Around the AFC West: Players are emerging who will torment the Broncos

Another week of offseason training activities is almost in the books. The news cycle in the NFL is a bit slower this time of year, but there are plenty of things to still discuss as teams get a look at their construct for the 2019 season.

I think the AFC West is the toughest division in football, so the Broncos are going to have their hands full dealing with that competition. During the last week, there have been clues about what these divisional opponents are up to.

Let’s take a spin around the AFC West to see what the competition is up to.

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Kansas City Chiefs

I’ve been hearing from my Chiefs sources that rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman looks like the real deal. With the Tyreek Hill situation looming over their head, the Chiefs decided to take the Georgia wide receiver off the board in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Hardman is a speed demon who can get by defenders in the blink of an eye. He recorded a 4.33 second 40-yard dash during the Scouting Combine earlier this year, but speed is far from his only asset as a receiving weapon. Hardman is also lightning quick and can change direction without losing much speed. He can regularly take short passes and turn them into field-flipping plays.

The Broncos defense is going to be much improved in 2019 under the guidance of head coach (and defensive guru) Vic Fangio. They’ll be tested early and often with Hardman playing the “Tyreek Hill” role for the team as a field-stretching weapon. If Hill somehow gets on the field for the Chiefs in 2019, then it’s double-speedy trouble for this Denver defense.

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Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers defense is one of the best in the league and they appear to be getting healthier during the offseason. The news is fairly slow for the Chargers, and that’s not a bad thing, but a couple of headlines are worth noting this week.

Oft-injured linebacker Denzel Perryman was back on the practice field on Tuesday. He was not participating fully, but was doing individual drills for the team.

Chargers star defensive end Joey Bosa said he is still dealing with some soreness in his foot, but has been a full participant during offseason workouts. Bosa had 5.5 sacks last year, but only played in seven games. If healthy for a full season, he could be in contention for leading the league in sacks.

The Broncos offensive line is a work in progress, but they will have their hands full with the Chargers defnese and a healthy Bosa in 2019.

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Oakland Raiders

The Raiders had three first-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and they did a good job of adding quality talent (much-needed talent) to the roster. One of their best picks in the first round, Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, has already worked his way up the depth chart in OTAs. Reports out of Oakland indicate that the rookie runner is already getting first-team reps.

Jacobs is your classic banger between the tackles. He’s got the size to wear down an opponent as the game goes on. Jacobs does not waste motion as a runner and will generally maximize what is blocked for him on most every carry. The rookie did not shy away from contact in college, and that trait should carry over to the pros. He’s tough to bring down and Jacobs could prove to be quite the challenge for the Broncos defense.

He had been limited during OTAs due to a hamstring injury, but the team is easing him back into action. After free agent addition Isaiah Crowell was lost for the season with a knee injury, the Raiders went out and re-acquired veteran Doug Martin. He was a starter for them last year and will be in the mix with Jacobs this training camp. Martin has the experience, but don’t be surprised to see Jacobs as the lead back for the Raiders this season.