AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos DL Shelby Harris was one of a number of free agents who found the open market to be a far less lucrative place than they might have expected. Some projections had Harris landing with a team like the Colts on a deal worth around $10 million a year. Instead, he returned to Denver on a one-year deal for a little over $3 million. Harris is taking a pragmatic approach to how things played out, though. 

“At the end of the day, we can go back and forth about why this, why that,” Harris said via the Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. “But at the end of the day, I’m just happy to have a job. There are millions of Americans right now who have lost their jobs because of this. So I’d rather just focus on the fact that I have a job than ‘if,’ like you want to talk about numbers. At the end of the day, we should just be happy and be blessed to be able to be employed and to have a job. It’s bigger than that right now. I think the important thing is I do have a job and I’m able to provide for my family. There are a lot of people that can’t.”

• Utah DT Leki Fotu had a Top 30 visit scheduled with the Broncos before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)

Chargers

• The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia writes a trade that could make sense for the Redskins is sending LT Trent Williams to the Chargers in exchange for CB Desmond King and a fourth-round pick. 
• The Chargers brought in Chris Harris to play slot corner despite King turning in an All-Pro season at the position in 2018. Sending King to Washington, which needs another starting corner, in exchange for filling their void at left tackle would help the Chargers maximize King’s value. 
• Utah DT Leki Fotu had a Top 30 visit scheduled with the Chargers before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)

Chiefs

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes that the reason Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins was willing to cut his base salary from $14 million to $9 million is that it keeps him from having to find a job in what’s been a tough market for receivers. 
• Watkins also can make up to $16 million if he hits all his incentives and he will have another year in a familiar environment to produce. He will be just 27 if he hits the open market next year. 

Raiders

• Scott Bair notes that the Raiders invested so much money in unrestricted free agents that they had to restructure C Rodney Hudson‘s contract to remain within the salary cap.
• Bair says despite the team being high on CB Isaiah Johnson, he isn’t considered the Raiders’ long term answer at the position due to the fact that they considered bringing in cornerbacks Byron Jones, Darius Slay, and Eli Apple.
• Bair adds that drafting a cornerback is likely a high priority for Las Vegas in the upcoming draft.
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes the Raiders have thought about trying to move down in the draft to pick up a second-round pick this year.