AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

• KUSA’s Mike Klis mentions Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay has been working on this third-down skillset in preparation to compete for his role, as his receiving ability was part of why Denver signed free-agent RB Melvin Gordon. 
• Klis thinks Broncos RB Royce Freeman might be the odd man out as new OC Pat Shurmur tends to use just one back, let alone three. 
• ESPN’s Field Yates thinks the Broncos make sense as a landing spot for free-agent LB Mark Barron as a coverage linebacker to match up against the strong tight ends in the AFC West.

Chargers

Chargers HC Anthony Lynn said their staff “had our eyes” on first-round LB Kenneth Murray and have a clear plan for him in their defense. 

“He’s a guy that we had our eyes on, we had a plan,” Lynn said, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. “He plays this game like old-school linebackers … Also, he has that leadership, those intangibles that I really like in a young man.”

Lynn praised Murray’s ability to “cover a lot of space” with his speed and mentioned that their 2020 NFL Draft selections were made to counter their AFC West rivals, the Chiefs. 

“He can cover a lot of space,” Lynn said. “Kansas City has a lot of speed, and I think that every pick we take, every move we make, we have to have them in mind.”

Murray mentioned that his speed and athletic ability have been strong points to his game throughout his athletic career. 

“I can do that extremely well,” Murray said. “It is something that I was tasked with doing all throughout college, so I take — just look at my athletic ability and my speed and my range and all the things that I bring to the table.”

• The Athletic’s Daniel Popper says Chargers GM Tom Telesco had discussions about trading up for QB Tua Tagovailoa, but it never got serious because the team ultimately liked Justin Herbert enough that they didn’t feel compelled to pay the premium to outbid Miami. 
• Popper doesn’t see Chargers LB Denzel Perryman ending up as a cap cut, as he’s one of Lynn’s favorites.
• Popper believes the priority order for extensions for the Chargers goes DE Joey Bosa, TE Hunter Henry, WR Mike Williams and DE Melvin Ingram, with the latter the most likely not to be re-signed. 
• If the Chargers struggle again in 2020, Popper thinks Telesco’s seat could get warm. 
• Popper mentions Michael Davis, Desmond King and Brandon Facyson will compete for the starting outside corner position. 

Chiefs

• ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Chiefs undrafted OL Yasir Durant received one of the largest guarantees in his contract, which included $150,000 guaranteed and a $10,000 signing bonus.
• Saints executive Jeff Ireland said the team had “pretty strong intel” the Chiefs and Dolphins were eyeing C Cesar Ruiz, so they stayed put and picked him instead of trading back. (Nick Underhill)
• The Chiefs were also interested in Saints G Andrus Peat before he re-signed with New Orleans. (Underhill)