AFC West Needs

I realize Dan is doing this as well, but since he is on hiatus, I wanted to try my Broncos home, the AFC West, and spark some discussion in an otherwise boring month in football. Again, since this is a mock draft site, if a weakness was recently addressed by a early round draft pick, don't expect it to be on here. Also, the order I put the needs in is no indication of most pressing or not.

Denver Broncos:

1. NT: Although the Broncos have signed Jamal Williams, the Broncos still lack an NT they can bank on for the future. Jamal should really only be in Denver for a year or 2, so he doesn't provide any long term assurance. Fields was an OK NT in 09, but by no means should the Broncos be content with him. The only NT with a lot of potential is Chris Baker. He was an UDFA in 09, and had a great pre-season which led him to make the Broncos 53 man roster, but he could never make the active roster. The man is huge and has a lot of potential, but if the Broncos don't see enough out of him this year to make them believe he could be the future NT, expect an early pick to be used on NT.

2. RB: Yes, Knowshon was drafted #12 in 09, but this is becoming a league of multiple backs, and I'm not confident in the depth at RB. Buck is a great #2 back, but he has yet to show he can be reliably healthy. JJ Arrington is a decent #3, but the Broncos should probably find a better scat back, and one that isnt coming off a full year of recovery. Knowshon should be alright for the future, but they need one other guy to share the load for now and for the future. I'd bet the upcoming back will be a power, short yardage back, as that is where the Broncos struggled the most.

3. DE: Again, here's another position they addressed in FA, but the guys they brought in are older. Banaan and Green are alright, but by no means should the Broncos ignore this position if it can be upgraded. In the depth, I like Ryan McBean. He was an above average starter last year, and at such a young age he could become a pretty good DE. He is currently the only 09 DL holdover who has a legit chance of competing for a starting spot. Other than those 3 though, no one else really inspires any confidence in me. Le Kevin Smith came with high hopes last year, but never made any impact, and shows no signs of making one this year. There have also been murmurs that Marcus Thomas may move here, but if he does I don't see him being much other than a solid 3rd down pass rusher.

4. ILB: People following the Broncos thought this position would be addressed early in both the 09 and 10 drafts, but it has not happened. DJ Williams is a good ILB, and should be a lock as a starter there for years to come. The other position is what really needs to be upgraded, not as much for now though as it does for the future. Andra Davis was released, and although many disagreed with it, I don't. He was solid in the beginning of the year but his age showed as the season progressed. Wesley Woodyard is a good LB in pass coverage, but his lack of size prevents him from being an every-down LB. Akin Ayodele should provide depth, but his chances of starting are low. Mario Haggan is the likely starter here, and for good reason. He was pretty good at OLB last year, but he's not really a dominant LB and he is getting pretty old as well.

Kansas City Chiefs:

1. NT: Ron Edwards is an OK NT at best. He's turning 31 though soon, so by no means should the Chiefs be confident in him for the future. Shaun Smith is another NT on this roster. He's got good size, but like Edwards, is OK at best. He's been bounced around the league by teams who could really use sme good DLmen, but he was not able to make their teams for long. Smith is probably best served as being used as a rotational player, but not as a starter. I expect the Chiefs to address this position as soon as they can as best as they can, either in FA or the draft.

2. WR: Dwayne Bowe we all know of. He can be good if he wants to, but that is of no garuntee. Even if Bowe does turn his career around, and becomes a good player, it's not as if this position is still not a need. Chris Chambers provided the Chiefs with what they needed at WR at the time, a vet who knows what he's doing and has done it before. However, he is slowing down, as shown by his oddly timed release by SD. He will also probably not be as good for much longer, so a #2 for the future should be sought after. Dexter McCluster was a great draft pick for the slot position, even if it might have been a bit early, but still he really is relegated to only the slot and by no means does he solidify the WR corps for the future.

3. ILB: Some Chiefs fans might disagree with me on this, but I see it as a weakness for the upcoming season. Demorio Williams and Corey Mays performed decently, but as shown with the Chiefs continuous lack of Run D, the position can be upgraded. Now, that might fall on the DL as well, but the ILBs didnt help their cause. I also like D. Johnson here as well, as he provides some playmaking ability, however, he is best in the 4-3 and if he can't start for the Chiefs and they can get decent value for him in a trade to a 4-3 team, they should explore that avenue.

