Not many thought that the Denver Broncos would win the AFC West in 2025, but an 11-game win streak aided what turned into one of the more entertaining, but heartbreaking seasons in team history.
Denver reloaded a bit in the offseason while also adding a game-changing weapon in Jaylen Waddle, and actually did make the most substantive non-QB addition in the division. The Las Vegas Raiders obviously made a major move in drafting Fernando Mendoza, but there isn't a guarantee that he pans out.
Anyway, with all the moves that were made in the AFC West, how does the division stack up with each other with the regular season now less than a week away?
Denver Broncos continue to stand tall in the AFC West ahead of the regular season
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Until prove otherwise, the Raiders are still a mess, as it's yet another year with a new head coach and starting quarterback. With that said, Mendoza was a legitimate No. 1 overall pick and does have a lot of qualities that could help him develop into a franchise QB. However, the work has only just begun for Las Vegas, as they actually still have to aid in the development.
Getting Mendoza in the building is one thing - developing him into a QB good enough to make progress in the AFC is another. Furthermore, the Raiders might have the worst wide receiver room in the NFL and yet again feel a bit shaky along the offensive line and in the secondary.
There is a chance that Mendoza gets some starts this year and looks competent, but there is still so much in front of them that has to go their way.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
I struggle to see how the Kansas City Chiefs got better this offseason. Sure, they signed Kenneth Walker, but Walker has not only struggled with injuries throughout his career, but he's not a bell-cow running back, doesn't offer a ton as a receiver, and also isn't that special in pass protection.
Perhaps the Chiefs are at least hoping he's average, but they're certainly paying him like a top player at the position. Not only that, but the Chiefs lost three good starters in the secondary this offseason in Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook.
The secondary wasn't that great to begin with, and now with being down three starters from last year, that unit could take a nosedive. When Patrick Mahomes was healthy last year, the Chiefs were only 6-8 in his starts, so this team still feels like they're on the fringe.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
While the Los Angeles Chargers did hire Mike McDaniel this offseason, they lost Jesse Minter to the Baltimore Ravens head coaching job. The interior of the offensive line is somehow still a mess, and on paper, the Chargers don't really sport a ton of high-end talent that can truly change the course of the game.
They've gone 11-6 in each year of the Jim Harbaugh era, clearly displaying a ceiling of being good enough to sneak into the playoffs, but not good enough to go further than that. Los Angeles did have enough resources to make several splashes this offseason, but it just didn't happen, keeping them at No. 2 in the AFC West.
1. Denver Broncos
The Broncos won the AFC West with games to spare in 2025 and arguably got better this offseason with the addition of Waddle. Many of the same key players from 2025 are also back for 2026, which does make sense as annoying as the 'run it back' behavior had been.
This was a team trending toward advancing to the Super Bowl last year. With no clear weakness and a years-long stretch of getting better in the Sean Payton era, Denver will continue to stand atop the division until another team dethrones them.
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