How every AFC West team could win the division in 2020
By Grant Tuttle
Denver Broncos
Overview
The Denver Broncos have made their offseason goal about one thing: making sure that Drew Lock has every needed tool to succeed. After acquiring some defensive talent to fortify their already talented group of players, the Broncos decided to go all-in on an attempt at matching Kansas City’s offensive intensity in the draft.
The Broncos acquired cornerback A.J. Bouye from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jurrell Casey from the Tennessee Titans fortifying the front and back of their defense. These moves were amongst the NFL offseason’s most underrated.
Offensively, the Broncos improved through the draft by adding speedy receivers Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler for second-year quarterback Drew Lock. It is obvious that John Elway and the Broncos feel like they can compete for the AFC West this season. Here are the scenarios in which that is possible.
The ascension of Drew Lock
It seems that no matter where you turn, there is a new story about Lock. After a stellar ending to the 2019 season, there is buzz in Denver that Lock may be one of the best young up-and-comers in the league. Lock shined last season, but there is reason to believe that he may be even better this season.
Courtland Sutton is one obvious offensive pillar, given his production in 2019, but now the Broncos offense has more experience and weapons, making them a real challenge for opposing defenses. Noah Fant will be a year older, Melvin Gordon has been added to the fold, and Jeudy will now line up across from Sutton. While the offense has more talent, it will only matter if Lock can make it materialize on the field.
In order for the Broncos to have a legitimate shot at knocking off the Chiefs, Lock must be a top ten quarterback this season.
Broncos defense stalls Chiefs
While the Chiefs had a remarkable season in 2019, there was still room to grow offensively. With a number of drops and a few poor performances from the offense, the Chiefs sputtered in the middle of the season. Now, with a healthy Patrick Mahomes and newly acquired Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs are poised to put up more points in 2020. The Broncos cannot afford to surrender more points if they wish to hang with Kansas City.
The Broncos decided to bolster their offense this season, but their defense has gotten healthier. While the Bronco fan base would like to believe that they could go into a shootout and beat Kansas City, it seems unlikely. Therefore, the Broncos must make plays on defense and hold the Chiefs to 24 or less in each meeting. If the defense can hold the Chiefs under 30, they will have a shot, but 24 is the ideal total.
Noah Fant turns the corner
Noah Fant runs like an oversized wide receiver. His athleticism makes him a real challenge for pass defenders. As a rookie, Fant contributed to the passing game catching 40 passes for 3 touchdowns and 562 yards. With some development and work in the slot, he could be poised for a great season. That is exactly what Denver will need if they hope to be competitive in 2020.
While the Drew Lock hype rolls on, the Broncos have given him every tool to succeed. Jeudy, Sutton, Hamler, and Nick Vannett should give Fant plenty of opportunities to be lined up in single coverage. While this is an exceptionally young group of stars that will have hiccups in their development, Fant is uniquely positioned in this offense to have a top-tier kind of year.
If the Broncos wish to win the west, Fant must live up to his first-round billing.