Kansas City Chiefs: Defense may be the best in AFC West
By Chris Taylor
Comparing the defensive lines of the AFC West
The defensive line for the Kansas City Chiefs has a couple new moving pieces. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing coming from a team that had one of the worst defenses statistically in 2017.
Oakland Raiders
Mario Edwards, Eddie Vanderdoes, Justin Ellis, Arden Key, PJ Hall, and Maurice Hurst. The latter three being rookies. Together, this group only has 143 tackles and 6 sacks to its credit. The line is young, with probably three rookies getting a ton of playing time, especially with Vanderdoes’ health in question.
The young players the Raiders have on the line are all solid and should contribute at a high level. It’s a defensive line that is unproven in a division with running backs named Hunt, Gordon, and Booker. The defensive line is not a strong suit for this team, especially early in the season.
Denver Broncos
Derek Wolfe, Domata Peko, Adam Gotsis, Zach Kerr, Kyle Peko, and Demarcus Walker. Denver looks to be fairly weak up front at first glance. Together this group has 536 total tackles and 53 sacks. Led by veterans Wolfe and D. Peko, this line has some clout. Gotsis has a serious financial matter that may keep him off the field to start the season.
The Broncos have talent, they do not have depth.
LA Chargers
Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Corey Liuget, Brandon Mebane, Justin Jones, and Darius Philon. The Chargers line has a total of 755 tackles and 102.5 sacks combined. Liuget will be suspended for the first four games for violating a league policy.
Bosa and Ingram is the scariest defensive end duo in the league. These guys are good. The best in the West.
Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Jones, Allen Bailey, Xavier Williams, Derrick Nnadi, Dee Liner, and Jarvis Jenkins. This group has put up 258 tackles and 29.5 sacks. Jones is a future superstar in the league and Nnadi could be one of the best run stoppers in the NFL someday.
The Chiefs defensive line is unproven, but the combo of Nnadi and Jones up front could be nasty for opposing running backs.
Tally
The Chargers take the cake here, it isn’t really close. The Broncos barely lose out to the Chiefs due to lack of depth, the Raiders come in last. Chargers, Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders.