The 2019 NFL draft brought 27 new players to the AFC West across four different teams. Each of those players will have a shot at making their respective teams better during the 2019 season.
Below you’ll find a look at the full draft classes for each AFC West team, my choices for the best pick from each team and my thoughts on whether those teams have improved via the draft.
Chiefs
| Round | Position | Player | School |
| Round 2, 56 Overall | WR | Mecole Hardman | Georgia |
| Round 2, 63 Overall | DB | Juan Thornhill | Virginia |
| Round 3, 82 Overall | DT | Khalen Saunders | Western Illinois |
| Round 6, 201 Overall | CB | Rashad Fenton | South Carolina |
| Round 6, 214 Overall | RB | Darwin Thompson | Utah State |
| Round 7, 216 Overall | OG/OC | Nick Allegretti | Illinois |
Best pick: Virginia DB Juan Thornhill
Chiefs GM Brett Veach said in an interview with BJ Kissel that Thornhill was DB coach Dave Merritt’s top-rated free safety in this class. To be able to get that player at pick No. 63 overall is a steal. The Chiefs clearly have plans for him to come in and start opposite Tyrann Mathieu at one of their weakest position groups from the 2018 season.
Did they improve?
I think it’s safe to say that the Chiefs hit on some needs. Trading that first round pick for Frank Clark looks like a masterful move to improve the pass rush, knowing they wouldn’t find a better player in the draft.
The team covered their bases at the receiver position. They added a defensive back that could make an immediate impact. They got a rotational defensive tackle with good value at the end of Day 2. They added players who will make contributions as depth or special teamers on Day 3.
Everyone seems to have thought Veach would address the cornerback position before the sixth round. There could still be a move on the way there in the future. On the surface it looks like they’ll have more early contributors than they got out of the same amount of picks in the 2018 class. That’s an improvement in my book.
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Broncos
| Round | Position | Player | School |
| Round 1, 20 Overall | TE | Noah Fant | Iowa |
| Round 2, 41 Overall | OT | Dalton Risner | Kansas State |
| Round 2, 42 Overall | QB | Drew Lock | Missouri |
| Round 3, 71 Overall | DT | Dre’Mont Jones | Ohio State |
| Round 5, 156 Overall | OLB | Justin Hollins | Oregon |
| Round 6, 187 Overall | WR | Juwann Winfree | Colorado |
Best pick: Kansas State OT Dalton Risner
The biggest weakness for the Broncos the past several years has been their inability to protect the quarterback. Risner can play all five spots on the line and he does a great job in pass protection.
Did they improve?
The Broncos didn’t have the most exciting draft class, but I have a feeling that this will be the class that helps John Elway erase his reputation of bad drafting on offense. Noah Fant isn’t a sexy pick in the first round, there’s no denying that. Pairing him with Joe Flacco, who performs best with a good tight end on the field, was a really smart move by the Broncos.
They also added some good defensive talent later in the draft which will reinforce some of their weaker positions. A lack of addressing the inside linebacker position will come back to hurt them later on.
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Chargers
| Round | Position | Player | School |
| Round 1, 28 Overall | DT | Jerry Tillery | Notre Dame |
| Round 2, 60 Overall | S | Nasir Adderley | Delaware |
| Round 3, 91 Overall | OT | Trey Pipkins | Sioux Falls |
| Round 4, 130 Overall | LB | Drue Tranquill | Notre Dame |
| Round 5, 166 Overall | QB | Easton Stick | North Dakota State |
| Round 6, 200 Overall | LB | Emeke Egbule | Houston |
| Round 7, 242 Overall | DT | Cortez Broughton | Cincinnati |
Best pick: Notre Dame DT Jerry Tillery
If the Chiefs hadn’t traded their first-round pick, this is the player that a lot of people wanted for the team. I feel like he’ll give the Chargers a strong presence in the center of the field. One that they’ve lacked to go along with their edge rush.
Did they improve?
The first two picks look like dynamite improvements for the Chargers defense. From there everything starts to go downhill. I really thought after losing to the Patriots in the 2018 playoffs, the Chargers would add some more help on the offensive side of the ball, but they really ignored it short of a developmental tackle and backup quarterback.
For defense I felt the Chargers would prioritize the linebacker position earlier in the draft. They had a safety playing there for a good portion of the season in 2018 because they were so thin at the position. Instead they took a developmental guy in Emeke Egbule and an undersized tough-nosed player in Drue Tranquil. I don’t expect either of those players will solve the problems, short of being a body to put there.
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Raiders
| Round | Position | Player | School |
| Round 1, 4 Overall | DE | Clelin Ferrell | Clemson |
| Round 1, 24 Overall | RB | Josh Jacobs | Alabama |
| Round 1, 27 Overall | S | Johnathan Abram | Mississippi State |
| Round 2, 40 Overall | CB | Trayvon Mullen | Clemson |
| Round 4, 106 Overall | DE | Maxx Crosby | Eastern Michigan |
| Round 4, 127 Overall | CB | Isaiah Johnson | Houston |
| Round 5, 149 Overall | WR | Hunter Renfrow | Clemson |
| Round 7, 230 Overall | DE | Quinton Bell | Prairie View A&M |
Best pick: Clemson CB Trayvon Mullen
Mullen was one of my top corner prospects in the 2019 class. One of the biggest weaknesses for the Raiders in recent years has been their ability to cover on the back end. Mullen should immediately see the field and help out in that area.
Did they improve?
I think the Raiders could easily be one of the most improved teams in the AFC West. Specifically on the defensive side of the ball, this draft looks to be quite helpful. They added players in the secondary and to get after the quarterback which were pretty massive needs for that defense. I’m not sure the haul they got was worth giving up a proven commodity like Khalil Mack, though.
The Raiders didn’t secure enough help for Derek Carr. He was under constant duress during the 2018 season, and they didn’t draft a single offensive lineman to help him out. A strong running game will certainly help, but they waited until the fifth round to draft a receiver. They took a possession guy with limited athleticism. I have a feeling they’re setting up Carr for failure with the hopes of landing a top QB in time for their Las Vegas arrival.
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