Looking at Draft Needs Across the AFC West

The 2008 NFL Draft is a few weeks away, and the Broncos aren’t the only team excited for what the future holds. What are the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers in need of as the draft approaches?

That’s what this CBS article set out to do. It starts by stating the obvious – the Chargers are the class of the division – and then goes on to discuss the situation of each team and where they should be looking come draft day. Here’s their take on the Broncos:

The skinny: Has the star dimmed for Mike Shanahan? It certainly has in terms of his being a personnel man. He’s made some bad decisions. It’s time he drafts better. This team seems to be regressing, and adding veterans over the years as stopgap players hasn’t worked.

Primary need: They have run a wave of defensive tackles through in recent years but haven’t hit on any of them. They need to draft a power player inside.

Secondary needs: Linebacker, offensive tackle and wide receiver.

Possible targets: USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams and (Pittsburgh tackle) Jeff Otah.

Summary: They have to build this team back to where it was a few years ago. For that to be a reality, the defense has to improve. They have to bolster the run defense. Replacing Matt Lepsis at left tackle is also important and a receiver to go with Brandon Marshall would help. With Marshall suffering a severe injury to his left arm, his status is up in the air as well.

Here’s what they had to say on the rest of the West…

Chargers – Not a lot of strong needs here, but they list right tackle and nickelback as primary needs. When your strongest needs are RT and a third CB, you know you have a stacked team. I would put RB as a big need too with Michael Turner gone and Ladainian Tomlinson coming off injury.

Chiefs – “Offensive line. Pick a position, any position. They need a lot of help.” That about sums it up for me, although, if I’m a Chiefs fan, I have to be wondering of Brodie Croyle is really the answer.

Raiders – This article says their biggest need is right tackle. This article is wrong. The Raiders are a lot farther away than this writer believes… he seems to think throwing $250 million at your problems will help this team a lot more than I do. A year away from the playoffs? In the AFC? Puh-leeeease.