As the 2014 NFL Draft approaches and we are now more than halfway through the 2013 NFL season, we start to get a clear picture of areas of need for every NFL team. Every team has a few holes on their current roster or that will open up in the offseason and the draft is the time where teams look to fill those needs. I take a look at the AFC West, the division that has brought us the most surprise this season; the Chiefs are undefeated, Peyton Manning is on pace to set records and the Chargers have been a pleasant surprise as well.
Kansas City Chiefs:
Wide Receiver:
While Alex Smith may not be putting up great statistics this season he certainly could use more help. Smith isn’t looking deep to Dwayne Bowe who has just 33 receptions on the season compared to running back Jamaal Charles who leads the team with 47 receptions. Kansas City needs to find more explosive weapons to add to this offense who can work with the Chiefs short passing game and bust open big plays and breathe new life into this pedestrian passing game. Kansas City could fill the need at wide receiver at the end of round one with someone like Marqise Lee and Jarvis Landry.
Tight End:
When Alex Smith was marching his way to the NFC Championship with the San Francisco 49ers he had a security blanket in Vernon Davis who he could always look for when he needed to get the ball out. In Kansas City that security blanket has been Sean McGrath and while his beard may be wonderful, he is far from a viable option in the passing game. The Chiefs can afford to wait until the middle of the draft to find their tight end but they will need to draft one. They could look to Georgia’s Arthur Lynch who has struggled at times this season but could fit in perfectly in Andy Reid’s offense.
Free Safety:
Kansas City is stacked on defense and they appear set to dominate over the second half of the season and well into the future. Strong safety Eric Berry now looks fully healthy after tearing his ACL two seasons ago and is playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level but he needs a counterpart. While Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix may not make it to the end of the first round, USC’s Dion Bailey should be available at the end of round two. You put Bailey and Berry together and you will have an exciting defense become even better in 2014.
Denver Broncos:
Cornerback:
For as great as the Broncos offense has been this season their defense has been absolutely horrendous in coverage. Champ Bailey can’t stay healthy and even when he is on the field this defense has just been bad ranking 30th in the league giving up 299 passing yards per game. The Broncos need to find immediate corner help in the 2014 draft and would be wise to spend their first selection on a cornerback. Bradley Roby, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Kyle Fuller could all be options for the Broncos and provide an immediate boost for this secondary.
Inside Linebacker:
Denver is also in need of a linebacker, someone who can step in alongside Von Miller and strengthen this defense. Denver’s need for a linebacker largely comes from big questions in free agency with Wesley Woodyard and Paris Lenon set to test the market. Round two could be the best round for Denver to target a linebacker with names like A.J. Johnson, Shayne Skov and Chris Borland all available. The Broncos will be spending a lot of early picks on their defense so they don’t have to keep winning in shootouts.
Defensive End:
While Miller is now back on the field and we are seeing a strong pass rush start to come from the Broncos’ defense when he was out the first six games the team really struggled to create pressure. Shaun Phillips has done a nice job this year but will want more than just a one-year deal in free agency and Robert Ayers hasn’t lived up to the hype. While there are some intriguing younger prospects on this team like Derek Wolfe there just isn’t enough to create problems in the backfield and get after the quarterback. If Denver can create more pressure it will give their secondary more chances to make plays and eliminate time for the quarterback to find holes in their secondary.
San Diego Chargers:
Outside Linebacker:
The Chargers are having a turnaround season thanks almost entirely because of their offense. Philip Rivers is looking like the Comeback Player of the Year and the team seems to be firing on all cylinders.
But for all the offense has done this season their defense has been keeping the team from being a .500+ team. The Chargers’ defense ranks 27th in passing yards allowed per game with 275.4 and is 23rd in rushing yards allowed with 118.4 per game.
One way to help take some pressure off the secondary and cause problems in the backfield is with some help on the outside at outside linebacker. Larry English hasn’t lived up to the expectations of being a first-round pick in 2009, Jarret Johnson will be 33 next season and Dwight Freeney is on injured reserve. This team needs to find an attacker like Kyle Van Noy, someone who can create the havoc they need around the edge and really help make things easier for the guys in the secondary and the inside linebackers.
Cornerback:
San Diego tried to patch together their secondary in the offseason and the attempts have failed. Derek Cox had to be benched after another terrible week in coverage while Richard Marshall is a ghost of his old self already at 28. The Chargers can’t look towards free agency to fix their problem, they need to draft a corner early and finally have someone they can rely on for the future. Once they can get this defense turned around we are looking at a playoff team and a team that could pull off some upsets in the west.
Offensive Tackle:
San Diego found success in the draft last year with D.J. Fluker and they now have their right tackle of the future. While Fluker showed once this year he could make spot starts on the left side he is clearly suited to be a right tackle. So San Diego will again go to work on the offensive line to find someone to help protect Rivers. A perfect situation for them could be Florida State’s Cameron Erving who is a monster physically but needs a little bit of refinement and training with pro coaches to maximize on his potential. By putting him on the left side and keeping Fluker on the right, San Diego would have two cornerstone tackles protecting their quarterback and keeping this offense rolling.
Oakland Raiders:
Offensive Tackle:
The Raiders have surprisingly found their quarterback, Terrelle Pryor has shown remarkable improvement from last season and now looks like the face of the Raiders franchise.
But if Oakland wants him to take the next step next season as a passer they are going to need to get him some help. The Raiders rank 30th in passing yards with 197.8 per game and in sacks allowed at 32 sacks this season.
This team needs to find a right tackle who can shut things down on that side and really give Pryor time to look downfield and step into his throws. Oakland could find their man in round two with North Carolina’s James Hurst and be well prepared for the future on offense.
Cornerback:
Oakland made improving their secondary the top priority in last year’s draft when they took D.J. Hayden with the 12th overall pick, but the rookie cornerback is still struggling to get acclimated at the NFL level. Meanwhile the Raiders are 25th in the league giving up 262.6 yards per game and were just torched by Nick Foles for seven touchdowns. The team also will see most of their cornerbacks test the market with Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter and Phillip Adams all ready to collect their checks. Oakland could choose to spend a first-round pick for the second straight year on a cornerback. It would help build one of the best up and coming corner duos in the NFL and give the Raiders secondary a bright future.
Defensive End:
Not only do the Raiders struggle to protect their quarterback they also need to improve putting pressure on the opponent’s quarterback. While the team is 13th in the league with 23 sacks through eight games, they will face a tough decision with Lamarr Houston and Jason Hunter hitting the open market. Houston leads the team in sacks and is just 26 years old, but Oakland is still trying to clear dead cap from the old regime. But this team needs to bring more pressure and there will be plenty of options available to them in the draft. They probably won’t pick early enough to get Jadeveon Clowney, but could take a look at Vic Beasley in the second round. If Oakland can find a pass-rusher it will bring a big jolt to their defense as they begin to turn the corner and become relevant again.