AFC West- NFL Free Agent Signings

The AFC West championship has run through Kansas City for nearly a decade and with back to back Superbowl wins, that fact doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. The Denver Broncos, the LA Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders remain in chase mode, each in their own stages of rebuilds. Will one make enough strides to slow down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs? Likely not this season but that's what drafts and the free agent marketplace are for. Here is a look at how the AFC West teams did in the early stages of free agency:

Denver Broncos

• Re-signed FB- Michael Burton to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed WR- Lil’Jordan Humphrey to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed TE- Adam Trautman to a one-year contract.
• Signed T- Matt Peart to a one-year contract.
• Signed DL- Malcolm Roach to a two-year contract.
• Signed LB- Cody Barton to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed LB- Justin Strnad to a one-year contract.
• Signed S- Brandon Jones to a three-year contract.
• Re-signed S- P.J. Locke to a two-year contract.
• Re-signed K- Will Lutz to a two-year contract.

The Broncos have not had a stellar offseason and will enter the draft in need of a quarterback and cornerback. After releasing longtime veteran and future Hall of Famer Russell Wilson, the Broncos are left with career backup Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback. Draft Nation believes the Broncos are targeting Michigan's rookie J.J. McCarthy in the first round, but McCarthy is a fast riser and may not be there unless Denver finds a way to move up.

Kansas City Chiefs

• Signed WR- Marquise Brown to a one-year contract.
• Signed TE- Irv Smith to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed DL– Chris Jones to a five-year contract.
• Re-signed DL- Derrick Nnadi to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed DL- Tershawn Wharton to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed LB- Drue Tranquill to a three-year contract.
• CB- L’Jarius Sneed was given the franchise tag.
• Re-signed DB- Deon Bush to a one-year contract.
• Signed P- Matt Araiza to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed LS- James Winchester to a one-year contract.

Kansas City brought back All-World defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is the anchor of their defense. The signing of speedy wideout Marquise Brown will give Patrick Mahomes a legitimate deep threat, one that has been missing since the departure of Tyreek Hill to Miami. Though they signed pro bowl corner LaJarius Sneed to a franchise tag, the Chiefs are shopping him due to salary cap restrictions. 

The Superbowl champs have the luxury of picking best available athlete rather than for need at pick #32, and Draft Nation thinks it will be a cornerback or wide receiver to fill the pending void if Sneed is traded or the holes at the wideout 

position.

Las Vegas Raiders

• Signed QB- Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract.
• Re-signed RB- Ameer Abdullah to a one-year contract.
• Signed RB- Alexander Mattison to a two-year contract.
• Re-signed C- Andre James to a three-year contract.
• Re-signed DL- Adam Butler to a one-year contract
• Re-signed DL- John Jenkins to a one-year contract.
• Signed DL- Christian Wilkins to a four-year contract.

The signing of Gardner Minshew gives the Raiders some options at quarterback. With pick thirteen in the first round, Las Vegas may look for a quarterback in the draft to add to Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Cornerback is another option in the first round for the Raiders.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Re-signed QB- Easton Stick to a one-year contract.
• Signed RB- Gus Edwards to a two-year contract.
• Signed TE- Will Dissly to a three-year contract.
• Signed TE- Hayden Hurst to a one-year contract.
• Signed C- Bradley Bozeman to a one-year contract.
• Signed DL- Poona Ford to a one-year contract.
• Signed LB- Troy Dye to a one-year contract.
• Signed LB- Denzel Perryman to a one-year contract.
• Signed CB- Kristian Fulton to a one-year contract.
• Re-signed S- Alohi Gilman to a two-year contract.

The Chargers have been fairly quiet so far in free agency. They lost both of their starting wide receivers (Keenan Allen & Mike Williams) and have not filled that void. With the fifth pick in the first round they could go after wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or they could trade back and add some draft capital.