Let’s take a look at how Denver’s divisional opponents performed in this year’s draft.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs had a strong day one of the draft, trading up for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and picking up Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. These are two big holes on their defense that needed to be filled, and they used plenty of draft capital to make it happen.
But, if you ask Bransen Gibson, writer at Arrowhead Addict, he was not too happy about what followed those picks.
Given that the Chiefs had to give up
a third rounder for Mansoor, there wasn’t much the Chiefs could do on day two of the draft, and what would follow Gibson would describe as ‘torture’. There are plenty of gaps on the offensive side of the ball for the Chiefs, particularly at wide receiver and tight end, and they wouldn’t be able to do much about them as talented player after talented player went off the board and the Chiefs were helpless to respond. This is why their draft ended up getting around a B- grade from most media outlets. It was fine, but there is still weaknesses that need to be addressed.
Draft picks
- 1st – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- 1st – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
- 2nd – R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
- 4th – Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon
- 5th – Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
- 5th – Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati
- 7th – Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders, seemingly, now have their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, and they followed up that obvious draft pick with, unfortunately, two more good days of moves. Their second-round pick of Treydan Stukes will instantly bolster their defensive secondary and they picked up a big offensive lineman in Trey Zuhn III to help keep their new quarterback upright, which is something Geno Smith did not get a lot of help with.
Most of the media gave the Raiders a solid B grade.
Draft picks
- 1st – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- 2nd – Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
- 3rd – Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn
- 3rd – Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M
- 4th – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- 4th – Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
- 5th – Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona
- 5th – Hezekiah Masses, CB, California
- 6th – Malik Benson, WR, Oregon
- 7th – Brandon Cleveland, DT, NC State
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers scored mixed reviews across the national media, with a range of A-C, depending on who you asked.
One thing that most agreed on though was that their first-round selection of Edge rusher Akheem Mesidor was a much-needed move. He is an uber-athletic and versitile defensive lineman, being able to play on the outside as well as over the offensive guards, and he will fill a hole that Joey Bosa likely will be leaving. He managed 12.5 sacks in his 2025 campaign, and the Chargers will need him to recreate that same pressure, especially when going up against the Denver offensive line.
Their day two pick, however, was not received as highly. Offensive lineman Jake Slaughter was a necessary move as the Chargers have a need at the offensive guard spot (or just on that offensive line in general) and might even serve as a center in the coming years. He is good, but this move received grades as low as C+, but also as high as a B+, with most scoring it a B-.
Draft picks
- 1st – Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
- 2nd – Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
- 4th – Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
- 4th- Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
- 5th – Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina
- 6th – Logan Taylor, OG, Boston College
- 6th – Alex Harkey, OG, Oregon
