Charger defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia tackles a Seahawk player for a loss during a preseason game a few weeks ago. The former UCLA player and the rest of the Chargers take on the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
The AFC West has two new head coaches, two new General Managers, two new starting quarterbacks, and some talented rookies from the state of California. The one thing that has not changed is the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are favored to win a 9th consecutive AFC West Title, although the Los Angeles Chargers may have something to say about that. The following is a preview of the AFC West:
1.Kansas City Chiefs
Key additions: QB Carson Wentz, WR Marquise Brown, WR Xavier Worthy, OT Kingsley Suamataia
Key departures: QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, RB Jerick McKinnon, LB Willie Gay, CB L'Jarius Sneed
What can anyone say about the Chiefs? They have won eight consecutive AFC West Division titles, back-to-back Super Bowl championships, and three Super Bowl Championships in the past five seasons. General Manger Brett Veach has done an excellent job of building this roster.
Head coach Andy Reid is one of five head coaches in NFL history with three Super Bowl Titles and is the 4th winningest coach in NFL history. Reid is also one of the best offensive coaches in the game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is a three-time Super Bowl MVP, is the best quarterback in the NFL. The trio of Veach, Reid, and Mahomes has been
In 2023, the Chiefs relied on their defense and running attack to keep them in games until Mahomes could find a way to win it. In the offseason, the Chiefs drafted Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who has run a 4.21 forty, the fastest time ever recorded at the NFL combine and veteran free agent wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. These two acquisitions should add the explosiveness that was lacking in the Chiefs passing attack.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Key additions: RB Gus Edwards, RB J.K. Dobbins, C Bradley Bozeman, WR DJ Chark Jr., TE Will Dissly, TE Hayden Hurst, DE Poona Ford, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Kristian Fulton, OT Joe Alt, WR Ladd McConkey
Key departures: RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, TE Gerald Everett, LB Eric Kendricks, LB Kenneth Murray, CB Michael Davis
The Chargers have a new General Manager in Joe Hortiz, and a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh. Hortiz was with the Baltimore Ravens for 26 years and left as the Director of Player Personnel. He has two Super Bowl championships from his days with the Ravens.
Harbaugh is coming off a national championship with Michigan and coached the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl in the 2012 season, where they lost to the Ravens, 34-31. Combined with quarterback Justin Herbert, this trio could eventually lead the Chargers to the AFC Championship game and a Super Bowl.
The Chargers have turned the roster over in several areas on the offensive side of the ball and added some key pieces on the defensive side. The pieces they have added on offense have been to support Herbert with a running game, with right tackle Joe Alt selected with the 5th overall pick in the first round. The 2024 Chargers are bigger on the line and in the backfield. When a fullback is needed in the backfield, the Chargers will deploy 6-foot-4, 296-pound defensive tackle Scott Matlock to play fullback.
The Chargers were 5-12 last season, and this team has too much talent and the right kind of leadership to have a repeat of last season. This should be a playoff team that challenges the Chiefs for a division title.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
Key additions: QB Gardner Minshew, RB Alexander Mattison, TE Harrison Bryant, DT Christian Wilkins, TE Brock Bowers, G Jackson Powers-Johnson
Key departures: RB Josh Jacobs, WR Hunter Renfrow, CB Amik Robertson
The Raiders are coming off an 8-9 season in 2023. They decided to promote interim head coach Antonio Pierce to full-time head coach and hired a new General Manager in Tom Telesco, who was fired from the same position last season by the Chargers.
The Raiders were unable to acquire a top quarterback through the draft, but they did sign free agent quarterback Garner Minshew from the Indianapolis Colts. Minshew is a five-year veteran who has started 37 NFL games. He gives the Raiders an experienced quarterback, one that has thrown 59 touchdowns and just 24 interceptions in his career.
The Raiders drafted Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick in the first round, just one year after they drafted Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in the second round. Bowers is a generational talent at tight end, and the only tight end in college football history to win the John Mackey award twice. Bowers can line up inside, in the slot, on the outside, or in the backfield. Bowers, Mayer, and free agent acquisition Harrison Bryant give the Raiders a very good trio of tight ends.
The 1979 Oakland Raiders used a 12 personnel package with a running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers as their primary offensive grouping. That team had Dave Casper and Raymond Chester at tight end. Both made the All-Pro team that season. The Raiders will likely utilize a 12 personnel grouping on offense in 2024 to get their best players on the field.
4. Denver Broncos
Key additions: QB Bo Nix, WR Josh Reynolds, DE John Franklin-Myers, NT Malcolm Roach, LB Cody Barton, CB Levi Wallace, WR Troy Franklin
Key departures: QB Russell Wilson, WR Jerry Jeudy, C Lloyd Cushenberry III, DT Jonathan Harris, LB Josey Jewell, S Justin Simmons, CB Fabian Moreau
The Broncos may have struck gold with the drafting of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who had a great preseason. In two preseason games, Nix completed 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He rushed six times for 29 yards, did not commit a turnover or get sacked. He is perfect for head coach Sean Payton's offense.
Nix won the William V. Campbell Trophy at Oregon, the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, an award that Justin Herbert also won at Oregon. Nix was recently named a team captain, becoming the first Bronco rookie since 1967 to be named a team captain.
Nix will be throwing passes to his college teammate at Oregon, Troy Franklin, as well as former UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich. The Broncos are rebuilding on the defensive side after the loss of All-Pro safety Justin Simmons and linebacker Joey Jewell. The release of quarterback Russell Wilson has forced the Broncos to take a $53 million dead cap hit to the team salary in 2024, which has limited the moves that the Broncos can make in free agency. It will be challenging for the Broncos to improve on their 8-9 record from last season.
An interesting note about rookies Xavier Worthy of the Chiefs, Brock Bowers of the Chargers, and Troy Franklin of the Broncos: All three were ranked in the Top Ten in California among high school football recruits in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports.com football recruiting rankings. Also ranked in the Top Ten in that class was USC starting quarterback Miller Moss. A very good top ten recruiting class in California in 2021.
The Chargers will take on the Raiders this Sunday, September 8, in the season opener for both teams. The game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, with the game starting at 1:05 pm. The game will be televised locally on KCBS Channel 2.
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