, he’s a Person. Then they also signed a body, S Marqueston Huff. John Dorsey also locked up his right Guard, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to a 5 year, $42.1M deal, including a $10M signing bonus, plus $20.09M guaranteed,

The organization also lost — by releasing — RB Jamaal Charles, the longtime face and heart of the organization and offense. We are forever in your debt for your tireless efforts and willingness to share your gifts — both personal and professional — to get the Chiefs to the top. By releasing JC, the team saved $6,187,500 with no cap hit.

John Dorsey also signed RB C.J. Spiller to a $0.9M deal with a $695.000 cap hit if he is cut. I look at the Spiller signing more as a replacement for Knile Davis as I expect Dorsey to select JC’s replacement in the upcoming draft.

Other notable Chiefs changes include, Chris Ballard moving to the Indianapolis Colts to be their General Manager, Greg Lewis being named Chiefs wider receivers coach, Brad Childress moving to the role of assistant head coach and, named Matt Nagy the sole offensive coordinator.

While it looks like the Chiefs are playing with mostly the same cards they played with last season — minus 2017 the draft — those cards are looking pretty good right now. Especially when you hold them up to the other AFC West faux’s cards. I think the Chiefs have actually had the best offseason — so far — within the division.

BTW, happy St. Patrick’s Day! Go Green… err… I mean Red!!!

For someone dyslexic like me, even I get this one but, remember, NEVER drink & drive.