AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

The Denver Broncos announced some football personnel staffing changes on Friday including:

• Matt Russell: promoted to VP of player personnel
• Mark Thewes: promoted to VP of football operation and compliance
• Darren Mougey: promoted to assistant director of college scouting
• Tom Lazzaro: promoted to senior director, football technology and research
• Karl Schreiner: promoted to director, football information systems
• Scott Flaska: promoted to senior manager, football analytics
• Richard Hildebrand: promoted to senior software engineer
• Emily Kuehler: named Data Scientist

Chargers

Had Chargers QB Justin Herbert declared for the draft following his junior year at Oregon, there’s a strong chance he would have been picked no lower than the sixth pick Los Angeles used to pick him this year. However, Chargers QB coach Pep Hamilton believes the extra year in school was a major benefit for Herbert. 

“The combination of size, athletic ability and arm talent [is intriguing,] but more importantly, he’s had a ton of experience playing in games. It really helped him staying an extra year at Oregon,” Hamilton said via Hayley Elwood of the team’s website. “He has over 1,200 pass attempts in college and you can’t teach experience. When it’s time for him to play once he’s acclimated to the speed of the NFL game and has a good understanding of what NFL defenses are trying to do, I think the sky’s the limit.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Chargers DE Joey Bosa as a non-quarterback who could merit an extension this summer. 

Chiefs

• According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chiefs DT Chris Jones has kept in touch with the team, though there’s not much traction on an agreement between the two sides on a long-term deal. 
• Ian Rapoport reports that the reason why there hasn’t any traction is because no negotiations or discussions have occurred since the Chiefs tagged Jones. 
• Beyond that, Rapoport says Jones hasn’t participated in any of the team’s virtual sessions and has no plans to do so.