The Chiefs have captured eight consecutive AFC West crowns and own the division’s overall lead since the NFL realigned things back in 2002:

• Chiefs (10 division titles)
• Broncos (6)
• Chargers (5)
• Raiders (1)

Both the Broncos and Chargers have been trendy dark horse picks to end Patrick Mahomes’ reign of terror in recent years, but ultimately none of K.C.’s division “rivals” have captured a single playoff W during the last five seasons. The AFC West joins the AFC East as the only divisions with just one winning playoff team during this span.

What follows is a breakdown of every AFC West team’s top three needs with corresponding stats related to certain position units' 2023 performance, 2024 salary cap allocation and more.

Note that the needs aren’t listed in any particular order. Thanks to Over The Cap for the salary cap and contract information. Key free agents are unrestricted unless otherwise indicated and listed in no particular order. 2024 draft picks don’t include projected compensatory selections.

For more divisional breakdowns on team needs, see below!

• NFC East
• NFC West
• NFC North
• NFC South
• AFC East
• AFC North
• AFC South

Kansas City Chiefs

• Team Needs: Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle, Interior Defensive Line
• Effective Cap Space: $12.5 million (No. 17)
• Draft picks (5): 1.32, 2.64, 3.95, 4.132, 5.157
• Key free agents: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Mecole Hardman, LT DonoVan Smith, IDL Chris Jones, IDL Derrick Nnadi, IDL Tershawn Wharton, EDGE Mike Danna, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Willie Gay, S Mike Edwards, CB L’Jarius Sneed

Wide Receiver

Rashee Rice is a dog and absolutely should be leaned on as the team’s primary YAC-creator in 2024 and beyond.

Otherwise? Sheesh. This organization really hasn’t hit on a true difference-making WR addition since drafting Patrick Mahomes in 2018.

Obviously, the presence of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill (until 2022) didn’t make it overly necessary to keep the WR room overly stocked; don’t confuse this with “well, actually Mahomes always needed more help” propaganda. That said: The 2023 WR room simply wasn’t up the task more weeks than not, leading to the most neutered version of Mahomes that we’ve ever seen in terms of average target depth.

The Chiefs can save $12 million in cap space while only leaving $2 million in dead money by releasing playoff hero Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Making a splash in free agency would be awesome (looking at you, Mike Evans), while Fantasy Life’s Matthew Freedman has the Chiefs addressing this need in the form of Florida State WR Keon Coleman in his first official 2024 mock draft. Sign me up!

Offensive Tackle

Kansas City tried to fill this need last offseason in the form of LT Donvoan Smith and RT Jawaan Taylor. It worked on the basis of, you know, them winning a f*cking Super Bowl and all, but the bookends of PFF’s 18th-ranked offensive line were hardly a bright spot:

• Taylor: 57.4 PFF grade (74th among 108 qualified offensive tackles)
• Smith: 56.9 (75th)

Taylor isn’t going anywhere, but Smith is an unrestricted free agent. This year might be a good time for the Chiefs to break their 10-year streak of not using a first- or second-round pick on an offensive tackle.

Of course, this need will always be just a bit less pressing thanks to the near-unrivaled sack-avoidance ability of Mahomes. Nobody has been better at not letting pressures turn into sacks since he entered the NFL:

• 2023: 10.6% of pressures resulted in a sack (No. 2 among all qualified QBs)
• 2022: 9.8% (No. 1)
• 2021: 13.4% (No. 3)
• 2020: 9.6% (No. 2)
• 2019: 11.6% (No. 3)
• 2018: 13.3% (No. 3)

Interior Defensive Line

This will be filled in a hurry if long-time stud DL Chris Jones holds true to his victory parade declaration. But even then: It’d behoove the Chiefs to add a bit more beef to a defensive front that struggled to shut down opposing rushing attacks in 2023:

• EPA allowed per rush: -0.034 (No. 28)
• PFF run defense grade: 61.2 (No. 21)
• Yards per attempt allowed: 4.5 (No. 24)
• Yards before contact per carry allowed: 1.3 (No. 21)

Note this defense was still awesome (No. 6 in EPA allowed per play), particularly against the pass (No. 3) which is preferred in the year 2024. Spags for president, after all.

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) in the second half in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Still, key contributors from the defensive line like Derrick Nnadi, Mike Danna and Tershawn Wharton are also unrestricted free agents. Extra investment is needed on the interior, where the Chiefs are currently one of just three teams with fewer than $8 million allocated in 2024.

Honorable mentions

The Chiefs will have a newfound need at cornerback IF they fail to re-sign playmaker L’Jarius Sneed.

More backfield depth is needed with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon hitting free agency. Of course, the Chiefs have demonstrated time and time again that they are more than capable of winning championships without devoting a significant portion of their salary cap to the position.

Las Vegas Raiders

• Team Needs: Offensive Line, Interior Defensive Line, Cornerback
• Effective Cap Space: $30.6 million (No. 9)
• Draft picks (9): 1.13, 2.44, 3.77, 4.112, 5.146, 6.206, 7.220, 7.224, 7.226
• Key free agents: RB Josh Jacobs, TE Austin Hooper, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, RG Greg Van Roten, C Andre James, IDL Bilal Nichols, IDL John Jenkins, IDL Adam Butler, CB Amik Robertson

Offensive Line

There wasn’t much wrong with this group in 2023, as the Raiders finished with PFF’s 10th-best offensive line on their way to ranking 13th in yards before contact per carry (1.3) and sixth in pressure rate (30.9%) allowed.

Still, starting C Andre James, RG Greg Van Roten and RT Jermaine Eluemunor are all unrestricted free agents, giving the Raiders some serious work to do in March and/or April. Overall, only the Seahawks currently have fewer 2024 dollars devoted to their offensive front.

Never fear, Fantasy Life’s Matthew Freedman is here to fill the need in the form of Alabama OT J.C. Latham in his first official mock draft of 2024. That would be much appreciated, especially considering the Raiders are one of just 12 teams to spend two or fewer day-one or day-two picks on offensive linemen over the last five years.

Cornerback

The Raiders boasted the league’s ninth-best scoring defense (19.5 points per game) last season thanks in large part to a Maxx Crosby-led pass rush that routinely made opposing QBs uncomfortable. However, the Raiders defense posted a league-low 11% contested catch rate on non-pressured dropbacks, demonstrating the reality that just a bit more help might be needed to take this group from good to great.

These corners were fine last season, but could you imagine this group with a real blue-chip secondary talent to complement the league’s reigning fourth-place Defensive MVP finisher?

• Jack Jones: 71.9 PFF coverage grade (tied for No. 35 among 128 qualified corners)
• Marcus Peters: 71.3 (No. 39)
• Nate Hobbs: 68.1 (No. 54)
• Amik Robertson: 65.8 (No. 63)
• Jakorian Bennett: 41.1 (No. 125)

One of just seven teams spending under $9 million on their cornerback room ahead of 2024, adding one of their three top-100 picks to this room could help this defense become even more well-rounded ahead of 2024.

Quarterback

Aidan O’Connell won five of his 10 starts and threw eight TDs against zero INTs across his final 16 quarters of action. Kudos to the rookie for doing enough to help Davante Adams (103-1,144-8) and Jakobi Meyers (71-807-8) put up some solid enough numbers.

Nov 26, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) throws the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

That said: C’mon people. The Raiders can’t seriously move forward with O’Connell as the undisputed starting QB after the 2023 fourth-round pick found a way to rank toward the bottom of basically every reputable efficiency metric:

O’Connell among 41 qualified QBs

• EPA per dropback: -0.038 (No. 29)
• CPOE: -3.9% (No. 39)
• Success rate: 42.2% (No. 34)
• PFF pass grade: 64.6 (No. 29)
• Passer rating: 83.9 (No. 29)
• Yards per attempt: 6.5 (No. 29)

His marks in yards per attempt (6.4) and CPOE (-1.3%) during his aforementioned hot stretch to end the season were still pretty rough compared to the rest of the league.

You also won’t find more of a statue in the pocket: O’Connell was the league’s only QB to not register a single scramble attempt among 49 players with at least 100 dropbacks last season.

Personally, I think Justin Fields would look GREAT in black and silver. If that’s too big of a swing, look for the Raiders to at least add some competition in free agency and/or the draft.

