NFL free agency kicks off at 4:00 p.m. on March 9, and in the lead-up Sportsnet is looking at one division a day to assess who’s going where. Today, the AFC West.
DENVER BRONCOS
Biggest needs: OL, DL, TE, QB
Feels strange to think of the Broncos as a team in transition. They won the Super Bowl just a little over a year ago and won nine games last year. But they fumbled a sure-fire playoff spot in 2016 by losing five of their final eight games, and will undergo a massive coaching change with the retirement of Gary Kubiak and the hiring of Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
First priorities for Joseph will be to figure out the team’s QB situation and get better production from both lines — on defence, the Broncos performed well overall but still gave up 130.3 rushing yards per game, fourth-most in the league.
Biggest potential loss: Russell Okung, LT
The team declined its contract option on Okung, which makes him an unrestricted free agent and potentially leaves a big hole on Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch/Tony Romo’s blindside. That said, there’s a remote chance the team can re-sign him.
DeMarcus Ware could also leave after three successful seasons in Denver, which would further speed up the physical makeover of the roster. He’s 34 and has missed 11 games the last two years.
Potential target: Jared Cook, TE
Nothing like a big moment in the playoffs to goose your employability. Cook was on the receiving end of the huge desperation sideline toss from Aaron Rodgers that helped put Green Bay over the top in their second-round matchup with Dallas. Cook was more-lightly used during the regular season, but caught 18 passes with two touchdowns in three playoff games.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Biggest needs: OLB, DE, RB
The team managed just 32 sacks in 2016, and Justin Houston only played in five games. Some better production off the edge is a must this coming year as the regular-season monster Chiefs — they’ve gone 22-4 over their last 26 regular-season games — attempt to finally start getting some playoff traction.
Biggest potential loss: Dontari Poe, NT
The Chiefs pulled Eric Berry off the market at the 11th hour by signing him to a six-year deal. But they’re still likely to lose Poe’s services. If they do, they’ll need to replace what he does if they want to improve the run defence — like Denver’s, it was in the bottom 10 teams in the league in yards given up per game (121.).
Potential target: Brandon Williams, DT
I know this doesn’t address the biggest needs up top, but if Poe walks they could upgrade at the position with Williams, who is just a couple years older (28 to Poe’s 26) and has been the anchor of a dominant Ravens run defence.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Biggest needs: DL, LB, CB
The simplest off-season plan in the league: Leave the offence alone, pretty much, and add everywhere on the defence. The Raiders have a potential superstar in Kalil Mack, but so little around him as to make his job borderline impossible. The Raiders finished 23rd in rushing defence (117.6 yards per game given up) and 24th in passing defence (257.5).
Biggest potential loss: Menelik Watson, RT
The Raiders gave up the fewest sacks in the league last year with 18, and maintaining the protection they’re getting for Derek Carr has to be a priority. Watson won the right tackle job during the season because of his superior pass-blocking skills, and the team can’t equal his production if he walks.
Potential target: Vince Wilfork, DT
Hear me out here. Yes, he’s said to be considering retirement, but he’s still a big body and a force to be reckoned with, and would be perfect for teaching the young Raiders defence how to prepare and get results.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Biggest needs: OL, CB, DE
The Chargers were the league’s most snake-bit team in 2016, losing multiple games they had no business losing. Now they move to Los Angeles with an eye on changing that. Improving the line to get Melvin Gordon some bigger holes and beefing up the second and third levels of their defence should help them close out games.
Biggest potential loss: Manti Te’o, LB
He’s better known for his pre-NFL play (and his off-field catfishing disaster), but Te’o has been a solid middle linebacker for San Diego. He played in just two full games last year before injuring his Achilles in Week 3.
Potential target: Russell Okung, LT
Want to stick it to a division rival? How about stealing their left tackle in free agency? The Broncos gave up 40 sacks last season, but some of that can be placed on the shoulders of their young quarterbacking duo. Okung has excelled everywhere he’s been in the NFL, and could provide the reliable presence the Chargers have lacked with King Dunlap at the position.
Source: BleacherReport