With the trade deadline creeping closer, the AFC West is shaping up as a division with a few very different approaches.
Denver is trying to walk a fine line. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported the Broncos want to strengthen the roster before the deadline, but they also need to protect enough draft capital to address long-term holes. That matters because several starters are set to hit expiring deals this offseason, so every move has to fit both the short-term push and the bigger picture.
In Los Angeles, the conversation has centered on Khalil Mack, but Jim Harbaugh made it clear where he stands. The Chargers are 0-7 and Mack has been part of the trade chatter, yet Harbaugh said the veteran EDGE is staying where he is.
“I want Khalil Mack here,” Harbaugh said, via PFT. “Khalil Mack wants to be here. He’s one of the pillars of our team.”
Harbaugh also said he is locked in on Week 9 against the Texans and is leaving the personnel side to GM Joe Hortiz and assistant GM Chad Alexander.
“I’m focused on the Texans. I know Joe, Chad, our organization are always looking to improve the team,” Harbaugh said. “I’m focused on getting it turned, forging ahead, striving in every way to play winning football.”
Kansas City, meanwhile, is shopping in the other direction. The Chiefs are looking for help at receiver before the deadline, while cornerback Kristian Fulton is a player they could be willing to move. ESPN reported that angle, and Andy Reid said GM Brett Veach has been working the phones for a month.
“We’ll see where it all goes. He’s great with that… If he can make things happen, we’ll make things happen…”
Las Vegas appears to be taking a much quieter approach. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the Raiders want to see more from RB Ashton Jeanty, which is why they leaned on fourth-round back Mike Washington this past week. The hope is that it sends a message to Jeanty, and the plan going forward is simple: play the better back, whoever that is.
The Raiders are also expected to mostly stay put at the deadline, with no major additions or subtractions anticipated. Still, they are expected to listen if teams call about OL Jackson Powers-Johnson after he dropped out of the lineup.
In Other News...
Chargers May Refuse To Move Tuli Tuipulotu Despite Growing Buzz
Tuli Tuipulotu has become one of the more intriguing names to watch as the NFL trade deadline nears, but the Chargers do not appear eager to turn that interest into a deal. The 24-year-old pass rusher has drawn buzz because of his strong play and the uncertainty around his contract situation, yet Los Angeles is signaling it wants to keep building around its own pieces rather than entertain a move.
The backdrop is simple enough: Tuipulotu is in the final year of his rookie deal, and the long-term picture has already been complicated by failed extension talks. Even with the Chargers stuck in a winless season, the current thinking is that the front office would rather hold onto a productive young defender than shop him for short-term help, which leaves rival teams waiting to see whether that stance changes before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Catch A Break As Texans Backfield Issue Lingers
Houstons backfield situation is still unsettled as the Texans move through Week 9 without David Montgomery, who has been out with a groin injury and remains on the short-term side of the injury spectrum. He has already missed three games, and because Houston never placed him on injured reserve, the door is still open for a relatively quick return if the recovery keeps trending the right way.
For the Chargers, the immediate takeaway is that they may not have to deal with Montgomery when they face a Texans offense leaning on Woody Marks to handle the rushing load. It is the kind of break that can matter in a tight AFC race, especially with Houston still trying to sort out how soon its lead back can get back into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Be Waiting Too Long To Trust Omarion Hampton
The Chargers have spent much of the season easing Omarion Hampton into the offense rather than leaning on him as a steady feature of the running game. For a rookie who showed promise in his first year, that has left some room for questions about how long Los Angeles wants to keep him in a part-time role while the backfield continues to be shared.
Jim Harbaugh has already acknowledged the need to evaluate Hamptons workload and think about expanding his chances. The bigger issue now is whether the Chargers are waiting too long to make that adjustment, especially with the team still searching for the right formula to get more out of its ground game. [Read more 🡒]