AFC Notes: Maxx Crosby, Chris Jones, Patrick Mahomes, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos CB Damarri Mathis could be a roster bubble player this season and needs to have a strong camp to make the team.

“We have great competition there,” Broncos HC Sean Payton said, via Broncos Wire. “He played well two years ago as a rookie. These guys understand that at corner, it’s a tough position. It’s probably one of the harder positions in sport. You have to have a short memory, and you have to have some mental fortitude. I think he has that grit. I really like where he’s at weight-wise. I think he’s moving well. I know he’s trained quite a bit this offseason, got his weight down. He’s impressed here during this period.”

• Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II spoke about having massive expectations as he shoots for a new contract: “I’ve dealt with it my whole life . . . Living up to those expectations and making a name for myself excites me the most.” (Ryan McFadden)

Chargers

Daniel Popper of The Athletic wrote a mailbag answering some of the biggest questions about the Chargers just before the start of training camp.

• Popper starts with UDFAs, and he names UDFA OL Karsen Barnhart and UDFA TE Zach Heins as the two most likely to make the 53-man roster. 
• Per Popper, the current starters in the secondary are CBs Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, and Ja’Sir Taylor with Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman at safety.
• According to an ESPN survey, Chargers S Derwin James Jr. was voted the seventh-best safety in the NFL.
• Coming off a rough season, an NFL offensive assistant noted coaches aren’t game planning for him as much: “He’s probably best in the box. Still a really good player but he’s not tops on the scouting report when you face them.” (ESPN)
• Popper’s biggest concerns are OL Trey Pipkins III’s move to RG, the talent in the receiver room, and tackling from outside cornerbacks. 
• At running back, Popper’s projected depth chart has RB Gus Edwards leading the way with RB J.K. Dobbins second and sixth-round RB Kimani Vidal third.

Chiefs

• Former QB Tom Brady likes the joy Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes plays with: “When I see these young players, I see like Patrick (Mahomes) out there at quarterback, running around, laughing, having fun. I’m like, ‘I used to be like that. What the hell happened?'” (The Pivot Podcast)
• According to an ESPN survey, Chiefs DT Chris Jones was voted the best DT in the NFL.
• An NFL executive detailed Jones’ profile: “His size and consistent dominant effort is just so hard to block. He’s such a mismatch because of how long and strong he is, and he can win from every spot — edge, over center, in the B gap.” (ESPN)

Raiders

• According to an ESPN survey, Raiders DE Maxx Crosby was voted the fifth-best edge rusher in the NFL. 
• A rival NFL coordinator compared him to Hall of Fame OLB Kevin Greene: “He reminds me a lot of Kevin Greene — technically sound, best motor in the league, will outwork you for sacks. Doesn’t have the elite traits of some of the others but his traits are still high end.” (ESPN)