2018 NFL Draft Team Needs: AFC West

2018 NFL Draft Team Needs: AFC West

Check out our entire 2018 NFL Draft Team Needs Series

AFC EastAFC NorthAFC SouthAFC West
NFC EastNFC NorthNFC SouthNFC West
NFL Draft Betting Podcast

AFC West

Broncos (CB-QB-OL)
This is where theory might dictate where the draft goes, and my thoughts are they Broncos trade out of this spot after trade offers from teams like the Bills that will be desperate to trade down into the top of the round to get one of the coveted quarterbacks in the years class.

Round 1: 12th via trade with Bills (along with other picks to give up the 5th overall pick)
Round 2: 40 (Possible the 22nd or 24th via the trade in the first round)
Round 3: 71 (Possible additional pick via first-round trade)
Round 4: 102 / 105
Round 5: 133 / 151 / 154
Round 6: 168

Prediction
While many experts are pegging the Broncos on drafting a top quarterback to back up newly acquired Case Keenum who is only on a 2- year $36 million Deal, I think they trade out when they get handed a plethora of picks from a team desperate for a franchise type quarterback. With the 12th pick, they load up on the defensive side starting with Denzel Ward/ Derwin James depending on what Tampa does with the 7th pick. James is a player that is undersized in some peoples eyes (5′ 10) but, his combine performance and the ability to play bigger than he is comes attached to his blazing speed 4.32 40 speed and is said to lockdown in a Chris Harris Jr way. If Tampa slips up, this is their man

Raiders (OL-DB)
The Raiders made a few pickups in the secondary with Rashaan Melvin, Marcus Gilchrist, Leon Hall, and a few other additions to the defense, but up front, the only player thats been able to generate constant pressure is the outstanding linebacker, Khalil Mack. Another area is that needs to be mended will be the offensive line as they are crawling into this season with 35-year-old Donald Penn coming off Lisfranc surgery. The rest of the group consisting of Vadal Alexander, David Sharpe, and Breno Giacomini that ranked 10th in pass protection but struggled in the run blocking aspect ranking in the bottom 3rd of the league. Overall they are ranked 10th as a unit, but by position the rank
Left End 5
Left Tackle 23
MID/Guard 11
Right Tackle
Right End 12
They are average and above at all the positions but that LT spot, it needs to be addressed in this draft at some point.

11 Total Picks
Round 1: 10
Round 2: 41
Round 3: 75
Round 4: 106
Round 5: 159 / 173
Round 6: 185 / 212 / 216 / 217
Round 7: 228

Prediction
The heart of the defense is Khalil Mack, and what better to do than to pair him with another linebacker that can do it all accounting for 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season. Not only is he a great run stopper, the Bulldog star is very good at dropping back in coverage and reading quarterbacks eyes. Raiders select Roquan Smith giving them a lethal combination of aggressiveness with high football IQ to a team that needs a sense of leadership to help Mack.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG5DD3f3veU

Chargers (LB-QB-DL)
When you think of the Los Angeles defense, you immediately envision Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, one of the best defensive tandems in the NFL. A few big names that dominate in their respective aspect, but as a unit, the Chargers defense struggled the entire year stopping the run ending 27th in DVOA. The problem wasn’t in the trenches; it fell more in the laps of the linebackers who failed to tackle on the second level where they ranked 28th. The inconsistency can also be blamed some on injuries, especially to Denzel Perryman who has missed over a dozen games in the last two seasons.
7 Total Picks
Round 1: 17
Round 2: 48
Round 3: 84
Round 4: 119
Round 5: 155
Round 6: 191
Round 7: 251

Prediction
LA ranked top ten in all defensive categories except vs. the run, and that is what they will aim to fix. Da’ Ron Payne recorded 36 tackles with 3.5 for a loss and tacked on 1.5 sacks in 2016, last year he backed it up with 47 tackles and added two sacks. He is a run stopper who causes havoc in the backfield making everyone around him better, and defenses have to adjust to his skill set.

Chiefs (DB-LB)
Kansas City is another team that doesn’t have a first-round pick. As far as need, the desperate defensive unit will be searching for some sort of pass rusher to fuel a defense striving to generate pressure and that only had 31 sacks all season (25th).
8 Total Picks
Round 2: 54
Round 3: 78 / 86
Round 4: 118 / 120
Round 6: 182
Round 7: 207 / 217

Prediction
With having to wait for 53 picks until their name is called upon barring a trade, look for the Chiefs to sharpen up the defensive side of the ball with cornerbacks that might be there in the second round such as the Mike Hughes and the Donte Jackson’s of the world. The loss of ball Hawk Marcus Peters will be felt if they don’t figure out a solution. A name that makes a ton of sense here is Isaiah Oliver.

Related Content
WATCH
LISTEN

Sports Gambling Podcast

The College Basketball Experience

NBA Gambling Podcast

NASCAR Gambling Podcast

Premier League Gambling Podcast

MORE

audio podcasts like homepage (post masonry grid, category: NFL)

video podcasts like homepage (post grid, category: NFL)

Euro 2024 Draw Reaction | Euro 2024 (Ep. 12)

NFL Week Two

NFL Week Three

NFL Week Four

NFL Week Five

audio podcasts like homepage (post grid, category: NFL)