The AFC West features two new starting quarterbacks (Case Keenum and Patrick Mahomes), one that hopes to get back to his 2016 form (Derek Carr), and one who is showing no signs of declining despite reaching an advanced age (Phillip Rivers).
According to CBS Sports, Las Vegas lists the Chargers at -145 to make the playoffs (meaning that much has to be wagered to make $100). The Chiefs are listed at +120, Raiders at +165, and Broncos at +275 to make the postseason (meaning that much is won on a $100 wager).
Here are the key additions and subtractions in team personnel for each team in the AFC West during the offseason.
Denver Broncos
- Key additions: Marquette King, P (signed), Su'a Cravens, S (trade), Jared Veldheer, OT (trade), Clinton McDonald, DT (signed), Case Keenum, QB (signed), Bradley Chubb, DE (first round), Courtland Sutton, WR (second round), Royce Freeman, RB (third round), and Isaac Yiadom, CB (third round).
- Key losses: C.J. Anderson, RB (Panthers), Cody Latimer, WR (Giants), Virgil Green, TE (Chargers), and Donald Stephenson, OT (Browns).
Just two seasons after winning the Super Bowl, the Broncos fell to 5-11. Their 18.1 points per game ranked just 27th in the league. Quarterbacks Trevor Siemian (ten starts), Brock Osweiler (four starts), and Paxton Lynch (two starts) combined to throw 19 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
Denver addressed the quarterback position this offseason by signing Case Keenum. The 30-year-old had a career season in his 14 starts with the Vikings in 2017 completing 67.6 percent of his passes to go along with 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Whether he can maintain that high level of success remains to be seen.
Since going undrafted in 2012, Keenum had made 24 starts going into last year. His team’s records in those games were just 9-15. With the Texans and Rams up until last season, he had pedestrian career numbers of a 58.4 completion percentage, 24 touchdown passes, and 20 interceptions.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Key additions: Kerwynn Williams, RB (signed), Anthony Hitchens, LB (signed), Sammy Watkins, WR (signed), Kyle Fuller, CB (trade), David Amerson, CB (signed), Breeland Speaks, DE (second round), Derrick Nnadi, DT (third round), and Dorian O'Daniel, LB (third round).
- Key losses: Derrick Johnson, LB (Raiders), Bennie Logan, DT (Titans), Zach Fulton, C (Texans), Terrance Mitchell, CB (Browns), Albert Wilson, WR (Dolphins), and Ron Parker, S (Falcons).
Much like the Broncos, the Chiefs enter a new era at the quarterback position.
While they have made the playoffs three straight seasons and four of the last five, Kansas City won just one playoff game in their four recent postseason appearances.
Gone is longtime starter Alex Smith as he was traded to the Redskins. He made 76 starts for the Chiefs in five seasons and was named to three Pro Bowls. Last season, he led the NFL with a 104.7 quarterback rating.
Kansas City traded up to the tenth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft In order to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech. He takes the reins under center for the Chiefs in 2018. He made one start last season in which he completed 22 of 35 passes for 284 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Yahoo! Sports predicts him to be a top-12 fantasy quarterback this season.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Key additions: Mike Pouncey, C (signed), Caleb Sturgis, K (signed), Virgil Green, TE (signed), Derwin James, S (first round), Uchenna Nwosu, LB (second round), and Justin Jones, DT (third round)
- Key losses: Tre Boston, S (unsigned), Kenny Wiggins, G (Lions), Korey Toomer, LB (49ers), Antonio Gates, TE (unsigned), and Matt Slauson, C (Colts)
Despite outscoring opponents by 83 points last season, a 9-7 record left the Chargers shy of the playoffs for the fourth straight season. They were unable to overcome an 0-4 start.
They return much of the same team although signing center Mike Pouncey after he was cut by the Dolphins should pay immediate dividends. Pouncey was named to three straight Pro Bowls from 2013-15.
The Chargers allowed the third-least points last season and added safety Derwin James out of Florida State with the 17th pick. He recorded 84 tackles and two interceptions in his junior season.
Oakland Raiders
- Key additions: Derrick Johnson, LB (signed), Martavis Bryant, WR (trade), Rashaan Melvin, CB (signed), Breno Giacomini, OT (signed), Tahir Whitehead, LB (signed), Marcus Gilchrist, S (signed), Doug Martin, RB (signed), Jordy Nelson, WR (signed), Kolton Miller, OT (first round), P.J. Hall, DT (second round), Brandon Parker, OT (third round), and Arden Key, DE (third round).
- Key losses: Marquette King, P (Broncos), Michael Crabtree, WR (Ravens), Denico Autry, DE (Colts), TJ Carrie, CB (Browns), NaVorro Bowman, LB (unsigned), Sean Smith, CB (unsigned), David Amerson, CB (Chiefs).
After a disappointing 6-10 record last season, the Raiders fired head coach Jack Del Rio and brought back a familiar face in Jon Gruden.
Gruden coached Oakland from 1998-2001 and led them to a 38-26 record. He also helped guide the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship in the 2002 season.
The team had a veteran-laden free agency as they signed 35-year-old linebacker Derrick Johnson, 32-year-old guard Breno Giacomini, 33-year-old wide receiver Jordy Nelson, and 29-year-old running back Doug Martin amongst others.
The main way for Oakland to return to the form that saw them post a 12-4 record in 2016 is seeing quarterback Derek Carr once again play at an MVP-level. His quarterback rating dipped about ten points from 96.7 in 2016 to 86.4 in 2017, and his interceptions more than doubled from six in 2016 to 13 in 2017.