2026 AFC West Draft Review

Denver Broncos

• (66) Tyler Onyedim     DT     Texas A&M
• (108) Jonah Coleman     RB     Washington
• (111) Kage Casey     OL     Boise St.
• (152) Justin Joly     TE     NC State
• (246) Miles Scott     S     Illinois
• (256) Dallen Bentley     TE     Utah
• (257) Red Murdock     LB     Buffalo

Immediate Impact: RB Jonah Coleman

The Broncos didn’t pick until round three so there’s not a lot of options for an immediate impact player.  Coleman is one of my favorite RBs in this draft and he’s a great complement to their RB from last year’s draft RJ Harvey.  The Broncos re-signed JK Dobbins, but he hasn’t had a fully healthy season in years.  Coleman can be the power back who takes the first and second down carries once Dobbins is on the injured list. 

Best Value: TE Justin Joly

Joly isn’t going to be blocking anyone anytime soon but he’s a weapon in the passing game.  They tried to make Evan Engram a guy for them last year, but Joly may make Engram expendable.  Getting a guy who can be a solid part of your passing game in round five is good value.

Sleeper: LB Red Murdoch

Murdoch was Mr. Irrelevant, the last pick of the draft, but I don’t think that will last long as a moniker in Denver.  This team needs LB help and while Murdoch doesn’t need to play right away, he’ll make this team as a special team’s guy and make his way up the LB depth chart.  Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are the starters, but the Broncos don’t have much depth beyond the perpetually injured Drew Sanders and maybe Jonah Ellis if they play him inside.

Overall Analysis

Considering this team skipped the first two rounds of the draft because of trades, they did pretty well.  I generally don’t count veterans acquired with draft picks but the trade for WR Jaylen Waddle is worth mentioning.  He fills a major need with a player who isn’t a projection.  Once they got going, they did well with DL Tyler Onyedim who can fit into the rotation on the defensive line.  They have snaps to give with John Franklin-Myers moving on in free agency.  Coleman was a great pick in round four.  Certainly, there were teams that didn’t value him that highly, but I think he outplays that draft slot.

OL Kage Casey is a good prospect with versatility up front and this team can use it.  They stayed mostly healthy last year but that isn’t always going to be the case.  Casey is probably best suited to move inside but he was an OT in college.  Both OTs for the Broncos are older players so having some depth is a good idea.  Joly is another mid-round pick who could produce well beyond his draft slot.   

S Miles Scott joins a safety group that could use some depth.  TE Dallen Bentley was a worthwhile pick in the seventh round.  He could make another veteran TE disposable too.  LB Red Murdoch is going to have a chance to be a relevant player for this team, despite his draft spot. 

Kansas City

Immediate Impact: CB Mansoor Delane, DT Peter Woods, Edge R Mason Thomas

The Chiefs decided to focus on their defense early and they got three guys in the first two rounds who can have a major impact on the team.  Delane becomes the top CB immediately and he fits Steve Spagnuolo’s defense like a glove.  Then they took Peter Woods who can give them some penetration next to or in place of Chris Jones at DT.  Along with free agent Khyiris Tonga, the defensive line is very improved.  R Mason Thomas is a different type of edge rusher than they usually go for.  They usually get big DEs, but Thomas is a smaller, speed rusher.  He will give them a guy who gets to the QB even though he won’t start. 

Best Value: RB Emmett Johnson

The Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker III to be their bell cow back, but they needed more help at RB.  Johnson isn’t the most physically gifted back but he’s extremely talented and versatile.  He’s good enough to take some of the load off Walker on any down but he’s also going to be a good third-down back, he’s an excellent pass catcher.  This was a major value add for this offense.

Sleeper: WR Cyrus Allen

I’ve never been a big Xavier Worthy fan because while he’s fast, he’s also small and not really a great technical receiver.  Allen isn’t as fast as Worthy but he’s still fast.  He is however, 180 lbs. instead of 165 like Worthy so he’s a bit bigger.  The Chiefs keep trying to make smaller WRs work (Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore, Worthy, etc.) So far it hasn’t worked but Allen might be a guy who can change that outcome. 

Overall Analysis

The first three picks in this draft class; Delane, Woods, and Thomas are all going to help this defense immensely.  Delane will start, Woods will be heavily involved in the rotation at DT and while Thomas isn’t a starter, he’s going to play.  Thomas’ size will keep him from playing on run downs, but they have guys who can handle those.  His value is as a designated pass rusher, he’s going to create havoc.

CB Jadon Canady is one of those mid-round defensive backs everyone was talking about the Chiefs relying on.  Canady will take a backseat to Delane and some other veterans but he’s a solid investment.  Johnson is going to play for this team, he’s too talented not too.  Allen has a chance to contribute; it’s not the most overwhelming WR corps to break into.

Finally, the Chiefs were the team to take the chance on Garrett Nussmeier in round seven.  Nussmeier had an awful season last year and most of it was due to injury.  He dealt with an oblique injury and recently had a cyst discovered on his spine.  He’s not a physically gifted passer so teams weren’t clamoring to take him but he’s a solid third QB for this team and can be more valuable long-term than backup Justin Fields. 

