Denver Broncos

Key Additions: Andra Davis (LB), LaMont Jordan (RB), Chris Simms (QB), Kyle Orton (QB), Brandon Lloyd (WR), Correll Buckhalter (RB), Brian Dawkins (S), Jabar Gaffney (WR), Renaldo Hill (S), Darrell Reid (DE)

Key Losses: Jay Cutler (QB), Selvin Young (RB), Dre Bly (CB), Marlon McCree (CB), Boss Bailey (LB), Patrick Ramsey (QB), Tom Nalen (C), Ebenezer Ekuban (DE), Tatum Bell (RB), Michael Pittman (RB)

Draft Picks: Knowshon Moreno (RB-Georgia), Robert Ayers (DE-Tennessee), Alphonso Smith (CB-Wake Forest), Darcel McBath (S-TTU), Richard Quinn (TE-UNC), David Bruton (S-Notre Dame), Seth Olson (G-Iowa), Kenny McKinley (WR-South Carolina), Tom Brandstater (QB-Fresno State), Blake Schueter (C-TCU)

The Broncos had a 2008 season that they probably wish they could forget. They came out of the gates by lighting up the scoreboards but ended the season with a huge collapse that included three straight losses and a vacation scheduled for wildcard weekend.

The first order of business this offseason for Denver was to fire long-time head coach Mike Shannahan. This came as a shock to almost every Broncos fan on the planet, including Jay Cutler. Cutler had been babied ever since he came into the league by Shannahan so obviously this didn’t go over to well with him. Shortly after hiring former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the rumors started to spread that McDaniels wanted to bring Matt Cassel over from New England. The mere thought of these rumors sent Cutler into a tizzy that wouldn’t be solved until his eventual trade to Chicago. Needless to say, McDaniels probably could’ve done a little better going into his first head coaching job than he did.

Denver acquired QB Kyle Orton from Chicago in the Cutler trade. This is an obvious downgrade as I’m not even sure Orton should be starting in Denver. If you recall while in Chicago, Orton was good enough to not lose while the defense won most of the games. The minute Rex Grossman was healthy; he took the job back from Orton. When you’re losing your starting job to Rex Grossman, well, it isn’t good.

Denver also brought in Chris Simms, a QB who hasn’t seen a significant amount of playing time since he was the starter in Tampa Bay. Simms lost his job due to injury and the never ending QB carousel in Tampa. McDaniels quickly crowned Orton the starter heading into camp but I think there should be an open competition. As I wrote in my free agent rankings, Simms could be a solid pickup for the team that signed him. I have confidence that now healthy, Simms can be a productive starter in the league still.

On the flip side, Josh McDaniels proved last season that he was able to work with much lesser talent, so he may just be the person to get the job done with Orton. Then again, it could’ve been the combination of Bill Belichek, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker that helped Matt Cassel succeed in New England. I guess we’ll find out later on this year now that McDaniels is in Denver and Cassel is starting in Kansas City.

Either way, the Broncos are going into this season with a new GM, coach, and starting quarterback. Not to mention last season the Broncos had a terrible defense and while they added Brian Dawkins, I still see plenty of struggles for the D. They are literally starting over so I see plenty of struggles this season. Of course you never know, an 8-8 record did win the division last season.

Last Season: 8-8
2009 Prediction: 6-10


Kansas City Chiefs

Key Additions: Travis Daniels (CB), Monty Beisel (LB), Bobby Engram (WR), Zach Thomas (LB), Amani Toomer (WR), Matt Cassel (QB), Mike Vrabel (LB), Tony Curtis (TE), Terrance Copper (WR), Mike Goff (G)

Key Losses: Damon Huard (QB), Quinn Gray (QB), Tony Gonzalez (TE), Patrick Surtain (CB), Donnie Edwards (LB), David Macklin (CB), Pat Thomas (LB)

Draft Picks: Tyson Jackson (DE-LSU), Alex Magee (DT-Purdue), Donald Washington (CB-OSU), Colin Brown (T-Missouri), Quinten Lawrence (WR-McNeese State), Javarris Williams (RB-Tennessee St), Jake O’Connell (TE-Miami University), Ryan Succop (K-South Carolina)

The Chiefs finished with a terrible 2-14 record last year but don’t let that fool you. They lost quite a few close games and weren’t nearly as bad as a 2-14 record would lead you to believe. They started out the season by losing their starting QB Brodie Croyle to injury. To make matters worse, it took about nine seconds for backup Damon Huard to also go down. This is when Tyler Thigpen stepped in and put up very respectable numbers (while destroying multiple fantasy leagues). Thigpen finished the season with 2608 yards, 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, a 76.0 QB rating, 386 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Not bad for a third string QB never expected to play a meaningful game.

During the offseason the Chiefs brought Scott Pioli in from New England. I guess if you’re going to be rebuilding, it’s smart to bring someone in who knows a thing or two about building a team. The Chiefs then hired Todd Haley, formerly of the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, to take over as head coach for Herm Edwards. Then came the true rebuilding process.

The Chiefs went out and acquired Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the Patriots for a mere second round pick. The jury is out on whether or not Cassel is the real deal or a one year wonder that was a product of the New England system, but Kansas City definitely believes in him as evidenced by his long term contract extension. I don’t necessarily think it’s fair that Cassel got the huge extension while Tyler Thigpen wasn’t even given a chance to compete for the job, but who am I? It’s a funny world we live in. Cassel was a career backup in college to superstar Matt Leinart and now in the NFL Cassel is the one with the big money deal and starting job while Leinart is fighting just to be second string in Arizona.

