To the shock of many, but perhaps not Denver Broncos fans, the team won 14 games in the regular season and captured the AFC West title for the first time since the 2015 season. This came one year after shocking the NFL world and finishing with 10 wins.
It's clear that in the span of two seasons, the Broncos have not only become the 'standard' in the AFC West, but have also become one of the three best teams in the entire league. Thanks to the elite front office, stellar coaching staff, and flat-out dominant roster, the Broncos are again poised to be atop the league in 2026.
However, we cannot pretend, as fans, that teams like Los Angeles and Kansas City can't at least again make things interesting. The Chargers are the closest team to Denver right now, but they could actually get a bit stronger if this predicted free agency signing comes true.
The Denver Broncos could watch one of their AFC West rivals get just a bit stronger in free agency
Kristopher Knox in Bleacher Report predicted that the Los Angeles Chargers would sign veteran guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency:
"Why He's One of the Best Available
Kevin Zeitler has started 213 games in the NFL and remains a reliable starting guard. This past season, Pro Football Focus graded him 13th overall among all guards.
According to longtime Tennessee Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, Zeitler plans to play a 15th NFL season.
Why He's Still Available
Zeitler tuned 36 in early March. Most teams will view him as a one-year option, and, at some point, his play is likely to decline.
Projected Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers
Zeitler would be a great fit for the Los Angeles Chargers, who are looking to reload their offensive interior. They signed center Tyler Biadasz to man the middle, brought back guard Trevor Penning, and signed guard Cole Strange.
While Biadasz is a dependable starter, Zeitler would be an upgrade over Penning or Strange. Pro Football Focus graded Strange 43rd overall this past season. Penning was graded 65th overall by PFF.
Signing Zeitler might not provide a permanent fix, but it would help ensure the Chargers have one of the league's better O-lines in 2026."
Zeitler, who is now closer to 40 years old than 30, has been one of the better, most consistent guards in the NFL since entering the league way back in 2012. Frankly, Zeitler is going to be a first-ballot "Hall of Very Good-er" if that makes sense.
He's somehow only made one Pro Bowl but is continually playing at a Pro Bowl level. He's started 213 games in the NFL for six different teams, most recently suiting up for the Tennessee Titans in 2025. He's also played at least 15 games in each regular season in all but two years of his career, so the durability is outstanding.
This would be a great signing for the Chargers, even if it's just for one season. As of now, Los Angeles' offensive line is still just OK even with it being a clear-cut need entering the offseason. We're to the point now where many have questioned the teams' front office, so that might make it less likely that LA would make a move like this.