AFC West free agency preview: Range of budgets creates, limits options
A snapshot of each team's roster and considerations heading into free agency, which officially begins March 10 at 4 p.m. ET:
DENVER BRONCOS
Prominent free agents: S Quinton Carter, G/T Orlando Franklin, TE Virgil Green, MLB Nate Irving, DT Terrance Knighton, C Will Montgomery, S Rahim Moore, TE Jacob Tamme, WR Demaryius Thomas (franchise tag), TE Julius Thomas, DT Mitch Unrein, WR Wes Welker
Issues: Resolution of QB Peyton Manning's situation helps, though his paycut may only serve to help GM John Elway get deals done with in-house players and perhaps pave the way to an extension for Demaryius Thomas. New coordinator Wade Phillips will likely need fresh bodies for his 3-4 defense. The O-line requires athletic players to run new coach Gary Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme. The tight end spot is basically vacant. Oh, and OLB Von Miller could be next year's free agent dilemma.
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Our advice: It would be wise to lock up Demaryius Thomas or Miller soon because only one could be franchised in 2016. Pounce on former Broncos C Chris Myers, who was a great fit for Kubiak in Houston. Same goes for TE Owen Daniels, a far cheaper option than Julius Thomas. Otherwise, Elway should be assessing cost-effective linemen.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Prominent free agents: WR Jason Avant, WR Donnie Avery (released), S Kurt Coleman, TE Anthony Fasano (released), T Ryan Harris, OLB Justin Houston (franchise tag), C Rodney Hudson, WR A.J. Jenkins (released), G Jeff Linkenbach, ILB Joe Mays (released), OL Mike McGlynn, RB Joe McKnight, CB Chris Owens, S Ron Parker, DT Kevin Vickerson, DL Vance Walker (released)
Issues: The cap's in rough shape, which certainly doesn't help GM John Dorsey's ability to take care of Houston, his best player. Pro Bowl NT Dontari Poe will need a deal of his own by next year. Pro Bowl S Eric Berry remains focused on beating cancer.
Our advice: Dorsey is going to have to dump salary, which puts WR Dwayne Bowe and OLB Tamba Hali squarely in the crosshairs. An offensive line that's been hemorrhaging talent over the past year stands to now lose Hudson given how thinly the Chiefs are spread financially. Promising Parker is also a likely goner. The best Dorsey can probably do is hope to free up enough cash to satisfy Houston and find an upgrade to Bowe. Otherwise, he'll be seeking Band-Aids for the secondary and trenches.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Prominent free agents: DB Larry Asante, S Tyvon Branch (released), CB Tarell Brown, WR Vincent Brown, RB Darren McFadden, WR Denarius Moore, LB Nick Roach (released), CB Carlos Rogers, DT Pat Sims, DE C.J. Wilson, C Stefen Wisniewski, DE LaMarr Woodley (released), S Usama Young (released)
Issues: The Raiders haven't had a winning record since 2002, but the cupboard is hardly barren. QB Derek Carr, LB Khalil Mack and RB Latavius Murray highlight the team's young talent, and the collective bargaining agreement will force GM Reggie McKenzie to spend.
Our advice: RB Maurice Jones-Drew's retirement pushes McKenzie's budget into the $60 million range. So why not pursue blue-chip free agents like DT Ndamukong Suh, WR Jeremy Maclin and S Devin McCourty? New coach Jack Del Rio may be able to recruit soon-to-be-former-Broncos like TE Julius Thomas, DT Terrance Knighton and S Rahim Moore. McKenzie needs to expand the talent base and may as well overspend since he can't sit on the cap space anymore and doesn't have prime players worth extending yet. The No. 4 pick in the draft should fill in a gap McKenzie can't plug with money.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Prominent free agents: RB Ronnie Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, OLB Dwight Freeney, ILB Andrew Gachkar, S Marcus Gilchrist, OL Doug Legursky, DL Ricardo Mathews, RB Ryan Mathews, P Mat McBriar, C Rich Ohrnberger, WR Eddie Royal, CB Shareece Wright
Issues: In the near term, the Bolts are poised to lose several starters. But GM Tom Telesco must plan with an eye on 2016, when team leaders Philip Rivers and Eric Weddle could be among the team's free agents along with DE Corey Liuget. Telesco already made one smart move, re-upping underrated LT King Dunlap for four years.
Our advice: The guy Telesco needs to keep in the building is Flowers. Ryan Mathews is a nice player when healthy, which isn't often. He should only stay at San Diego's price. Better to spend on an interior O-line that lost C Nick Hardwick and G Jeromey Clary to retirement as well as filling out the secondary. An edge player like Brian Orakpo or Brandon Graham could really boost a team that seems to have a narrow championship window.
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