NFL Rumors: How the Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, and Broncos Can Improve Over the 2022 Offseason

NFL Rumors: How the Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, and Broncos Can Improve Over the 2022 Offseason

Kansas City Chiefs

It was a tale of two seasons for the 2021 Chiefs. Following up a 3-4 start through their first seven matchups, Patrick Mahomes and company went on to win 9 of their last 10 en route to a playoff run that ended in a conference championship loss to Cincinnati. According to Football Outsiders, they ranked seventh in DVOAc, made up of the league's 3rd-best offense but 24th-best defense. It's obvious where their faults lie.

Defensively, Kansas City was 23rd and 20th against the pass and run, respectively. Their corners were far from consistent, and their linebackers were nothing to get excited about, but in today's day and age, the NFL defense is built around those that get after the opposing quarterback. Because of that, they need to prioritize talent on the edge. It would help to free Chris Jones from double teams in the middle and improve upon their bottom-five adjusted sack percentage (5.5%) from this past year. After all, these same Chiefs were unable to tally more than one sack against a Bengals team that allowed more than three sacks a game as an offensive unit.

From the current guard, midseason acquisition Melvin Ingram is set to hit free agency alongside Jarran Reed from the inside. They need to add up-front production and at a low price. Thanks to the massive deals of the big three, as well as Orlando Brown Jr. and his franchise tag, Kansas City is between four and eight million above the cap. That leaves them with the draft as the primary means by bringing in a dynamic edge rusher. Their 30th overall pick could very well result in someone like Georgia's Travon Walker or Texas A&M's DeMarvin Leal. Leal's the more likely player to fall to their pick, and that wouldn't be a bad thing. The 21-year-old posted 8.5 sacks in 11 games played his junior season.

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Las Vegas Raiders

Under the unlikeliest of circumstances, the Raiders made a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They overcame the controversy and subsequent firing around their high-paid head coach, as well as the criminal and tragic events of a young wide receiver, to blow past expectations on the field and win 10 games. Las Vegas was just 19th in offense and 17th in defense before securing a Wild Card spot and a second-place finish in the division.

The advanced metrics direct us to a number of weak points on each side of the ball. Everyday fans will focus on a new toy and replacement for Ruggs on the outside, but it's more important to shore up an offensive line that PFF ranked 28th at the season's end, ahead of only the bottom-dwelling Texans, Giants, Panthers, and Dolphins. Only left tackle Kolton Miller and center Andre James posted grades higher than 60, and Miller was the only one to earn a grade of 80 or better (84.2). When all was said and done, the franchise's $20-plus million quarterback was sacked 40 times.

In whatever form it comes, Las Vegas could do itself -- and Derek Carr -- a big favor by beefing up the right tackle and guard spots. And thankfully, they have the resources to accomplish that goal. Equipped with the 22nd pick in the draft, the Raiders also boast $20 million in cap space assuming they don't bring back any of their own free agents. That means that whether they decide to add a wideout (maybe Jameson Williams) or more wisely go offensive line (possibly Kenyon Green) in the first round, they could still add a name in free agency. They could address right tackle with a guy like Trent Brown or opt for a guard like Brandon Scherff or Connor Williams. The addition of at least two solid players could really open things up for Josh McDaniels' offense.

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Los Angeles Chargers

It's odd, but I think most people would admit that the Chargers are in a better situation than the Raiders in all aspects of the game and business. Not only is their budding star quarterback only 23 years old, and not only is their now second-year head coach pioneering a new era of decision-making, but L.A. possesses the 17th pick in the draft and north of $57 million in available salary space. And this is all to go hand-in-hand with a DVOA that rated them the 12th-most efficient team in football.

By that same measure, Football Outsiders shows us that the Chargers were much better offensively than they were defensively in 2021. Their efficient and up-tempo offense was 4th in the league, whereas their young and up-and-down defense was 26th. The front and back end of the defense both have their needs, especially given the free-agent status of Chris Harris, but whether they decide to pay Harris a decent contract or not defensive tackle should be at the top of their wishlist. After all, the Bolts were outpaced by all but two teams in regard to stopping the run.

If L.A.'s front office is of the same opinion, it's their lucky year. On top of solid free agents like B.J. Hill, Larry Ogunjobi, and Harrison Phillips, this draft class yields a number of highly-regarded talents on the inside. Chief among them is Georgia's Jordan Davis, who was already considered a first-round talent before running his way to a super-impressive combine performance. He fits perfectly as the 17th player off the board, and in the case, the Chargers get an offer from someone else to move up a few spots they might be able to get him around 20 or 21. They'd likely add another draft asset and allow themselves to bring back Harris as well as another big free agent in the market this offseason.

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Denver Broncos

In 2021, the Broncos were the epitome of a middle-of-the-road team. Overall, they checked in 18th behind the NFL's 12th-ranked offense and 20th-ranked defense. The quarterback play they got from Teddy Bridgewater was steady but not outstanding, and they dealt with a ton of injuries throughout the season, including those to Bradley Chubb and Jerry Jeudy. And given their standing, they made the decision to send Von Miller to the eventual-champion Rams.

In a way, though, Denver's outlook for 2022 changed overnight. Eight days before the start of free agency, and on the same day Aaron Rodgers agreed to return to Green Bay, the Broncos made a blockbuster deal to bring Russell Wilson to the AFC and be their starting quarterback. The deal involved unloading of multiple picks in addition to quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris. Wilson fills the biggest void, which was quarterback, but now they will be without a first-round pick and missing a key piece on each side.

Denver's left with no choice but to make changes elsewhere through free agency. Their $26 million in cap space could be put to its best use on the offensive line. Garett Bolles and Bobby Massie held up fine with 70-plus grades on the outside, whereas the interior struggled to be better than mediocre -- a stage they'll need to surpass if they hope to get the most out of both Wilson and star sophomore-to-be Javonte Williams. That leftover cap space should go to someone like Alex Cappa, who is used to a veteran quarterback coming aboard an already well-put-together team.

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