Rank the AFC West: OLBs
This is a thread for the Addicts among us. Who among the AFC West sports the best OLBs, and who sports the worst?
Vote in comments, and be sure to keep track of your votes as this series rolls on. It could be interesting to see how good you think each team is once you add up all your rankings.
The following are your depth charts at OLB:
Denver Broncos: Von Miller, Wesley Woodyard, Lee Robinson, Braxton Kelley
Kansas City Chiefs: Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffield, Gabe Miller
Oakland Raiders: Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves, Thomas Howard, Sam Williams
San Diego Chargers: Shaun Phillips, Larry English, Antwan Applewhite, Brandon Lang
My vote after the jump. Yours is invited in comments.
1. Kansas City Chiefs — It’s hard to compare 3-4 rushbackers to 4-3 outside linebackers, but by almost any standard it’s hard to argue with the depth and the talent of the Chiefs’ passrushers. Phillips and English do present the better passrushing combo over Hali and any number of the prospects he’ll be lining up across, but Justin Houston is as promising a talent as there is at the position this year. Plus the depth of The Stude, Sheffield, and Miller gives this team options going forward.
2. San Diego Chargers — Second to the Chiefs by a hair, the Chargers slip behind due to their lack of depth at the position and English’s inability to stay healthy. Hali may be the best OLB in the division, but Shaun Phillips is not far behind.
3. Denver Broncos — The Broncos have an impressive one-two punch at OLB if they do proceed with Woodyard across from Von Miller. I liked Woodyard as a prospect and was shocked when the Broncos scooped him up as a UDFA a couple years back. This position rockets up to #1 if DJ Williams plays outside as well.
4. Oakland Raiders — Some pretty iffy talent here, but it has upside. Wimbley and Groves are options to rush the passer, but their numbers are, shall we say, lackluster.
So, assuming a 1st is 4 points, and a 4th is 1 point, this is my individual position scoreboard so far:
Chargers: 36
Chiefs: 32
Broncos: 22
Raiders: 20