AFC Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

The Broncos passed on a quarterback in the draft in part because they were so blown away by what they saw from CB Patrick Surtain II. The first-round corner has backed that up so far in OTAs, impressing teammates as a key part of what could be the league’s best secondary. 

“I’m very impressed by Patrick Surtain,” Broncos OLB Malik Reed told FanSided’s Matt Lombardo. “He seems like he’s been picking it up from Day 1. Everything seems really natural for him. He’s always around the ball, and right up on the receiver every time they throw the ball his way. He’s really fluid. It’s amazing to see a young guy, especially a cornerback, who is so well-polished like that.”

Chiefs

• According to Matt Verderame, the Chiefs have been impressed with sixth-round OL Trey Smith and fifth-round TE Noah Gray. Verderame also said OL Kyle Long has looked good so far. 
• Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed Long sustained a knee injury in Wednesday’s practice but does not think it’s ligament-related. (Nate Taylor)
• Reid added there’s a “chance” for Long requiring surgery.
• Reid mentioned Chiefs OL Andrew Wylie is an option to fill in for Long, while G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (leg) is expected to return as well after opting out of last season. 

Raiders

Raiders RB Kenyan Drake believes the team’s red-zone offense will be significantly better this year.

“Just adding another playmaker that the defense will have to worry about,” Drake said, via Pro Football Talk. “Creating those mismatches out the backfield or lining up out wide. Getting those coverage indicators, whether it’s man or zone. Just being another playmaker another weapon.

“When you have a multitude of guys to cover on the field, it stretches the defense real thin. So you have a guy like Darren Waller, who is obviously a red-zone threat. Henry Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow, [Bryan] Edwards — we have a lot of guys, especially everybody in this room, that can create mismatches and come out the backfield. It’s almost like a pick-your-poison type of situation. So hopefully we can just execute and let the chips fall where they may in terms of the playmakers making plays when they need to.”