4. OLB: Tamba Hali is a proven solid pass rusher, but as shown since the departure of Jared Allen, he can't be relied on without another good rusher alongside him. He had a respectable 8.5 sacks last year, but looking back 3 of those came against the Broncos in garbage time. Vrabel is a good leader on the other side, but he is getting older as well, and a future option should be invested on this position sooner rather than later.

Oakland Raiders:

1. OL: I put the whole OL here because although the Raiders drafted 2 OL, there positions are not set in stone. I really liked the value they got from Campbell and Veldheer, but to say they will be definite options for the future is being a little to homer. They could both be really good, but right now both are raw players and will need a year or 2 to adust, and even at that point there is no garuntee they will reach their potential. Also, the only spot on the OL the Raiders should feel confident in is Gallery at the LG spot, but even he is not a dominant player.

2. DT: I'm not gonna beat a dead horse in Tommy Kelly, but it is clear he is not living up to his huge contract. That might change, but until then, this is a need. I liked the Henderson signing. Its a low contract and if Henderson doesnt inspire the Raiders before the season, he's gone without burning a hole in their wallet like some former players... In the depth, I'm not a fan of it but I do like the guy from Harvard as a rotational guy for now. I expect the Raiders to draft DT early next year unless Kelly and some other young guy step up in 2010. God knows the Raiders could upgrade this position as shown by their Run D in recent years.

3. CB: There's no doubting Asomugha is great, but beyond him? Chris Johnson isnt exactly a #2 CB that excites you. He's got good size, but he's not gonna make many plays on the ball and he's hit the dreaded age of 30. Stanford Routt received the highest tender, so maybe the Raiders see a lot of potential in him, but no one outside of the orginization has yet to see it. This isn't exactly a huge need, and isn't that pressing, but if the Raiders continue to address personnell in the sane matter they have done so far this offseason, the Raiders should address this position by the 2011 draft at the latest. I'd say the best time to do so would be the draft as they could really use a future option for the position and not a short term fix.

4. QB: Now I know Raiders fans will jump down my throat here. Gradkowsi is a great backup QB, as shown last year. The Raiders should definitly keep him as he is a solid vet and can come in and perform at a moments notice. Campbell is at best an OK QB. Sure, he's an upgrade over anything they had, but honestly if you wanna tell me he is even a good QB right now, you'd be wrong. As of now he's an average at best QB. He has potential, but he has yet to show it. I'm not saying the Raiders should address this position any time soon, but I really dont see Campbell leading them very far.

San Diego Chargers:

1. DE: Luis Castillo is a pretty good DE, but not great. He should start here for a while but don't expect any Aaron Smith like play. The other position, however, is where the need begins. Cesaire is at best a rotational player. I see the Chargers doing their usual thing and drafting a guy next year who will have a chance to win the position the year he is drafted or will be able to sit and learn.

2. NT: Same thing with DE. Ian Scott seems like he is an OK option for now, but should not be a long term option. Everyone else at this position seems like they are average at best as well, except for Cam Thomas. Cam was gotten at with great value, but something must have happened that we don't know of for this man to drop from the 2nd to the 5th, or maybe people just over valued him a lot. Either way, he seems to be the future of the position, but if he doesnt show any signs of being a future domiant NT, expect AJ Smith to pull the trigger on a NT he likes next year.

3. ILB: This is not so much a weakness, but more of a position that can be upgraded. Stephen Cooper is a decent ILB, but Siler isnt quite as good. Both are not extraordinary, but are pretty good for the here and now. I have a feeling Donald Butler was drafted to replace Siler, but there are no garuntees of that. I have a feeling that another guy like Butler will be drafted as well in the middle rounds, someone who has potential to eventually start at ILB in the future.

4. S: Eric Weddle is a good Safety, and should be the Chargers FS for quite some time. However, the SS spot is where the Chargers need to upgrade. Stuckey seems to be the starter, but he was a real late draft pick and will likely not be a great immediate player. I expect him to struggle some, and if he doesnt show much improvement I can see the Chargers take an SS in the top 3 rounds.

Now, I know I'll get some heat for a couple of these, especially from AFC West fans, but please if you disagree with anything just be reasonable and say so in an educated and civil manner. Now, swing away!!