Las Vegas Raiders

• (1) Fernando Mendoza     QB     Indiana
• (38) Treydan Stukes     DB     Arizona
• (67) Keyron Crawford     Edge     Auburn
• (91) Trey Zuhn III     OL     Texas A&M
• (101) Jermod McCoy     CB     Tennessee
• (122) Mike Washington Jr.     RB     Arkansas
• (150) Dalton Johnson     S     Arizona
• (175) Hezekiah Masses     CB     California
• (195) Malik Benson     WR      Oregon
• (229) Brandon Cleveland     DL      NC State

Immediate Impact: QB Fernando Mendoza, DB Treydan Stukes

The Raiders can pretend all they want that Mendoza is going to sit behind Kirk Cousins for the year but I’m not buying it.  Mendoza has multiple years of starting experience in college at multiple schools.  He’s a great fit for Klint Kubiak’s scheme and he’s a hard-working player who will put in the time, he’s starting by week 4.  Stukes is too good to keep off the field, and the Raiders secondary isn’t exactly stacked.  He’s a nickel corner or a free safety and he’ll find his way onto the field. 

Best Value: CB Jermod McCoy (injury dependent)

If McCoy’s knee heals up, whether that’s this year or next, he has the skills of a CB1 and a high-end one at that.  If his knee is never right, it’s going to change his career outlook but I’m keeping hope alive.  If the Raiders got a guy who can be a legitimate shutdown type of CB with the first pick of round four, that’s the valuable pick in the draft. 

Sleeper: OL Trey Zuhn III

Zuhn played OT at Texas A&M, and most teams were looking at him to move inside, including a possible move to center.  With Tyler Linderbaum locked in at center they can give Zuhn a chance at LG, where they signed Spencer Burford to a small deal or Zuhn could give DJ Glaze some competition at RT.  He’s built for Klink Kubiak’s blocking scheme it’s just a matter of where he fits best. 

Overall Analysis

This is a very solid draft with 10 picks and could really help reset the Raiders if things break right for them.  Any draft with a QB picked first overall will certainly be judged by that QB’s success.  It’s not really fair but it is the reality.  Mendoza has a chance to succeed with a good coaching staff, an improved offensive line, and a couple of playmakers around him.  He could use another pass catcher or two at WR but there are some vets out there. 

DB Treydan Stukes and Edge rusher Keyron Crawford were the next two picks, and they are two guys who add depth to positions that need it.  Stukes will find a way to help and while Crawford probably won’t be a full-time player, he can bring some juice to the pass rush.  Trey Zuhn III is a nice piece to add to the offensive line.  If McCoy gets healthy, he’s going to be an excellent player. 

Taking RB Mike Washington Jr. in round four is a great investment, they have no depth behind Ashton Jeanty.  Washington isn’t going to replace Jeanty by any means, but no team should be looking to get through the season with one RB.  Washington is big and fast; it’s a good combination to have.  S Dalton Johnson and CB Hezekiah Masses are a couple of nice depth pieces for the secondary and special teams. 

Malik Benson is a solid pickup for the WR corps, he never quite became a dominant receiver in college, but he has some skills and this group needs talent.  DT Brandon Cleveland is a big body at a need position; you can do worse in round seven. 

Los Angeles Chargers

• (22) Akheem Mesidor     Edge     Miami
• (63) Jake Slaughter      C     Florida
• (105) Brenen Thompson     WR      Mississippi St.
• (117) Travis Burke     OT     Memphis
• (131) Genesis Smith     S     Arizona
• (145) Nick Barrett     DT     South Carolina
• (202) Logan Taylor     OL     Boston College
• (206) Alex Harkey     OL     Oregon

Immediate Impact: Edge Akheem Mesidor, C/G Jake Slaughter

The Chargers needed help at pass rusher and on the offensive line.  Mesidor will be a 25-year-old rookie so he will be expected to hit the ground running.  He’ll be the third pass rusher and rotate with Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.  Slaughter was a center at Florida, but the Chargers have Tyler Biadasz there but need help at guard.  If he can handle the transition to guard, Slaughter will quickly replace Trevor Penning in the starting lineup.

Best Value: S Genesis Smith

Smith isn’t the best safety prospect, but the Chargers are looking at starting Tony Jefferson again and he’s 34 years old and has already retired once.  Smith gives them a potential starting player coming out of round four.  That’s good value.

Sleeper: DT Nick Barrett

The Chargers defensive line isn’t stacked with talent up front.  Teair Tart and Jamaree Caldwell are solid players, but they signed Dalvin Tomlinson to give them a NT.  Tomlinson is aging and they need depth.  Barrett isn’t flashy but he’s steady and he could stick in the league for a while just doing the dirty work.

Overall Analysis

Mesidor fills a big need for the Chargers, and he’ll be a good player right away.  Taking Jake Slaughter felt a little strange but clearly, they thought he was a better player than any pure guard they could get.  If he wins the LG spot, that’s a major win for the team.  WR Brenen Thompson is a small slot receiver with great speed.  He gives them a different type of receiver than most of the guys they have.

The Chargers made no secret of what they wanted to do with the back half of their draft.  With the exception of S Genesis Smith and DT Nick Barrett, they set out to fix the offensive line, or at least give themselves a chance to do it.  OT Travis Burke is a giant player who will back up both tackle spots and should be able to learn some things from fellow tall tackle Joe Alt.  Then they finished the draft with back-to-back offensive lineman.  Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey are two guys who will give them depth at both guard and tackle and after the season the Chargers just had with their offensive line, no one blames them for these picks.  After last season, they clearly decided, never again.