There were some polarising draft days for the teams in the AFC West. From surprise first round choices to outstanding value. the draft classes of the AFC West teams really had it all.
From weird to wonderful we breakdown the team grades of the four teams in the AFC West
AFC WEST TEAM GRADES
Denver Broncos – B
- #9 – Patrick Surtain II – CB – Alabama
- #35 – Javonte Williams – RB – North Carolina
- #98 – Quinn Meinerz – IOL – Wis-Whitewater
- #105 – Baron Browning – LB – Ohio State
- #152 – Caden Sterns – S – Texas
- #164 – Jamar Johnson – S – Indiana
- #219 – Seth Williams – WR – Auburn
- #237 – Kary Vincent Jr – CB – LSU
- #239 – Jonathan Cooper – DE – Ohio State
- #253 – Marquiss Spencer – DE – Miss State
Overall the Broncos draft was decent. They went a long way to making their team better in 2021. But, we cannot overlook the fact they passed on Justin Fields to roll with Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater. If Justin Fields turns out to be a superstar, then the Broncos draft choices will come into some serious questioning.
The Broncos added players with athletic upside into days 2/3. Meinerz & Williams, we would expect to start in game 1 and Browning will be a good pick up with some refinement.
Kansas City Chiefs – A
- #58 – Nick Bolton – LB – Missouri
- #63 – Creed Humphrey – IOL – Oklahoma
- #144 – Joshua Kaindoh – DE – Florida St
- #162 – Noah Gray – TE – Duke
- #181 – Cornell Powell – WR – Clemson
- #226 – Trey Smith – G – Tennessee
The Chiefs may have got away with daylight robbery in this draft. How Nick Bolton and Creed Humphrey made it to #58 and #63 respectively is outrageous. As was the pick up of Trey Smith at #226! Smith was ranked 51st on our big board and although it seems his blood clot issues put teams off, if he stays healthy, he will be the steal of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders – C-
- #17 – Alex Leatherwood – OT – Alabama
- #43 – Trevon Moehrig – S – TCU
- #79 – Malcolm Koonce – Edge – Buffalo
- #80 – Divine Deablo – S – Virginia Tech
- #143 – Tyree Gillespie – S – Missouri
- #167 – Nate Hobbs – CB – Illinois
- #230 – Jimmy Morrissey – C – Pittsburgh
We really shouldn’t be surprised what the Raiders do any more. Fair play to them. They have their own board and they stick to it. If we were basing this grade off just the first round pick, then they would be getting an F. but taking the draft as a whole, it wasn’t quite as bad as that. If the picks of Moehrig and Leatherwood were reversed, it would be more palatable and Gillespie will be a good pick up at #143. Picking up 3 safeties raises question marks but as we know, the Raiders are going to Raiders.
Los Angeles Chargers – A+
- #13 – Rashawn Slater – OT – Northwestern
- #47 – Asante Samuel Jr – CB – Florida State
- #77 – Josh Palmer – WR – Tennessee
- #97 – Tre McKitty – TE – Georgia
- #118 – Chris Rumph – Edge – Duke
- #159 –Brenden Jaimes – OT – Nebraska
- #185 – Nick Niemann – LB – Iowa
- #198 – Larry Rountree III – RB – Missouri
- #241 – Mark Webb – S – Georgia
We love this draft from the Chargers. A top lineman, top cornerback and a top receiver. There really isn’t anything not to like. Even the pick up of McKitty, Rumph and Rountree are really good value. The went a long way to being competitive in this draft and you could argue no team did more to open their window over the 3 days than the LA Chargers.
How would you grade the NFC South draft classes? Let us know over on Twitter @NinetynineYards