AFC Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

• KUSA’s Mike Klis writes Broncos former third-round CB Isaac Yiadom has the early lead as the No. 3 corner ahead of this year’s third-round selection, CB Michael Ojemudia. 
• How quickly Ojemudia transitions to the NFL will determine how much or often other veterans like Davontae Harris, De’Vante Bausby, Duke Dawson or Shakial Taylor will play ahead of him. 
• The Cardinals rank sixth in the NFL in dead money for the past three seasons, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, with a total of $72.8 million. 

Chiefs

• ESPN ranked the Chiefs No. 2 in their power rankings for the next three years, citing QB Patrick Mahomes and his seemingly limitless potential. 
• Managing the cap and restocking the roster around Mahomes and his major deal will be Kansas City’s biggest challenge.
• The Chiefs’ biggest need looking ahead is cornerback, with 2016 the last time Kansas City spent a pick in the first three rounds on the position. 
• According to AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, the Chiefs will be adding Mississippi State analyst Jamar Chaney as a coaching intern through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.
• Chaney played five seasons as a linebacker in the NFL and got his start with Chiefs HC Andy Reid with the Eagles from 2010-2012. 

Raiders

Though new Raiders S Jeff Heath has been a starter for the Cowboys for the past few seasons, his addition by Las Vegas flew mostly under the radar. But for Raiders GM Mike Mayock, Heath, who fought for everything he got in the NFL coming from Saginaw Valley State, is the type of glue-guy NFL locker rooms need. 

“Heath has started a lot of games in the NFL, but he comes from a different angle, though,” Mayock said via the Athletic’s Vic Tafur. “While Damarious was a first-round pick, Jeff came from a small school and wasn’t drafted. He has worked for everything he’s got.He is an accomplished special-teams player and he can get you lined up on the back end. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s played both free and strong safety. We expect him to come in and compete.”

• Raiders owner Mark Davis said as far as fans in the stands this year, it’s all or nothing: “Either all the fans are going to be in there or none. . . . I can’t tell one fan that they can’t go to the inaugural opening game in a stadium that they helped to build through their PSLs. I won’t tell them that they can’t go but the rest of these guys can . . . and oh, by the way, don’t worry about it because we’ll be able to advertise on your seats.” (Tafur)
• Davis added he won’t attend if fans can’t be at the stadium: “I won’t go if the fans can’t go, and the way it looks right now there won’t be any fans at our games.”
• Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic writes that a case could be made for QB Derek Carr to be the most underrated player in the NFL at his position.