Denver Broncos
Grade: B-
Best Pick: Bradley Roby-Cornerback-Ohio State
Last year led by the quarterback Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos produced one of the best offenses that the National Football League has ever seen. Manning will once again be under center in 2014 for the Broncos, but for Denver to win the Super Bowl this season they will need more from their defense. The Broncos won the AFC last season, but they were torched in the Super Bowl by the Seattle Seahawks. At the 2014 NFL Draft, Broncos general manager set out to beef up his defensive unit while also giving Manning some more firepower.
The Broncos used their first round pick on Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby who they are hopeful will become a shutdown corner for them.
In the second round Elway gave Manning another target to throw the football to in Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer. Latimer was a bit of a reach in the second round, but at 6’3″, 215 lbs., he will hopefully fill a void that was left when wide receiver Eric Decker signed with the New York Jets this off-season. If anyone can get the best out of Latimer it will be Manning.
Like their defense, the Broncos offensive line had problems in the Super Bowl versus the Seahawks. In the third round Elway selected Michigan offensive tackle Michael Schofield who along with offensive tackle Ryan Clady should give the Broncos a pair off bookend tackles.
Right now it is just a matter of putting the right pieces around Manning and Elway is looking to keep the machine going in the Rocky Mountains.
Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: B
Best Pick: Dee Ford-Defensive End-Auburn
We expected the Kansas City Chiefs to be an improved team last season under their first year head coach Andy Reid last, but they were also a surprise entry into the NFL Playoffs. The Chiefs are aware that they won’t be able to sneak up on teams in 2014 and the place to start improving this team was at the NFL Draft.
The Chiefs already have two fine outside linebackers in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, but in the current NFL you can never have enough pass rushers. In the first round the Chiefs selected Auburn defensive end Dee Ford. Ford played defensive end in college, but at 6’2″, 252 lbs., Ford is more suited to be an outside linebacker at the pro level which makes him a tremendous pick by Chiefs general manager John Dorsey.
In their playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season, the Chiefs surrendered 45 points and in the third round they continued to improve the defense by drafting Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines. Gaines is 6’0″ and his size will come into play as he will be lined up against some of the bigger wide receivers in the AFC West such as Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos.
The Chiefs lost running back Dexter McCluster in free agency, but Dorsey and Reid didn’t waste anytime in replacing him. In the fourth round the Chiefs selected Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas who can do the same things that McCluster did in Kansas City which including doubling as a wide receiver and using his tremendous speed to his advantage.
In the fifth round the Chiefs selected Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray which was an intriguing selection. Although Alex Smith is the starting quarterback in Kansas City, I expected the Chiefs to address the quarterback position at some point during the draft. Reid passed on getting a quarterback early, but he found one in Murray that he can groom into an eventual NFL starter.
This draft was more of a developmental one for the Chiefs, but it should still pay dividends for them sooner rather than later.
Oakland Raiders
Grade: B+
Best Pick: Khalil Mack-Outside Linebacker-Buffalo
Last season the Oakland Raiders were the only team in the AFC West that failed to make the playoffs and they are out to change that in 2014. Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was busy in free agency bringing in veterans and at the 2014 NFL Draft it was time for the youth movement to begin.
The Raiders passed on the quarterback frenzy that usually captivates the first round of the draft in favor of Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack who some scouts pegged as having the best pro potential of the top players heading into the draft.
The Raiders passed on a quarterback in the first round, but they drafted one in the second round when they tabbed Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr. At 6’3, 220lbs., Carr comes to the Raiders as a two-time Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year and for my money he was to most pro ready quarterback available at this year’s draft. There isn’t a throw that Carr cannot make and he will push quarterback Matt Schaub for reps this summer at training camp for the Raiders.
It has been a long time coming, but the Raiders might have finally found themselves a franchise quarterback in Carr and he is someone that Raiders head coach Dennis Allen can turn into a stud.
San Diego Chargers
Grade: B+
Best Pick: Marion Grice-Running Back-Arizona State
Like their AFC West brethren in the Chiefs, the San Diego Chargers were also a surprise entry into the NFL Playoffs last season and after getting a taste of the postseason, the Chargers are thinking about advancing even further in this year in the playoffs. But first the Chargers had to take care of business at the NFL Draft.
The Chargers needed to improve their secondary and with cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Darqueze Dennard already off of the board in the first round, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco turned his attention to TCU cornerback Jason Verrett who was a first-team All-American last year.
In the second round the Chargers selected Georgia Tech outside linebacker Jeremaiah Attaochu. Last season with Georgia Tech, Attaochu was a third-team All-American. Attaochu is 6’3″, 252 lbs and he is still very raw which is frightening for the rest of the NFL.
In the effort to improve the Chargers offensive line, Tolesco drafted Notre Dame guard Chris Watt in the third round who should be able to help plow the road now for Chargers running back Ryan Matthews.
Every 3-4 defense needs that stout nose tackle and the Chargers found one in the fifth round when they selected Arkansas State defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers. At 6’1″, 333 lbs., Carrathers has the potential to be a solid contributor for the Chargers defense with his ability to open things up for their linebackers to make plays.
Tolesco and the Chargers found a steal in the sixth round when the selected Arizona State running back Marion Grice. Grice was a second-team All-Pac-12 performer last season and he will push Matthews for reps this season.
Through the draft the Chargers are building a team that can contend for the Super Bowl in 2014.
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