As the arms race in the AFC West rages on, the Raiders likely aren’t finished. These three moves could help tip the scales in their favor.
In 2021, the AFC West was competitive as always, as the Raiders finished in second place. Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs led the way as the combination of Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce proved too much for many.
Elsewhere, the Raiders and Chargers were in a fierce competition all season that culminated in a win-or-go-home scenario in week eighteen. The Broncos would struggle after starting 3-0 but it was they were rarely an easy out.
Fast forward to the 2022 off-season and it is a full-fledged arms race in the AFC West. In case you have been living under a rock, here are the big moves that have been made so far:
Denver Broncos: After years of being held back by poor quarterback play, the Broncos traded for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson. In addition, they signed defensive tackle D.J. Jones to alleviate the loss of Shelby Harris. Finally, they added pass-rusher Randy Gregory to a five-year contract to pair with Bradley Chubb.
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers did a fantastic job of infuriating Raiders fans in the 2022 off-season. First, it was the trade for star pass-rusher and former Raider, Khalil Mack. A fan favorite, seeing Mack in Chargers blue and yellow will certainly take some getting used to.
Then, they added former Patriots ball hawk, J.C. Jackson. Rumored to be interested in the Raiders as well, he chose LA. They beefed up their run defense as well with the addition of defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Kansas City Chiefs: While the Chiefs haven’t made many moves this off-season, they are the team that everyone else is chasing. While they may lose Tyrann Mathieu, they replaced him with former Texans safety Justin Reid. The Chiefs don’t have to make many moves because they are just that good.
Of course, the Raiders have now added a star defender of their own in Chandler Jones. One of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, he instantly makes the Raiders defense better. Alas, in a division this competitive, they may need more help. These three moves could put them in contention for the AFC West crown.