Today, we continue to analyze the biggest draft needs of teams in the American League's Western Division. First, let's review the first-round picks of wild West Four teams: Only two teams in the West Have made first-round picks this year. They are The Lightning's No. 17 pick, and the Chiefs' No. 29 and No. 30 picks. With the exception of the Lightning and Chiefs, neither the Bronco nor the Raiders made first-round picks, which were given to the Seahawks and Packers in this offseason Russell Wilson and Devante Adams deal.
Denver Broncos
Team requirements: strong guards, near-end forwards, interior guards
Last season, the Mustang's starting line-up was veteran defensive guard Karim Jackson. Surprisingly, he was so good last season that he even rode the linebacker spot in the Pro Bowl voting. However, Jackson will turn 34 next week, and the Broncos have not yet signed him. Aside from him, the First Choice in the Broncos is PJ Locke, who played in just four games last season and contributed five tackles. For the Mustang's proud defensive second-line in recent years, adding a starting strong guard and Justin Simmons to form a security guard combination is the number one task.
In addition, after the trade went through the first round of the show Noah Fantas, the Broncos' near-end position was also stretched. Although Albert Okuwibrunum has improved last season, depth remains an issue. At the same time, the Mustangs' interior guards are also slightly mediocre, which is why their defense is always out of the good rather than the top.
Kansas City Chief
Team needs: rush passer, cornerback, outside receiver
The issue of the chieftain's defense can be said to be a cliché. Last season, they released a total of 4,273 yards of passing yards, the sixth most in the league. The rush is one of the biggest problems, as evidenced by the league's fourth-fewest 31 tackles, nine of which are from defensive ender Chris Jones alone, and punches like Wild West are obviously not enough to see. At the same time, the chief who lost the number one corner guard Ward in the free signing window also needs to supplement the corner guard. However, recent rumors of the signing of Stefon Gilmore and the trade of James Bradberg are boiling and it is possible that the Chiefs' cornerback problem could be resolved before the draft begins.
On the other hand, on the other hand, external succession is obviously their main problem. With Hill traded to the Dolphins, Pringle signing with the Bears, and Hardman becoming more mediocre, star quarterback Mahomes is likely to face an embarrassing situation that no one can pass. However, after reinforcing Juju Smithshuster and Marquis Waldscantrin, the problem of taking over does not look as big as defensively.
Las Vegas Raiders
Team needs: right interceptor, defender, linebacker
While the Raiders formed Adams and Carl, who were once college teammates, in this offseason, that doesn't mean their offensive group is perfect. The biggest problem with their attacking group is in their offensive line. While Cotton Miller did well in the first round of the show on the left, the other four positions on the Raiders' offensive line were bad. They need to protect Karl as much as possible to get him to connect more with Adams.
In contrast, the Raiders signed Chandler Jones this offseason, forming a double ghost with Max Crosby, but their defense was still below the league average. Brown and Fakrell, who were introduced in the free signing window, are solidly performing, but they still lack a playmaker who can create big scenes to help them raise the defensive ceiling.
Los Angeles Lightning
Team requirements: right cut forward, guard, interior guard
Similar to the Raiders, the Lightning's offensive line is equally unreliable. Center Corey Linsley and first-round rookie left-winger Lashaun Slater were both selected for the NFL second team last season, but the remaining three positions on the offensive line other than the two of them were not good enough. So for the offensive line with obvious shortcomings, the Lightning is not good, and they need better players to protect Justin Herbert. Among them, the right-sided interceptor Storm Norton is the biggest weakness, and it can be said that he does not have the starting strength at all.
Looking at the defensive group, the lightning's defensive run is also a clichéd problem. Last season, a total of 2361 yards of dashing balls were released, ranking third in the entire NFL. For the Lightning, who want to make a difference in the playoffs this year, it is clear that such a large gap is not allowed. Kenneth Murray, a third-year student next season, has struggled to stay fit, and the team's tackle king Kaiser White last season has also left the team, and the Lightning need to find a reliable rotation to fill the gap in the interior guard.
How do you think the Chiefs' two first-round picks will be chosen?