AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Broncos S Justin Simmons as an obvious candidate for the franchise tag. 

Chargers

Chargers S Nasir Adderley, a second-round pick in 2019, was expected to compete for a starting role as a rookie. Instead, a hamstring injury suffered during his pro day in March never quite healed and the majority of Adderley’s rookie season was scuttled. Despite that, the Chargers have big expectations for Adderley going into his second season, particularly since he’s had since Week 8 when he was placed on injured reserve to recover. 

“He needs to get healthy, No. 1,” Chargers GM Tom Telesco said via ESPN’s Eric Williams. “That’s what this offseason is about. He’s already had a number of weeks and months to get a head start on that. As he moves into the offseason, he’s going to be a defensive back. It could be safety, it could be some nickel corner, it could be corner. We’ll kind of see.

“The good thing in his brief amount of time that we saw him in the preseason and a little bit in the regular season, I feel good that he can play in this league. But we need to get him out there. He has some instincts, some quick-twitch. He’ll hit. He has a good feel for the game, but he’s got to get healthy, then get out there and start competing for time.”

• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Chargers TE Hunter Henry as a strong candidate for the franchise tag. 

Chiefs

When Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu left the Texans after signing a one-year, prove-it deal for the 2018 season, he was clearly looking for a big payday and a chance to find success in free agency. What helped sell him on Kansas City as the best place for that was the presence of HC Andy Reid. Mathieu credits Reid’s ability as a players coach for helping create an environment that helped a remade defense hit its stride late in the season on the way to a Super Bowl win. 

“He made it feel like a family atmosphere. He made everybody feel like they were a part of it, and I could feel that even when I was recruited by these people,” Mathieu said via Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. “Once I got in the building, it was the same thing. I think from top to bottom, they make it feel like family. I think it’s kind of understated. You’re dealing with a lot of alpha males and you expect them to come to work and be ready to work. But if you’re able to create a certain environment for these players, you’re able to get the best out of them and family environments tend to get the best out of alpha males and different guys like that.”

• According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chiefs DT Chris Jones is considering holding out this summer if he doesn’t get a long-term deal. 
• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Jones as an obvious candidate for the franchise tag.  

Raiders

• Vic Tafur says the Raiders plan to look at their options at quarterback, but he isn’t sure they view Teddy Bridgewater as an upgrade to Derek Carr.