Think the Raiders will upgrade their signal-caller? You can draft accordingly on Underdog Fantasy, where you can get a 100% deposit match of up to $100 when you sign up below with code LIFE!

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Honorable mentions

Multiple key contributors on the interior defensive line are unrestricted free agents. The Raiders join the Chiefs, Cowboys and Cardinals as the only four defenses spending less than $9 million on their interior defensive line ahead of 2024.

It remains to be seen if Las Vegas and unrestricted free agent Josh Jacobs can come to an agreement. Zamir White looked plenty fine as the lead back down the stretch. Still, work would have to be done even if the team simply decides to ascend “Zeus” to RB1 status and move on from Jacobs, as pass-down backs Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden are also set to hit free agency.

A backup TE might be needed if Austin Hooper isn’t re-signed, but more than anything: A Michael Mayer year-two boom might just be incoming.

Friendly reminder this defensive line was supposed to have Chandler Jones. Adding a true high-end sidekick across from Maxx Crosby could turn this strength into a superpower.

Denver Broncos

• Team Needs: Quarterback, Defensive Line, Cornerback
• Effective Cap Space: -$27.9 million (No. 28)
• Draft picks (6): 1.12, 3.76, 4.121, 5.143, 5.145, 7.236
• Key free agents: TE Adam Trautman, LT Cameron Fleming, C Lloyd Cushenberry, IDL Jonathan Harris (RFA), IDL Mike Purcell, LB Josey Jewell, CB K’Waun Williams, CB Fabian Moreau, S P.J. Locke

Quarterback

The Russell Wilson era is seemingly over. He and Ciara are accepting offers on their Denver mansion after all.

Moving on from Russ leaves the Broncos with quite the hole under center. Jarrett Stidham has had a few fine enough spot starts over the past two seasons, but he doesn’t exactly look like the sort of guy Sean Payton came out of retirement for.

Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) before the game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

While the top three QBs are expected to be long gone by the time the Broncos are on the clock with the 12th pick, there are still a number of other high-end options that should be available. 

Fantasy Life’s Matthew Freedman zeroed in on Oregon QB Bo Nix in his first official 2024 mock draft. Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt is also riding with this because of the 24-year-old QB’s high-end processing and ability to operate as a Brees-esque “point guard” under center.

Defensive Line

The Broncos join the Commanders, Rams and Panthers as the only four teams with less than $10 million currently devoted to their EDGE rushers in 2024. This reigning 20th-ranked pass rush in pressure rate didn’t quite manage to replace Bradley Chubb in a meaningful way, leading to the second-slowest time-to-pressure rate (2.65 seconds) in the league.

Further complicating matters is the potential for interior defensive linemen Mike Purcell and Jonathan Harris (RFA) to leave in free agency. Re-signing both would be a start, but additional talent is also needed inside of the league’s reigning 27th-ranked scoring defense — especially considering the Broncos are one of just 12 teams to use two or fewer day-one or day-two picks on their defensive line during the last five drafts.

Cornerback

Patrick Surtain II figures to be the lynchpin of this secondary for a long time, but fellow starters Fabian Moreau and K’Wan Williams are free agents.

Simply finding a way to keep the gang together honestly might not be a half-bad idea. While the start of 2023 was ROUGH for this defense (70 points to the Dolphins!), there weren’t too many offenses that had a ton of success against this group following their Week 9 bye:

Broncos defense in Weeks 10-18:

• EPA allowed per play: -0.078 (No. 7)
• EPA allowed per dropback: -0.031 (No. 10)
• EPA allowed per rush: -0.150 (No. 9)

Overall, the Broncos only gave up more than 22 points to opposing offenses twice in their final 12 games. This defense usually wasn’t the main problem here for the final two-thirds of 2023.

Honorable mentions 

Adding a more traditional inline TE to complement Greg Dulcich makes sense, especially with Dulcich struggling mightily to stay healthy during his short NFL career.

Speaking of guys who can’t stay healthy: Tim Patrick might be a cap casualty, and it never seems like too long goes by before Courtland Sutton and/or Jerry Jeudy trade rumors get thrown around. Sutton (20th) was the only Broncos WR to crack ESPN’s top 50 overall players at the position last season.