While the Chiefs are definitely rebuilding, I like the direction they are heading in. I’m not sure if like the trade of Tony Gonzalez but I feel their hands were tied with that decision and they had to trade him out of respect. Along with Vrabel they brought in Zach Thomas and Amani Toomer. If anything, the younger guys will have someone to look up to and learn from during this rebuilding process. Their season will really depend on whether or not Cassel can succeed in his new surroundings. If I were a Chiefs fan, this wouldn’t excite me too much.

Last Season: 2-14
2009 Prediction: 6-10


Oakland Raiders

Key Additions: Khalif Barnes (T), Samson Satele (C), Jeff Garcia (QB), Lorenzo Neal (FB), Gary Russell (RB), Charlie Frye (QB), Greg Ellis (LB)

Key Losses: Jake Grove (C), Rashad Baker (S), Ronald Curry (WR), Justin Griffith (FB), Andrew Walter (QB), Marques Tuiasosopo (QB), Ashley Lelie (WR), Tony Stewart (TE), Gibril Wilson (S), Derrick Burgess (DE)

Draft Picks: Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR-Maryland), Michael Mitchell (S-Ohio), Matt Shaughnessy (DE-Wisconsin), Louis Murphy (WR-Florida), Slade Norris (OLB-Oregon State), Stryker Sulak (DE-Missouri), Brandon Myers (TE-Iowa)

Last year saw the continuation of the Oakland Raiders traveling circus as ringmaster Al Davis continued to embarrass the fans, organization, and every player wearing silver and black. It only took three weeks for the Raiders to fire head coach Lane Kiffin and make headlines in their own unique way. Oh no, they weren’t just going to fire their head coach, they were going to hold a press conference where he would be slandered in every possible way by the owner. Lane Kiffin might be is a huge idiot, but he probably didn’t deserve that treatment from Davis.

After finishing a surprising and mildly successful 5-11, everybody expected the Raiders to try and re-group during the offseason. They decided to remove the interim tag and hire Tom Cable as their head coach. I’m not sure if this was the best move (considering Jim Fassel was practically begging for a job from Oakland) but when you’re the Raiders and you have a meddling owner; you take what you can get. That leads us to the draft. Rather than repeat myself, I encourage anybody who hasn’t read my draft recap to click here and get my thoughts on that spectacle.

I’m not here to completely bash the Raiders though; they did make a few good moves during the offseason. They brought in former Dallas Cowboys LB Greg Ellis for one. The Raiders defense, no matter how bad the overall team is, has been one of the few highlights for the team. Adding a proven player like Ellis will only make the defense that much stronger. They also added journeyman QB Jeff Garcia. Although he isn’t slated to start, I see this happening by Week Six. All of the pressure is landing squarely on JaMarcus Russell right now. He has shown flashes of being a competent QB but hasn’t completely put it together yet. Now he has a veteran who is itching to get on the field and oh yeah, is proficient in the West Coast Offense. Things aren’t looking so good for JaMarcus right now.

Last Season: 5-11
2009 Prediction: 5-11


San Diego Chargers

Key Additions: Kevin Burnett (LB)

Key Losses: Igor Olshansky (DE), Mike Goff (G)

Draft Picks: Larry English (LB-Northern Illinois), Louis Vasquez (G-TTU), Vaughn Martin (DT-Western Ontario), Tyronne Green (G-Auburn), Gartrell Johnson (RB-Colorado St), Brandon Hughes (CB-Oregon State), Kevin Ellison (S-USC), Demetrius Byrd (WR-LSU)

Despite winning the AFC West last season and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, I think most fans would agree that the Chargers had a somewhat disappointing 2008 season. They came into the season with Super Bowl level expectations but it took a Week 17 victory/ epic collapse by Denver to sneak into the playoffs with a record of 8-8.

I don’t think anybody (including myself) thought the Chargers would do a whole lot once in the playoffs, but they shocked the Indianapolis Colts with an overtime victory that once again brought the overtime rules into question. (The sooner the NFL switches to college overtime rules the better.) After grabbing an early lead in Pittsburgh, the wheels finally came off for San Diego and they were sent back home with yet another playoff loss.

Last season the Chargers battled several injuries to key players like LaDanian Tomlinson and their best defensive player, Shawne Merriman. Getting those players back this season will be a huge boost, which explains why San Diego didn’t have a very active offseason in terms of free agent signings. They were able to lockup Darren Sproles, who even with a healthy Tomlinson, should be looking at a very productive 2009 season.

LaDanian Tomlinson is poised for a breakout season this year. A lot of people counted him out last year after all of his injuries and I’m sure he is ready to prove himself. In fact, based on where he is being drafted in fantasy drafts right now, I think many people expect this out of him.

If the Chargers can stay healthy and play football up to what they are capable of, the AFC West is as good as theirs. With the other three teams re-building/sucking, the Chargers would actually have to try to lose the division. They have been deep in the playoffs the last two seasons so if they do end up staying healthy, there is a good chance we’ll be watching the Chargers on Super Bowl Sunday.

Last Season: 8-8
2009 Prediction: 10-6