The AFC West enters the regular season with a familiar name at the top and a few challengers still trying to catch up. Denver, which surprised plenty of people by winning the division in 2025, now looks built to stay there after an offseason that brought in Jaylen Waddle and kept much of the core intact.
That’s the big takeaway here: the Broncos didn’t just survive their title run, they may have actually improved. With many of the same key players returning for 2026, Denver is bringing back the kind of continuity that makes a division winner hard to knock off.
The rest of the division has work to do.
Las Vegas comes in at No. 4, and the Raiders are still carrying the look of a team searching for answers. It’s another year with a new head coach and a new starting quarterback, this time Fernando Mendoza, who was viewed as a legitimate No. 1 overall pick and has traits that could make him a franchise quarterback.
But simply drafting him is only the first step. The Raiders still have to develop him, and that process is just getting started.
There’s no shortage of issues around him, either. The wide receiver room could be the weakest in the NFL, and the offensive line and secondary both remain shaky. Mendoza might get starts this season and even look competent, but Las Vegas has a lot that needs to go right before it can make real progress in the AFC.
Kansas City lands at No. 3, and for a team that usually sets the pace, the offseason didn’t do much to change the picture. The Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker, but there are real questions about whether he fits the kind of impact they’re paying for. He’s dealt with injuries, isn’t a true bell cow, doesn’t add much as a receiver, and isn’t especially strong in pass protection.
The bigger concern might be what happened behind him. Kansas City lost three starters in the secondary - Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook - and that group already wasn’t exactly a strength.
With those departures, the back end could take a serious hit. Even with Patrick Mahomes healthy, the Chiefs were only 6-8 in his starts last year, which keeps them looking more vulnerable than people are used to seeing.
The Chargers slot in at No. 2, and while they did hire Mike McDaniel this offseason, they also watched Jesse Minter leave for the Baltimore Ravens head coaching job. The interior offensive line is still a problem, and on paper, Los Angeles doesn’t have a ton of high-end talent that can really tilt games.
That’s part of the story with the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh. They’ve gone 11-6 in each of his two seasons, good enough to stay in the playoff mix, but not enough to push much further. The roster had enough resources to make noise this offseason, but the big splashes never came, leaving Los Angeles in the same spot: solid, but not quite enough.
So the AFC West board looks like this before the season kicks off: Broncos first, Chargers second, Chiefs third, Raiders fourth. And at least right now, Denver is the team everyone else is chasing.
In Other News...
Broncos May Catch Chiefs At The Perfect Time In Week 1
The Broncos open the season with a chance to test a Chiefs team that has spent much of camp managing health as much as game planning. Kansas City has had several key players on the injury report through training camp and the preseason, including defensive tackle Chris Jones, who missed practice while recovering from a back issue, and coach Andy Reid has said he is hopeful some of those players will be ready by Week 1.
Still, the list of concerns has been long enough to make Denver pay attention. Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Mansoor Delane, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Kenneth Walker III have all dealt with injuries at different points, leaving the Chiefs with more uncertainty than usual heading into the opener. For a Broncos team trying to make an early statement in the division, that kind of opening can matter, even if Kansas City still has time to get right before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Settle Backup QB Battle With A Notable Roster Decision
Sean Payton has settled the Broncos backup quarterback picture, and it gives Denver a clearer sense of how the offense will be structured heading into the regular season. Jarrett Stidham will open as the No. 2 behind Bo Nix, with Sam Ehlinger holding the third spot, a notable roster choice after a summer of competition and preseason work.
For a team trying to stabilize its quarterback room behind a rookie starter, keeping three passers on the active roster is not a small decision. It leaves Denver with experience, insurance and some flexibility if the early part of the season brings more questions than answers, even if the pecking order is now set for the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Backfield Battle Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
The Broncos went into the offseason wanting more stability behind their running game, and the addition of Jonah Coleman has quickly made that conversation more interesting. Drafted in the fourth round, Coleman is already expected to matter this season, not just as a developmental piece but as someone who can help shape the offense if Denver needs him to.
J.K. Dobbins is still projected to open the year as the starter after re-signing with the team, but his injury history keeps the backfield picture from feeling settled. Denver reportedly likes Colemans pass protection and efficiency enough to view him as a real contender for the primary backup job, with the possibility that he could move ahead of RJ Harvey on the depth chart if the Broncos need a reliable option in a larger role. [Read more 🡒]