hugh
04-01-2008, 08:34 AM
The AFC West is the San Diego Chargers and then the rest -- and the gap is widening.
The Chargers got off to a slow start last season, but turned it around and ended up one game away from the Super Bowl. There's a reason for that. They have a lot of good players, including stars like LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman.
That isn't to say they don't have questions. Quarterback Philip Rivers is coming off an ACL injury, so there are concerns there. But San Diego is clearly the best of this division, even with the questions.
The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are going the wrong way, while the Oakland Raiders, despite spending big in free agency, are still a couple of years -- or the growth of quarterback JaMarcus Russell -- away from pushing the Chargers.
It helps that the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos all pick among the top 15 picks in the first round. The Raiders pick fourth, the Chiefs fifth and the Broncos 12th. Now let's see if they can hit on them.
San Diego Chargers
The skinny: This is a talented team that doesn't need a lot. They could use a backup runner to replace Michael Turner and maybe a right tackle, but there aren't a lot of holes for the Chargers. General manager A.J. Smith does a nice job adding pieces to a good team.
Primary need: (Tie) Right tackle and nickel corner. They say they like right tackle Jeremy Clary, but they might be wise to look at a replacement. Losing corner Drayton Florence in free agency could warrant an early pick of a corner.
Secondary needs: Inside linebacker, wide receiver and running back.
Possible targets: Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason, Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib, Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah.
Summary: They don't need somebody to come in immediately and play. They can let the player learn for a year and then put him in the lineup. This team has a lot of talent.
Denver Broncos
The skinny: Has the star dimmed for Mike Shanahan? It certainly has in terms of his being a personnel man. He's made some bad decisions. It's time he drafts better. This team seems to be regressing, and adding veterans over the years as stopgap players hasn't worked.
Primary need: They have run a wave of defensive tackles through in recent years but haven't hit on any of them. They need to draft a power player inside.
Secondary needs: Linebacker, offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Possible targets: USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams and Otah.
Summary: They have to build this team back to where it was a few years ago. For that to be a reality, the defense has to improve. They have to bolster the run defense. Replacing Matt Lepsis at left tackle is also important and a receiver to go with Brandon Marshall would help. With Marshall suffering a severe injury to his left arm, his status is up in the air as well.
Kansas City Chiefs
The skinny: This is a team that is certainly in the rebuilding mode. The Chiefs didn't spend a lot in free agency, which was the wise thing -- they have to build through the draft. General manager Carl Peterson is starting to take a lot of heat in Kansas City, and rightfully so. They have to draft better. Could they go for Matt Ryan with their first pick?
Primary need: Offensive line. Pick a position, any position. They need a lot of help.
Secondary needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback and linebacker.
Possible targets: Clady, Otah, Williams, Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Talib.
Summary: They have a young passer in Brodie Croyle, but they still could go for a quarterback early. If they don't fix that offensive line the confidence of any passer, a rookie or Croyle, could be shot early in their careers. The line is a mess. They didn't prepare well for the time when their line aged. This is a critical draft for Peterson -- and Herm Edwards.
Oakland Raiders
The skinny: They spent money like they printed it in free agency. But are they really any better? It all depends on the growth of second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the player they took with the first overall pick last year. They need to get him some help up front on the line and maybe another receiver and a big-play back.
Primary need: Right tackle. They need to get a power player to play the right side.
Secondary needs: Defensive tackle, running back and wide receiver.
Possible targets: Otah, Williams, Ellis and Arkansas RB Darren McFadden.
Summary: Despite the perception, there is some young talent on this team. If they can have a good draft, they might be a year away from pushing for a playoff spot. That's assuming Russell goes to the next level. But whoever made the free-agent deals might want to sit out draft day. They paid way too much money out in free agency for not-so-great players.
The Chargers got off to a slow start last season, but turned it around and ended up one game away from the Super Bowl. There's a reason for that. They have a lot of good players, including stars like LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman.
That isn't to say they don't have questions. Quarterback Philip Rivers is coming off an ACL injury, so there are concerns there. But San Diego is clearly the best of this division, even with the questions.
The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are going the wrong way, while the Oakland Raiders, despite spending big in free agency, are still a couple of years -- or the growth of quarterback JaMarcus Russell -- away from pushing the Chargers.
It helps that the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos all pick among the top 15 picks in the first round. The Raiders pick fourth, the Chiefs fifth and the Broncos 12th. Now let's see if they can hit on them.
San Diego Chargers
The skinny: This is a talented team that doesn't need a lot. They could use a backup runner to replace Michael Turner and maybe a right tackle, but there aren't a lot of holes for the Chargers. General manager A.J. Smith does a nice job adding pieces to a good team.
Primary need: (Tie) Right tackle and nickel corner. They say they like right tackle Jeremy Clary, but they might be wise to look at a replacement. Losing corner Drayton Florence in free agency could warrant an early pick of a corner.
Secondary needs: Inside linebacker, wide receiver and running back.
Possible targets: Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason, Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib, Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah.
Summary: They don't need somebody to come in immediately and play. They can let the player learn for a year and then put him in the lineup. This team has a lot of talent.
Denver Broncos
The skinny: Has the star dimmed for Mike Shanahan? It certainly has in terms of his being a personnel man. He's made some bad decisions. It's time he drafts better. This team seems to be regressing, and adding veterans over the years as stopgap players hasn't worked.
Primary need: They have run a wave of defensive tackles through in recent years but haven't hit on any of them. They need to draft a power player inside.
Secondary needs: Linebacker, offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Possible targets: USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams and Otah.
Summary: They have to build this team back to where it was a few years ago. For that to be a reality, the defense has to improve. They have to bolster the run defense. Replacing Matt Lepsis at left tackle is also important and a receiver to go with Brandon Marshall would help. With Marshall suffering a severe injury to his left arm, his status is up in the air as well.
Kansas City Chiefs
The skinny: This is a team that is certainly in the rebuilding mode. The Chiefs didn't spend a lot in free agency, which was the wise thing -- they have to build through the draft. General manager Carl Peterson is starting to take a lot of heat in Kansas City, and rightfully so. They have to draft better. Could they go for Matt Ryan with their first pick?
Primary need: Offensive line. Pick a position, any position. They need a lot of help.
Secondary needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback and linebacker.
Possible targets: Clady, Otah, Williams, Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Talib.
Summary: They have a young passer in Brodie Croyle, but they still could go for a quarterback early. If they don't fix that offensive line the confidence of any passer, a rookie or Croyle, could be shot early in their careers. The line is a mess. They didn't prepare well for the time when their line aged. This is a critical draft for Peterson -- and Herm Edwards.
Oakland Raiders
The skinny: They spent money like they printed it in free agency. But are they really any better? It all depends on the growth of second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the player they took with the first overall pick last year. They need to get him some help up front on the line and maybe another receiver and a big-play back.
Primary need: Right tackle. They need to get a power player to play the right side.
Secondary needs: Defensive tackle, running back and wide receiver.
Possible targets: Otah, Williams, Ellis and Arkansas RB Darren McFadden.
Summary: Despite the perception, there is some young talent on this team. If they can have a good draft, they might be a year away from pushing for a playoff spot. That's assuming Russell goes to the next level. But whoever made the free-agent deals might want to sit out draft day. They paid way too much money out in free agency for not-so-great players.