Re-signing C Lloyd Cushenberry will allow the Broncos to retain the entirety of PFF’s reigning seventh-ranked unit.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Team Needs: Pass-catcher, Running Back, Cornerback
• Effective Cap Space: -$45.1 million (No. 29)
• Draft picks (7): 1.05, 2.37, 3.69, 4.105, 5.138, 6.182, 7.222
• Key free agents: RB Austin Ekeler, RB Joshua Kelley, WR Jalen Guyton, TE Gerald Everett, C Will Clapp, IDL Austin Johnson, IDL Nicholas Williams, LB Kenneth Murray, S Alohi Gilman, CB Michael Davis

Pass-catcher

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the status of Justin Herbert’s longtime top-two WRs:

• Keenan Allen (32 in April): Showed he still has plenty of juice left (108-1243-7) in 13 games last season, although the Chargers could save $23.1 million against the cap ($11.6 in dead money) should they decide to part ways with the longtime route-running maestro.
• Mike Williams (30 in October): Coming off a torn ACL, which could theoretically be more detrimental than usual considering how much Williams has historically won with physicality and athleticism at the catch point. Like with Allen, Williams could be a cap casualty given the discrepancy between potential savings ($20 million) and dead money ($12.5 million).

Maybe Quentin Johnston proves that his status as a bottom-five separator was simply year-one struggles, but man things were ROUGH in 2023. His 0.88 yards per route run is the fifth-lowest mark among 130 rookie WRs to see at least 50 targets since 2010. It’s not like he was receiving bad QB play out there.

Oct 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

There’s also the fact that primary pass-catching TE Gerald Everett is an unrestricted free agent, potentially leaving the Chargers without four of their reigning top-five pass-catchers from last season.

Fantasy Life’s Matthew Freedman is looking to a special talent to help fill this need in his first official 2024 mock draft: Georgia TE Brock Bowers. The YAC ability here would be much appreciated considering Everett and (occasionally) Johnston were the only pass-catchers to offer any sort of real juice after the catch last season.

Running Back

Austin Ekeler posted career-worst efficiency marks as a rusher last season. His most memorable moment is a meme of him celebrating a first down while trailing 63-7 against the Raiders.

Of course, his offensive line didn’t exactly help matters.

Fewest rush yards *before* contact per carry in 2023:

• Jaguars (0.7)
• Buccaneers (0.8)
• Titans (0.9)
• Commanders (0.9)
• Chargers (0.9)

Twenty-nine in May, Ekeler doesn’t seem to be shying away from the possibility of finding a new home, leaving new head coach Jim Harbaugh in need of a new bell-cow RB.

Whether this need is addressed in free agency or the draft: Expect the Chargers’ future RB1 to be FED the football if Harbaugh’s previous offenses are any indication of what he plans on installing in Los Angeles.

Cornerback

The J.C. Jackson “era” didn’t exactly turn out the way the Chargers planned, and veteran starter Michael Davis joins backup Essang Bassey as an unrestricted free agent.

This leaves the Chargers as one of just three teams with under $8 million on the books for their cornerbacks in 2024. Nobody is doubting the ability of Asante Samuel Jr. — it’s everyone else that the Chargers need to worry about:

• Asante Samuel Jr.: 74.9 PFF grade (tied for No. 35 among 161 qualified corners)
• Ja’Sir Taylor: 60.1 (No. 115)
• Michael Davis: 59.4 (No. 119)
• Deane Leonard: 56.6 (No. 133)
• Essang Bassey: 52.4 (No. 145)

One of just four teams to allow at least 20 TDs to opposing WRs last season, the Chargers must do a better job filling out the rest of their defense alongside blue-chip staples Joey Bosa and Derwin James.

Honorable mentions

Speaking of Bosa: There is a chance the Chargers decide to move on from him and Khalil Mack to create some salary cap space. Nobody is doubting the ability of either, but at the end of the day Bosa has played just 14 games over the past two seasons, and Mack just turned 33.

Interior offensive and defense line will be needed to both help replace potential losses in free agency and to just generally improve in the areas that Jim Harbaugh has long made a point of stressing.