The Kansas City Chiefs have won seven straight AFC West championships since 2016 under head coach Andy Reid along with three AFC Championships and two Super Bowls since 2018 when Patrick Mahomes took over as the offensive pivot. In no uncertain terms, the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West. The rest of the field is playing catch-up, hoping to close the gap in quality, talent and skill-set each and every single offseason.
In this column, we look at the free agency comings and goings this offseason and their impact on the AFC West NFL betting market.
NFL Odds – To Win AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs -150
- Los Angeles Chargers +350
- Denver Broncos +400
- Las Vegas Raiders +1000
Kansas City Chiefs -150
- Key acquisitions: T Jawaan Taylor (Jaguars), DE Charles Omenihu, DE Drue Tranquill (Chargers), S Mike Edwards (Buccaneers)
- Key re-signings: DE Tershawn Wharton, DT Derrick Nnadi
- Key losses: T Orlando Brown (Bengals), T Andrew Wylie (Commanders), DT Khalen Saunders (Saints), FB Michael Burton (Broncos), S Juan Thornhill (Browns), WR Juju Smith-Schuster (Patriots), DE Frank Clark (released)
The Kansas City Chiefs have seen several standouts leave through the exit door this offseason, including tackle Orlando Brown, pass rusher Frank Clark, safety Juan Thornhill and wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, among several others.
Arguably, Kansas saw bigger players leave last year. Household names such as Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu, players whose absence had many doubting the Chiefs would be able to overcome in 2022. Tale told, Mahomes and the Chiefs laid rest to those notions, marching all the way to Super Bowl glory.
However, this year, the departures are sure to have an impact. Namely, the loss of offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy to the Washington Commanders. Bienemy has been running the Chiefs’ offense since 2018, contributing to the development of Mahomes since his first year as a starter. This is the first season Mahomes will be without his trusted mentor and teacher.
The departures of Brown, Thornhill and Khalen Saunders couldn’t go unaddressed, otherwise, the Chiefs’ defense would be on the thin side going into 2023. Re-signing defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi is one step that they’ve taken to minimize their losses. They have come to terms with former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to replace the outgoing Brown. They also plucked defensive end Charles Omenihu from the San Francisco 49ers’ elite defense, veteran defensive end Drue Tranquill from the Los Angeles Chargers and safety Mike Edwards from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
BREAKING: Orlando Brown Jr. finalizing four-year, $64M deal with Bengals. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/876bwLxJZM
— NFL (@NFL) March 16, 2023
Los Angeles Chargers +350
- Key acquisitions: LB Eric Kendricks (Vikings),
- Key re-signings: QB Easton Stick, DT Trey Pipkins, TE Donald Parham Jr., DL Morgan Fox ,P J.K. Scott, CB Kernon Hall
- Key losses: LB Drue Tranquill (Chiefs)
It’s been a mundane offseason so far for the Los Angeles Chargers as they’ve made low-key moves to date in the open market. The priority has been to re-sign some of their players, including quarterback Easton Stick, right tackle Trey Pipkins, tight end Donald Parham Jr., cornerback Kernon Hall, defensive Morgan Fox and punter J.K. Scott.
The only noteworthy move so far is the signing of veteran and All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks, who is set to fill the void left by the departure of Drue Tranquill to the Chiefs. Kendricks is set to join an impressive D-unit that includes big name players such as Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa.
chicken parm is back on the menu. pic.twitter.com/Fq2t8YxpWY
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 17, 2023
Denver Broncos +400
- Key acquisitions: QB Jarrett Stidham (Raiders), RB Samaje Perine (Bengals), TE Chris Manhertz (Jaguars), G Ben Powers (Ravens), T Mike McGlinchey (49ers), DE Zach Allen (Cardinals), FB Michael Burton (Chiefs), CB Tremon Smith (Texans
- Key re-signings: LB Alex Singleton
- Key losses: DT Deshawn Williams (Panthers), RB Chase Edmonds (Buccaneers), DL Dre’Mont Jones (Seahawks), T Calvin Anderson (Patriots), TE Andrew Beck (Texans), RB Mike Boone (Texans)
New head coach Sean Payton’s priority appears to be shoring up the offensive line around quarterback Russell Wilson, signing guard Ben Powers and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first week of free agency. Wilson was sacked a whopping 55 times last season, so keeping the signal caller upright is a necessity if the Broncos are to have any success in 2023.
Defensive end Zach Allen and cornerback Tremon Smith are solid additions to the defense while linebacker Alex Singleton is set to return to Denver as well. In another interesting twist, Payton snapped up quarterback Jarrett Stidham from the Las Vegas Raiders. The longtime Josh McDaniels understudy showed off his wares when he took over from a benched Derek Carr in the final couple of weeks of the season. They signed tight end Chris Martinez and running back Samaje Perine to bolster the offense.
✍️✍️✍️@CallawayMarquez x #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/1IZlrngRvc
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 24, 2023
Las Vegas Raiders +1000
- Key acquisitions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers), WR Jakobi Meyers (Patriots), TE O.J. Howard (Texans) S Marcus Epps (Eagles), CB Brandon Facyson (Colts), LB Robert Spillane (Steelers),
- Key re-signings: RB Ameer Abdullah, T Brandon Parker, FB Jakob Johnson, DL Jerry Tillery
- Key losses: QB Jarrett Stidham (Broncos), QB Derek Carr (Saints), TE Darren Waller (Giants, via trade), DE Clelin Ferrell (49ers).
Josh McDaniels is hitting the reset button going into his second year as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, having made some big changes. Namely, releasing quarterback Derek Carr and signing San Francisco cast-off Jimmy Garoppolo. McDaniels helped draft Garoppolo during his days with New England and that familiarity could pay dividends.
The Raiders traded away tight end Darren Waller to the Giants, but brought in wide receiver Jakobi Meyers from the New England Patriots and tight end O.J. Howard from the Houston Texans instead. The offense still includes All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams and a franchise-tagged Josh Jacobs, ensuring it has the personnel to be a force in 2023.
The Raiders defense was a big concern in McDaniels’ first year, finishing among the bottom five teams. So far, the Raiders have made some key additions in free agency but not nearly enough. They will see Jerry Tillery return. He will get help from linebacker Robert Spillane and safety Marcus Epps, both of whom are ascendent talents. Cornerback Brandon Facyson is back after a year with the Colts.
Jimmy Garoppolo officially arriving for his Raiders press conference wearing all black everything, custom designed by yours truly 🔥 (via @loganreever) pic.twitter.com/8Xty0MhHTo
— Gentleman’s Playbook (@GentsPlaybook) March 17, 2023
