AFC West looking much different following offseason
The AFC West is going to have a much different feel in 2016 after this offseason.
Going into 2016, the Denver Broncos are the defending Super Bowl champions. However, nobody is going to fear them. Denver has been crushed in free agency, losing Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, David Bruton and Evan Mathis while only signing Donald Stephenson and trading for Mark Sanchez.
That was until Thursday, when general manager John Elway signed offensive tackle Russell Okung to a massive five-year deal worth up to $60 million. Okung, 28, has never played 16 games in a season. Heck, he’s only played 15 games once. When on the field, Okung is a respectable but not dominant player. This signing continues a puzzling offseason for the Broncos.
Russell Okung's agreement with the #Broncos (first reported by @JosinaAnderson) is 5 years, up to $12M per year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2016
Meanwhile, it is hard to argue that the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders have not improved, with the latter doing so in a major way. Oakland signed Sean Smith away from the Chiefs and then brought in outside linebacker Bruce Irvin and guard Kelechi Osemele.
Kansas City lost Smith, but retained Eric Berry, Jaye Howard, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Frank Zombo and Jamell Fleming, a pair of special teams aces. In addition, the Chiefs signed the best right tackle in football, getting Mitch Schwartz on a five-year deal worth $33 million.
All things equal in the injury department, the Chiefs and Raiders are the two best teams in the division. Denver is a respectable third and the San Diego Chargers are improved, but still lag in fourth. It is going to be a much different time in 2016, but it will bring plenty of excitement.