AFC West Draft Roundup: Top Picks Broncos Fans Should Know

The three-day draft marathon is in the books, and Denver Broncos walked away with five talented players. Just as the Broncos improved their rosters, their AFC West rivals certainly didn’t sit back and kick their feet up.

The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders each had a first and second-round pick, putting Denver at a disadvantage in the war room. Some names taken by these rivals stand out more than others and should give the Broncos headaches in the near future.

Let’s take a look team by team.

Chiefs

First-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah is a highly athletic edge rusher from Kansas State. The intensity he plays with off the edge is what captivated the Chiefs to select him 31st overall. While his run defense could use some refinement, he is adept at rushing the passer.

Anudike-Uzomah should benefit from early rotating off the edge with George Karlaftis, who enters his second year, and veteran Charles Omenihu. Garett Bolles and the newly-signed Mike McGlinchey will have their hands full.

Second-rounder Rashee Rice is a lengthy and fast wideout out of SMU. His ball skills are a strength, and he does an excellent job of working back to his quarterback when they scramble, which he’ll be doing a ton with Patrick Mahomes.

Rice has some inconsistencies with his route running, but he’ll no doubt refine his skills under Andy Reid. Rice hauled in 233 receptions at SMU for 3,111 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He joins a wide receiver corps that includes Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

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Chargers

First-rounder Quentin Johnston is a wideout from TCU with a great size, length, and speed combination. His most productive season came this past year, totaling 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. He ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash on his pro day, but his long strides make him seem faster.

Johnston will benefit from having an accurate deep-ball quarterback like Justin Herbert. He’ll be able to feast for his fellow receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen to command a significant amount of attention.

Fourth-rounder Derius Davis brings speed to an L.A. offense that has lacked it in recent years. His astounding 4.3 speed instills fear into an opposing defense. Over his college career Davis has returned five punts for touchdowns.

It will be interesting to see how Davis is utilized in Kellen Moore’s offense, considering most of his production came on screens and short tosses, but that’s the power in his explosiveness. Davis' 5-foot-8 stature and shorter arms may hold him back.

The AFC West has been hectic ever since Mahomes took the reigns of the Kansas City Chiefs. Drafting top-tier talent is vital to surviving in this division; making too many mistakes will send a team to the bottom.

The AFC West has drafted many promising young players, and it will be interesting to see which one pan out in the future.

Raiders

Top-10 pick Tyree Wilson is an ultra-athletic edge rusher from Texas Tech. His combination of size and strength makes him a nightmare matchup especially considering that he’ll grow into his 6-foot-6 frame as he enters the NFL.

Wilson's massive wingspan allows him to make tackles that are out of reach for the average edge defender. The rotation of Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones, and Tyree Wilson looks to be a nightmare for the rest of the league.

Second-rounder Michael Mayer is a large and reliable tight end from Notre Dame. Mayer stands at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, allowing him to be an extension of the offensive line. His proficiency in run blocking makes the Raiders’ run game with Josh Jacobs even more terrifying.

Mayer also uses his big frame to haul in contested catches, making him a reliable weapon for new starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Mayer has been compared to the great Jason Witten, and if he is even half the player that Witten was, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with for years.

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