Ranking the Chiefs' 5 Biggest AFC Rivals After Stefon Diggs Trade

The Bills pulled off a shocking trade on Wednesday morning, sending star WR Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for draft compensation while taking on $31 million in dead money on the salary cap.

Immediate implications make the Texans a legitimate contender and leave the Bills with Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakur to lead a suddenly underwhelming WR group. Kansas City is still the betting favorite to win the AFC for good reason, but there are several teams who could compete with the Chiefs.

With that in mind, let's reevaluate the AFC landscape and look at the five biggest threats to Kansas City's throne. Threats make rivalries, and these teams are the most ready to challenge the Chiefs.

5 Biggest AFC Threats to Chiefs After Stefon Diggs Trade

1. Houston Texans

The betting odds above have the Ravens listed over the Texans, but I disagree with that assessment. We saw Baltimore's best effort fall short against Kansas City in the AFC Championship game at home, and there are good reasons to expect a step back from the Ravens. They'll be good, but Houston might be building something special.

C.J. Stroud a rising star and future MVP candidate after throwing for 4,108 yards with 23 TDs and just five interceptions in his rookie year. Throwing Stefon Diggs, who has six consecutive 1,000-yards seasons, into a WR room that already has promising youngsters Nico Collins and Tank Collins immediately gives the Texans one of the NFL's best offenses led by a well-respected OC in Bobby Slowik.

Led by high draft picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley, Houston's defense has a strong foundation as well. This team is built to compete both now and in the future, and their commitment to youth that can develop together will likely result in several playoff games against the Chiefs over the next half-decade.

I'll take Mahomes and the Chiefs every chance I get, but the Texans look to be next in line among the many who have tried to snatch Kansas City's crown.

No one can match the Chiefs' championship experience right now, though Houston may be the only team who can match the organization's promising future.

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