Say what you want about the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason additions, losses and even the bit of drama they've seen unfold. But, the fact remains: they're the champs.
As long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, this team will be competing for titles, year-in and year-out.
But, what about the rest of the AFC West? The Chargers, Raiders and Broncos will forever have an uphill battle, it seems, so long as Mahomes is around. This offseason has seen the division improve in many different ways, but a few key moves may have flown under the radar.
Let's take a look at some of the more underrated moves by the Chiefs' rivals and what it could do for each team.
At one point, Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin Jr. was talked about as a potential Round 1 prospect. Even NFL Media's Lance Zierlein graded him out as a Round 2 guy, comparing him to Chris Olave.
Somehow, the Broncos got him in the fourth round.
At 6-foot-2 and with long, sprinter's speed, Franklin gives the Broncos new hope at wide receiver after trading away Jerry Jeudy, who many fans would label as a bust. Franklin's speed and sudden movements allow him to shake defensive backs and create chunk plays for himself. He'll give Denver's quarterback room an explosive play waiting to happen on a moment's notice.
Last season with the Ducks, Franklin averaged a whopping 17.1 yards per reception on 81 catches, scoring 14 times. He's not a fourth-round prospect. This was a tremendous value pick by the Broncos.
If you were to ask an honest Raiders fan, they would tell you the quarterback position is far from a finished product. Aidan O'Connell isn't exactly a franchise quarterback, although he showed some good things in spurts last year, as a rookie.
When the team signed Gardner Minshew in free agency, that really started to beg the question as to whether Las Vegas was going to target a top quarterback in the draft. Ultimately, they did not, and will see a competition unfold between the two quarterbacks.
My money is on Minshew to win the job, and Chiefs fans shouldn't feel overly confident in his being "just a backup." Don't forget, last year, Minshew took over in Indy for an injured Anthony Richardson and had the Colts in the thick of the playoff race until the very end. He's as competitive a guy as you'll find in this league and certainly has the abiilty to make many of the necessary throws.
Minshew threw for over 3,300 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 games last year. He's started 37 games over his career spanning back to 2019. He's no slouch, and he has some talent around him. Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer give him more than plenty to work with.
The Raiders aren't going to be pushovers with Minshew under center.
When L.A. brought in Greg Roman, everyone knew his next move would be to bring a few friends along with him from Baltimore, and that's exactly what he did when the Chargers signed both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
Both have had their share of injuries, with Dobbins being far more significant and hampering what could have been a phenomenal career in Baltimore. As a rookie, once Dobbins finally started receiving more touches, he went on to have a sensational end of the year, averaging 6.0 yards per carry and going for 805 yards on just 135 carries.
Between his ability to make defenders in space, coupled with the speed in the open field, and his ability to also contribute in the passing game, Dobbins' potential has never been in question. He was a second-round pick for a reason.
Yes, Dobbins' injuries have been severe. A torn ACL and a torn Achilles should have spelled the end of his career, had he played even a decade or so earlier. But, Dobbins has been declared healthy and ready to go this offseason.
If he's able to stay healthy, the Chargers found themselves a do-it-all running back who is still just 25 years old.
