Around the AFC West: Rumblings from the Combine
Feb 28, 2020, 6:41 AM
We’re a few days into the NFL Scouting Combine and every team in the league has new talking points and some surprising directions at this event.
The AFC West is going to be tough, perhaps the toughest in the NFL this upcoming season. The Combine has revealed quite a few interesting tidbits about what we can expect from the teams the Broncos know the best.
Let’s take a spin around the division to see what the competition is up to.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is the team’s top priority to re-sign this offseason, according to general manager Brett Veach. Earlier in the week at the Combine, Veach revealed that the team could use the franchise tag in order to keep Jones around. Doing so would give the two sides until mid-July to work out a new long-term contract.
On Thursday, reports came out that Jones will in fact be tagged by the Chiefs in a move that will cost them around $15.5 million for the 2020 season. Some felt the Broncos could make a run at Jones, but that never was going to happen. Now, the Chiefs have wrapped up Jones with the tag we’ll see if they can get a new deal done.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) isn’t expected to require offseason surgery on his previously dislocated kneecap, according to head coach Andy Reid. Mahomes injured his kneecap last season in a game against the Broncos and had to miss two starts because of it. No surgery means no missed time for the superstar quarterback this offseason. However, don’t be surprised if the Chiefs take it easy on Mahomes with the idea they want him at full strength for the start of the training camp.
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Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock confirmed what we all felt could be a possibility earlier this week at the Combine. When speaking to the media, Mayock revealed that the team could look to move on from starting quarterback Derek Carr.
First, Mayock went out of his way to compliment the veteran quarterback.
“Derek Carr played at a high level,” he said. :I was very happy with Derek Carr.”
After those pleasantries were out of the way, Mayock got real.
“Every position gets evaluated every year, and if we can upgrade it, we will,” Mayock added.
The speculation about whether or not Tom Brady is going to be available in free agency is still out there. One day, reporters say that Brady will be kept by the Patriots. The next day, sometimes the same reporters then say that Brady is as good as gone. The back-and-forth of these reports can make you nauseous.
While we wait on the Brady situation at least we know for sure that the Raiders would be looking for an upgrade if they can get one.
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Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is a candidate to receive the franchise tag for the 2020 season, according to general manager Tom Telesco. The franchise tag window opened on Thursday and Henry could be the player the Chargers choose to use that tag on.
Henry is a quality starter when healthy, but he does struggle with staying healthy and has not played a full 16-game season in his pro career. We’ll have to see if the Chargers and his agent can come to an agreement that is good for both sides. Henry is talented, but he’s not going to get paid a premium price on the open market.
We also got some news about Chargers running back Austin Ekeler from head coach Anthony Lynn at the Combine. Lynn stated that he feels Ekeler needs to see 15 to 20 touches per game in order to be most effective. The Chargers are going to have somewhat of a new-look backfield in 2020. Melvin Gordon is likely to move on in free agency, so the team will now turn to Eaton’s very own as the lead back. Ekeler could get 15 to 20 touches per game while splitting time in the backfield with third-year pro Justin Jackson. We’ll see if that plan stays in place or if the Chargers are tempted to select a potential starting running back at some point in the 2020 NFL draft.
