The AFC West was upside down in 2025 compared to the previous decade. The Chiefs are picking inside the top 10 for the first time since they traded up to pick #10 in 2017 to draft Patrick Mahomes, a move that would eventually reshape the history of the National Football League. The Los Angeles Chargers haven’t won the West since 2009 back when they were in San Diego, but yet again find themselves limping into the playoffs as a wildcard team. They have injuries everywhere, but Justin Herbert is one of the best QBs of all-time, so they always have a chance to win.
The Denver Broncos are the #1 seed in the AFC for the first time in a decade when they won Super Bowl 50 over Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. After last year’s one and done playoff trip to Buffalo, the Pa(y)ton’s (George and Sean) have their sights set on both the Lamar Hunt and the Vince Lombardi trophies.
Black Monday came for former Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll, who was relieved of his duties after just one season. Owner Tom Brady will help lead the new coaching search. They’ll have the #1 overall selection in the draft which means a lot of pressure. I need not remind you of Jamarcus Russell.
Even with LA and Denver likely moving draft positions, I wanted to do a 4-team mock that focused on the future of each of these rosters. The Chiefs and Raiders are at a critical turning point in franchise history, while the Chargers and Broncos are looking to add quality talent to impressive rosters.
My favorite picks: Raiders – CB Jalon Kilgore, Round 4 Pick 128 Chiefs – EDGE R Mason Thomas, Round 2 Pick 40Chargers – DT Zane Durant, Round 6 Pick 203Broncos – WR Antonio Williams, Round 3 Pick 95
Focusing on the #1 overall pick, the Raiders are essentially choosing between Fernando Mendoza (taken in this mock) and Oregon Dante Moore. It will be the great offseason quarterback debate of 2026. Beefing up the interior on both sides of the ball is critical for Vegas, and upgrading the secondary is the next highest priority. With endless holes to fill, they’ll need to hit on both the QB and in the middle rounds to turn their tides around.
Travis Kelce is likely to retire after the season, though nothing has been announced. He had a generational career, even amassing 800+ yards in 2026 on his last legs. If he wants to comeback, the Chiefs will welcome him. Regardless, they should address the position. Kenyon Sadiq is one of most athletic tight end prospects we’ve seen in the 21st century. Trent McDuffie is a potential offseason trade candidate which would mean secondary is a huge focus for the Chiefs. They have a promising rookie corner in Nohl Williams but adding three guys with different skillsets (slot CB, box Safety & deep S/CB) gives their Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo an army of versatility.
LA only has 5 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they need those players to join a talented roster. My assumption is, should they lose at New England on Sunday night, they might look to trade back in the first round. I don’t think they’d mind a couple more picks to add to the 7th-youngest roster in the NFL. With both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt battling injuries in 2025, the hope is they return healthy next season. But the interior of the O-Line is an absolute problem. Vega Ioane immediately fixes that issue. Adding a gritty, athletic blocking tight end in Oscar Delp and getting younger and more athletic on defense could push the Chargers to finally win a playoff game.
The Denver Broncos led the NFL in sacks for the second consecutive season. With edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper locked up for the next few years, they likely won’t be able to compensate both upcoming free agent interior defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach. One of the most athletic DTs in the 2026 NFL Draft is Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington and adding him to an already vicious Broncos D-Line makes the interior considerably younger. Adding in skill position weapons in Jack Endries, Antonio Williams and Mike Washington Jr. only helps Bo Nix and Sean Payton become a more dynamic offense to match the defense.
