In Good Hands? AFC West Receivers Take Center Stage

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With four top-tier quarterbacks, the receiver movement in the AFC West has been no short of absolutely amazing.

With the AFC West shaping up to be the most contentious division in the NFL this season, having an advantage at any position group could be monumental. All four teams boasting Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks certainly add to the competitiveness. However, with multiple significant wide receiver moves this offseason, the expected hierarchy of quarterback success could shift.

South Beach Cheetah

The biggest receiver departure so far has been Tyreek Hill leaving the Kansas City Chiefs for the Miami Dolphins. While many compare Patrick Mahomes to Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, very little about how the Chiefs will fare without Hill. Without Hill, the Chiefs will ride with former Green Bay Packer Marquez Valdez-Scantling, former Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman.

KC Masterpiece?

With both MVS and JuJu coming off injury-riddled seasons, the pair will compete to become Mahomes’ go-to. Alternatively, Hardman never missed a game in his three-year career. Plus, he comes off a season in which he surpassed 600 receiving yards. Add Travis Kelce to the mix, and the Chiefs’ corps emerges as a group with the most to prove in 2022.

Bulldog Reunion

To no surprise, the biggest receiver addition this offseason has been the Las Vegas Raiders’ acquisition of superstar Davante Adams, adding the former Packer to an already impressive pairing of Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. The possibilities of this trio are endless, and if utilized correctly, could leave defenses’ heads spinning all season long as the best receiving trio in (at least) the AFC West.

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Mile High Revival              

Despite entering the 2022 season with no major receiver additions, the Broncos are received praise for adding Russell Wilson. Many have considered the Broncos to be just a quarterback away from getting out of their funk and making a deep playoff run. While Wilson’s new receiving corps of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick may not match up to the caliber of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Broncos trio was able to relatively stand out while their quarterbacks Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater split time. Undoubtedly, Wilson will take all three receivers to a higher level and will cause significant issues for defenses going forward.

L.A. Story

Despite Justin Herbert cementing himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, the Los Angeles Chargers did not do much to bolster their receivers, but they may not have needed to. Equipped with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Herbert could not have realistically asked for a much better veteran corps to start his career with. The Chargers’ biggest pass-catching acquisition was tight end Gerald Everett, who has been improving his stats each season but still has yet to surpass 480 receiving yards in a season.

Overview

Essentially, all four AFC West teams are shaping up to be dominant offenses in one way or another.
Whether it be quarterbacks or receivers leading the way, there is not a single offensive group to be looked at as anything but a threat, which will continue to contribute to the gauntlet the division has formed into.