2024 NFL Draft Grades: AFC West
Let’s have a talk. Just you and me. The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. You can make the choice now. You can choose to read other people’s draft grades. You know, the grades where you get lied to and nobody has the balls to hand out anything lower than a C for any of the teams. OR you can read mine where I tell the truth. The choice is yours.
By the way, how come nobody grades Mel Kiper’s draft grades after the fact? I’ll happily stack up my resume compared to anybody else out there. It’s not a battle they will win based on past evidence. We’re starting things off with the AFC West. Let’s do this thing.
Denver Broncos: Grade B-
Round 1, Pick 12: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Round 3, Pick 76: Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah
Round 4, Pick 102: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Round 5, Pick 145: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
Round 5, Pick 147: Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
Round 7, Pick 235: Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
Round 7, Pick 256: Nick Gargiulo, OL, South Carolina
As much as I want to poo poo on this draft, I really can’t. You already know Sean Payton is going to be so damn passionate about coaching Bo Nix. Payton’s system is perfect for Nix. His system is the coach plays QB. He wants his QB to do exactly what he tells him to do. It’s why Russell Wilson was never going to work but Nix just might. Give Nix this, he gets the ball out quick and his feet are tied to his arm. I think this pairing is going to work to some degree.
They got some dudes after that to bring the grade up. Jonah Elliss, Troy Franklin, and KAD are players I’m high on. With how bad this Broncos roster is, all three of those guys should be instant contributors. I don’t love Estime but they really needed a back and he can do goal-line stuff for them.
Kansas City Chiefs: Grade A-
Round 1, Pick 28: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Round 2, Pick 63: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Round 4, Pick 131: Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Round 4, Pick 133: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Round 5, Pick 159: Hunter Nourzad, OL, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 211: Kamal Hadden, DB, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 248: C.J. Hanson, OL, Holy Cross
For the first time in a long time, I really like what Brett Veach was cooking up. Xavier Worthy goes to the perfect fit. He’s going to be the DeSean Jackson in this offense. Hard not to like his chances. They got an absolute steal with Kingsley Suamataia. When he turns into a stud (probably year two) I don’t want to hear about how the Chiefs are running circles around the league. Hire me and things like that would be avoided in the future.
Got some good values late in the draft too. Hicks and Hadden are going to factor into this secondary. You know that’s going to happen. Wiley just might make an impact too as a big body in the red area. Job well done, Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders: Grade B-
Round 1, Pick 13: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 44: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon
Round 3, Pick 77: Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
Round 4, Pick 112: Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
Round 5, Pick 148: Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 208: Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Round 7, Pick 223: Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
Round 7, Pick 229: M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
The Raiders were doing so well. You have to credit them for the way they pivoted. All the quarterbacks flew off the board. They sat there and took Brock Bowers who is going to turn into a MFer at tight end. It’s hard to question getting a talent like Bowers.
Then they snag Powers-Johnson in round two. Just incredible work there at pick 44. This is a team that needed an anchor like that and now they got one at a good price too.
The problem is this team just ran out of gas. After round two they just stopped doing smart things. All players with flaws. Glaze was a poor shower at the Senior Bowl. Chickster can chug a 87 oz soda faster than Eichenberg can run the 40. Dylan Laube may as well go home now. He’s not a real running back.
Credit to the Raiders for getting two good players. Maybe one or two will hit after that. It’s better than what they normally do. Just can’t go higher after a poor showing after round two.
Los Angeles Chargers: Grade A
Round 1, Pick 5: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Round 2, Pick 34: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 69: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Round 4, Pick 105: Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama
Round 5, Pick 137: Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland
Round 5, Pick 140: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 181: Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
Round 7, Pick 225: Brenden Rice, WR, USC
Round 7, Pick 253: Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Jim Harbaugh is going to turn these boys around real quick, huh? I’m not as high on Joe Alt as others but I understand the pick. I don’t think he’s going to suck and they needed a new right tackle in the worst way. After that Harbaugh kept scooping talent. I’m sure being in the college game helped him because he really knew what he was doing in the later rounds.
McConkey is going to get open. He’s already their number one. I also love that they took two more recognizing the Quentin Johnston pick was a mistake. Was there a better pick in the 7th round then ending up with those two receivers?
Where does it end? Junior Colson is a damn good player. Cam Hart in round five? Just wow.
I don’t agree with every decision that was made but LA did a really good job.
Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Click here for more NFL Draft content
