AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

New Broncos TE Nick Vannett says he expects the team to rely more on their tight ends moving forward under OC Pat Shurmur. 

“The thing that attracted me about the Broncos was when they hired Pat Shurmur as the OC. He’s had a history of using the two tight end sets. . . . It’s a style of offense that he likes. He knows how to take advantage and create mismatches with big bodies,” Vannett said, via DenverBroncos.com.

• Matt Miller of B/R mentions that the Broncos are well-positioned to draft the best receiver on the board at No. 15 overall.
• A Broncos’ source tells Miller: “John [Elway] is going to get Drew [Lock] targets to work with.”
• Troy Renck says that Denver’s offense needs upgrades and wonders if the team would consider drafting an offensive tackle such as Iowa T Tristan Wirfs or Georgia T Andrew Thomas with the No. 15 pick.
• Other possibilities mentioned by Renck include Louisville T Mekhi Becton, Alabama T Jedrick Wills, USC T Austin Jackson, and Boise State T Ezra Cleveland.

Chargers

• According to Matt Miller of B/R, while the Chargers have been considered a potential landing spot for QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert, Utah State QB Jordan Love is also a name to watch at No. 6 overall.
• Miller says the Chargers “had a crush on” Love at the Senior Bowl.

Chiefs

Adam Schefter said during a Twitter Q&A (via the Boardroom) that the Chiefs plan keep franchise DL Chris Jones, despite some talk he could be a potential tag-and-trade candidate this offseason. 

“They put the franchise tag on [Jones] so they’re planning to keep him,” Schefter said, via ArrowheadAddict.com. “Now he’s going to want a new long-term deal but that may be tough to achieve. Both sides will work to make that happen.

“They know he’ll be costly. They want to keep him. They kinda have to keep him. I would say that both sides will have until July 15 to try to work out a long-term deal which is why the Chiefs are so up against the cap right now. They know they have big moves to make.”

• Matt Miller of B/R says Chiefs GM Brett Veach still wants to add more premium targets for Patrick Mahomes to work with.
• However, sources around the league believe the Chiefs could trade down from No. 32 overall to pick up a valuable Day-2 pick and possibly target cornerback and running back.
• Mike Garafolo reports that Sammy Watkins‘ new deal with the Chiefs includes a $7 million base salary, a $1 million signing bonus, $1 million in per-game roster bonuses, up to $1 million of playtime and TD incentives and up to $6 million performance and postseason incentives.
• Watkins also receives a no-trade clause as part of the agreement.
• As for the postseason incentives, Watkins earns $750K for 8 TDs and making the playoffs, $750K for 65 catches and making the playoffs, $750K for 800 yards and making the playoffs, $1.25 million for winning the AFC Championship game and playing 50 percent of the team’s snaps, $1.25 million for 65 catches and making the AFC title game, and another $1.25 million for 800 yards and an AFC championship appearance. (Mike Garafolo)

Raiders

• Matt Miller isn’t ruling out the Raiders taking a quarterback at No. 12 overall, but the expectation remains that Las Vegas will take a wide receiver early and a middle-of-the-field defender with their second first-round pick.