AFC West: The Most Important Non-QB For Each Team

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The AFC West arguably stole the entire NFL offseason headlines in the spring of 2022. In what was already a competitive division, this group got even stronger and more dangerous. This quarterback-rich division already had some of the best passers in the AFC in Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr. Yet, the Denver Broncos found a way to add Russell Wilson after years of riding the quarterback carousel.

More stars were added on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. As a result, the AFC West is viewed as anyone’s division in 2022. Can the Kansas City Chiefs win their seventh consecutive division title? Will the Broncos go from worst to first? Can the Los Angeles Chargers finally get over the hump and into the playoffs? Will the Las Vegas Raiders find a way to make the postseason for the second straight year? Finally, could all four teams wind up with a winning record this upcoming season?

The predictions can wait until further on in the summer. Today, our task is to look over each of these four rosters. Which player will be the most important for success of each of the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders in 2022? The caveat? No quarterbacks are allowed to be our answer for any team. Without further ado, here is the most important non-quarterback for every AFC West team in 2022.

Denver Broncos: Left Tackle Garett Bolles

There were many credible options for the Denver Broncos, outside of the quarterback position. Some may be wondering why left tackle Garett Bolles was the decision here. Quite frankly, Bolles roller coaster run of success could greatly impact the first season of Wilson being the quarterback in Denver. The lack of foundational blocking units was well documented when Russ was in Seattle. Others on the Broncos offensive line are certainly above average players. Though, how Bolles performs in 2022 could ultimately decide how far the Broncos go in their quest to return to the playoffs.

The first few seasons of Bolles’ career were hampered by costly penalties. For instance, he committed a whopping 46 penalties in those first three seasons, averaging out to nearly one penalty per game. The penalties decreased favorably for the blocker in a crucial 2020 season. Afterwards, Denver opted to give him a four-year contract extension worth $68 million. Will he continue to improve with higher expectations? Or, does his sloppy past decimate the increased odds of the Broncos in 2022?

Kansas City Chiefs: Tight End Travis Kelce

With Tyreek Hill being traded out of Kansas City, the Chiefs suddenly have a gaping hole among their pass catching group. Surely, there is great optimism for names like rookie Skyy Moore, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. And, you could argue that Kansas City may have a more balanced receiving group in 2022, because of the prior changes. The security blanket of tight end Travis Kelce is something that has not changed for the Chiefs offense, nevertheless.

Statistically speaking, Kelce has dominated the tight end ranks over the course of the last four seasons with Mahomes. He has registered at least 134 targets, 92 receptions, 1,125 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns each year over the course of those last four seasons. How much of an increase could he gain, statistically speaking? It may seem somewhat ludicrous for his numbers to be even higher per year. Yet, Mahomes and Kelce have a connection that is extremely rare. If that output does not continue in 2022, Kansas City may possibly fall short of their ultimate goal.

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Las Vegas Raiders: Wide Receiver Davante Adams

It is quite fascinating to look at the projected top five wide receivers on the Raiders’ depth chart. According to Ourlads, that would currently include Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Demarcus Robinson, Keelan Cole and Mack Hollins. Of those five names, only Renfrow was on the team last year. There is one receiver who is the most crucial to Las Vegas’ success in 2022, however.

Adams got almost everything that he was asking for this offseason. He got to leave Green Bay and come to his desired spot of the Raiders. He got paid extremely handsomely with a shiny new contract extension. Moreover, Adams gets to reunite with his college teammate in Carr. His continued dominant production has arguably made him the NFL’s best wide receiver entering this season. Carr surprisingly threw the ball more last season, setting a new single season career high in passing attempts for a season (626). And for the most part, it paid off tremendously for the Raiders. Any sort of drop off from Adams could obviously greatly impact Carr and the new look Vegas offense.

Los Angeles Chargers: Safety Derwin James

Chargers’ safety Derwin James holds a similar case to that of the aforementioned Bolles. Whereas with James, his early career was ravaged more by injuries, rather than performance questions. Since being drafted 17th overall in 2018, the Florida State product has missed 29 of a possible 49 games across the last three seasons. This comes after he played in all 16 games during his rookie campaign. Injuries like a stress fracture in his foot and a torn meniscus have sidelined him extensively.

There is no denying the talent and role that James can provide to the back end of the LA defense. He can cover over the top, play man-to-man and crash downhill and lay a massive boom on opposing ball carriers. There is no question that there is plenty of potential within the back seven of the Chargers defense. But outside of James, past injuries and performance questions raise more apprehension about a possibly exciting defensive unit. If James misses more time and is unable to pull enough weight among the middle of the defense, the Chargers could be in danger of missing their stride.

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL offseason articles and analysis at Full Press Coverage throughout this summer.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.