Perhaps shockingly to some, the Denver Broncos won the AFC West in the 2025 NFL Season. The Broncos went on an 11-game win streak following a sloppy 1-2 start, and during that time, the team's offensive line and defensive line became two pillars of the team's identity.
Head coach Sean Payton correctly recognized that the offensive line needed some help when he arrived in Denver, as two of the first moves he made were to sign Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey. Those two are still in the mix, as the Broncos also have two All-Pros in Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz, and an excellent pass-blocking center in Luke Wattenberg.
The Broncos are truly five strong along the offensive line, but the team's primary threat in the AFC West is not close to this and may already have an offensive line crisis.
Denver Broncos main challenger in the AFC West is already dealing with major OL issues
The Los Angeles Chargers had one big-ticket free agent signing along the offensive line this offseason in center Tyler Biadasz, a rock-solid player, but he's now out for an extended period of time with a major left knee injury:
Chargers center Tyler Biadasz is out indefinitely after suffering damage to his ACL and additional injuries to his left knee during Tuesday’s joint practice against the 49ers, per @rapsheet and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 19, 2026
Biadasz will meet with more doctors to try to get more clarity. pic.twitter.com/0cyNFBmUdY
Not only that, but their stud left tackle, Rashawn Slater, hasn't been practicing recent. It seems like he's slowly making his way back, but he's also one year removed from a major patellar tendon injury:
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh says Rashawn Slater will be “off to the sides at practice today” and he expects him to be back this weekend-eighth straight missed practice.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 18, 2026
CB Tarheeb Still is back in individuals.
CB Donte Jackson, OT Trey Pipkins not practicing. pic.twitter.com/Sj4AwMqYpT
For some odd reason, the Chargers front office didn't do much along the offensive line this offseason, or didn't do as much as they could have. Signing Biadasz was a solid move, but their other moves included drafting Jake Slaughter and signing Cole Strange, someone who is a fringe-starter at best, but is in line to start for the Bolts.
Based on how much of a beating Justin Herbert took last year, you'd think that the front office would have gotten a bit more aggressive to fix the interior, but the Chargers are again staring down a season where the offensive line is a liability, as the injuries just continue to plague this unit.
If it's another year where Herbert is getting hit too much and the offensive line is simply not where it needs to be, the Broncos will cruise to another AFC West title.
Much of the excitement with the Chargers this offseason has been the hiring of Mike McDaniel as the offensive coordinator, but that excitement could be quickly dashed if the offensive line can't play at least average football.
Games in the NFL are won and lost in the trenches, so whatever McDaniel planned on doing with his new team wouldn't be nearly as effective if the Chargers are again weak up front.
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