Who's replacing Travis Kelce and Geno Smith?
Reloading Chiefs dynasty defines early AFC West team needs for the 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For two weeks in September, the AFC West was in flux. The forever-cursed Los Angeles Chargers got out to a hot start, and the Kansas City Chiefs were in trouble. The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders found themselves suspended in the middle.
Things have mostly normalized since, with Los Angeles hitting adversity and Kansas City emerging as the conference favorite after two high-profile victories. Thus, the AFC West will likely shake out similar to preseason projections.
The Chiefs may be Super Bowl-bound once again, but each confounding loss has been a reality check related to an imperfect roster. As the rest of the division tries to play catch-up -- or clings to its early-season lead -- each team has reason to look forward to the 2026 NFL Draft. Let's examine where these rosters might need improvement come April.
Los Angeles Chargers
Urgent needs: Center, guard
Worth considering: Safety, tight end
The Chargers recognize that quarterback Justin Herbert is a superstar, and they understand that surrounding him with talent at high-value positions, such as receiver and offensive tackle, is essential. Unfortunately, injuries have struck the offensive line, and a star tackle duo has been sidelined, leaving one of the league's worst interiors to be exposed.
Los Angeles desperately needs reinforcements, and preferably high-level starters, at guard and center. For the sake of keeping Herbert healthy and getting Omarion Hampton the looks he needs to thrive, a heavy investment is a must.
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If the Chargers look elsewhere, adding a safety could prove meaningful. They already shipped one to the Baltimore Ravens, and Tony Jefferson isn't a long-term starter (despite his quality play in 2025). Giving Derwin James a partner in crime would make a fun defense even more potent.
Denver Broncos
Urgent needs: Interior offensive line, linebacker
Worth considering: Wide receiver, tight end
To Denver's credit, this is a roster without massive holes; their problems revolve more around upside and whether quarterback Bo Nix can reach the heights the conference's arms race demands.
The Broncos aren't replacing him anytime soon, but they can add to his supporting cast, most notably between the tackles. The offense's ceiling comes into question at receiver, too, where Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin are adequate, but not needle-movers. Acquiring Evan Engram didn't fulfill Sean Payton's hints at a Joker in the offense, either, opening the door for an early-round replacement.
On the other side of the ball, Denver's defense is prying open a competitive window. There's plenty of talent at every level of the unit, but its off-ball linebackers are a point of contention. In a stacked linebacker class, the Broncos' defense could add a luxury pick on Day 1.
Kansas City Chiefs
Urgent needs: Tight end, running back
Worth considering: Edge rusher, defensive tackle
The football world has been bracing for tight end Travis Kelce's retirement for several seasons, and as the off-field reasons tilt the scales, it has become clear that a replacement will soon be necessary. Perhaps receiver Rashee Rice's affinity for option routes makes him the de facto Kelce for future Kansas City offenses, but new blood and elite athleticism could help mitigate the tight end's absence.
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Moreover, the last time the Chiefs took a running back in Round 1, it was a disaster. In the six seasons since, they still haven't truly addressed the position. Patrick Mahomes can cover up a lot of flaws, but it isn't a coincidence that the offense is constantly running out of shotgun. A plus starter in the backfield would allow Kansas City to be multi-dimensional and make things even tougher in January, both when finding explosive plays and controlling time of possession.
This defense isn't in dire straits like it had been in recent years. Leo Chenal is a star, young defensive backs have developed, and there's still enough talent on the edge. However, Chris Jones is aging, and the interior defensive line around him is a weak spot. A new starter to pair with Jones during his twilight would be a welcome addition, and depth at edge rusher could help chase down Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen in the playoffs.
Las Vegas Raiders
Urgent needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, linebacker, interior offensive line
Worth considering: Safety, wide receiver, quarterback
Looking back, it shouldn't be surprising that Pete Carroll has faced legitimate adversity in Year 1. The Raiders drafted running back Ashton Jeanty before fixing the offensive line. They are now dealing with the consequences. That same unit isn't helping veteran Geno Smith, who is crashing back to earth in his second stint with Carroll.
I'm still hopeful that Smith regresses to his (quality starter) mean, but the longer this goes on, the more Las Vegas must consider a quarterback in April.
On the other side of the ball, the Raiders are dealing with the unexpected loss of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and are operating with veteran castaways across the unit. It's easily the worst roster in the division, and without Smith playing at a high level, Las Vegas looks much more like a long-term rebuild than a frisky nuisance for AFC playoff teams. The Raiders could add to virtually any position group this spring with little hesitation.
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