Brett Veach Draws B as Raiders, Chargers Win Afc West Race
The afc west opened with Kansas City already behind. Brett Veach received a B grade for the work he has done over the past couple of months, while the Raiders and Chargers both drew A grades and the Broncos were also viewed more favorably.
The Chiefs are no longer the team to beat in the division. That shift comes after the first playoff miss since Patrick Mahomes took over the offense, a break from the run that had defined Kansas City for years.
Veach, Walker and the roster gap
Cody Williams gave Veach a B for his offseason work and praised the addition of Kenneth Walker III. The grade reflects a roster that still drew praise in one spot and concern in others, especially because the Chiefs did not replace Jawaan Taylor.
The running back depth behind Walker is described as rather suspect, and the deeper problem is at pass catcher. Kansas City did not pursue a big-name pass catcher last season, and the lack of insurance behind Rashee Rice remains a major concern.
Rice and the offense
Rice is carrying more uncertainty than the rest of the offense. There are no guarantees he will make a full recovery from his knee injury now that he will be in jail for a month, and he might still be suspended even if he does recover fully.
That leaves Andy Reid and Mahomes with fewer safe answers than the teams ahead of them in the division. The Chiefs can still lean on the quarterback who changed the franchise’s baseline, but the roster around him looks thinner than it did when Kansas City controlled the AFC West.
Raiders Chargers Broncos
The Raiders and Chargers both earned A grades, and the Broncos were also mentioned as having done better moves than the Chiefs. That is the clearest sign that Kansas City did not simply slip a little; the rest of the division moved forward faster.
For Chiefs fans, the practical takeaway is blunt. Kansas City starts the season with a B grade while three AFC West rivals were graded above it, and the path back to control of the division now runs through a roster that has clear questions at receiver, running back, and along the line.
