KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 28
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LAST YEAR: Chiefs rolled to 5-0 start, went through midseason swoon, then won final four games of regular season to defend AFC West title for first time in
franchise history. QB Alex Smith had career season, RB Kareem Hunt led NFL in
rushing, and WR Tyreek Hill evolved from speedy gadget star to playmaking pass
catcher. Defense struggled to absorb season-ending injury to SS Eric Berry,
resulting in unit that routinely allowed big plays. Season ended when Kansas
City blew 21-3 halftime lead in 22-21 loss to Tennessee in wild-card round of
playoffs.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: WR Sammy Watkins, LB Anthony Hitchens, CB Kendall Fuller, QB Chad Henne, DT Xavier Williams, QB Matt McGloin, TE Tim Wright, CB
David Amerson, LB Breeland Speaks, DT Derrick Nnadi, LB Dorian O’Daniel, SS
Armani Watts.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: QB Alex Smith, CB Marcus Peters, LB Derrick Johnson, FS Ron Parker, LB Tamba Hali, CB Phillip
Gaines
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LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB Ramik Wilson, DL Bennie Logan, CB Kenneth Acker.
CAMP NEEDS: Must determine starting CBs after trading Peters and releasing Mitchell, with Fuller and Amerson front-runners. Berry must prove his health
after tearing Achilles tendon last September. Pass rush must show improvement
with rookies Speaks and O’Daniel complementing OLBs Justin Houston and Dee
Ford.
EXPECTATIONS: Chiefs’ have overhauled roster under second-year GM Brett Veach, particularly on defense. Longtime stalwarts Johnson and Hali are gone and
rookies will be expected to contribute from first snap. But if Chiefs are to win
third straight AFC West title, they need second-year QB Patrick Mahomes II to
live up to expectations. Kansas City traded up to select him 10th overall in
2017, and was so confident in his abilities it traded Smith to Redskins after
best season of career.
—
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 28, Jack Hammett Sports Complex, Costa Mesa, California
LAST YEAR: Bolts’ relocation season ended just short of playoff berth with impressive 9-3 finish under new coach Anthony Lynn following 0-4 start. LA’s new
team had one of NFL’s most impressive offenses, with Philip Rivers and receiver
Keenan Allen headlining gifted group of playmakers. Chargers finished fourth
with 376.6 yards per game, and plus-12 turnover margin was third. Offensive line
also allowed NFL-low 18 sacks. Defense rounded into form along with offense,
with shutdown cornerback Casey Hayward and pass-rushing stars Joey Bosa and
Melvin Ingram leading group that finished third by allowing 197.2 yards per game
against pass. Chargers won final five games at tiny StubHub Center, even
establishing something close to home-field advantage. They barely missed first
playoff berth since 2013.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: C Mike Pouncey, TE Virgil Green, S Derwin James, LB Uchenna Nwosu, QB Geno Smith, K Caleb Sturgis.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: S Tre Boston, TE Antonio Gates
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CAMP NEEDS: Staying healthy has been almost impossible for Chargers in recent years, and they’ve already lost budding star TE Hunter Henry to season-ending
knee injury from non-contact drill in May. They’ll look for new starting tight
end in camp, and it’s imperative to get to regular season with no additional
serious injuries – and enough momentum to improve on last year’s 0-4 start.
Defense that frequently struggled against run must sharpen approach, and tackle
Brandon Mebane could help immensely with bounce-back season. Bolts must figure
out whether No. 7 overall pick Mike Williams is ready to be regular receiver
after injury-shortened rookie year. They must find solid kicker after failing to
do so last year, with Caleb Sturgis and Roberto Aguayo headlining
competition.
EXPECTATIONS: If Chargers pick up where they left off, they have components of Super Bowl contender. They return with above-average franchise quarterback,
Pro Bowl receiver and elite talent at nearly every important position, including
two of NFL’s best pass rushers and two of its top cornerbacks if Jason Verrett
returns from injury at full strength. Another major injury could scramble
forecast, but franchise that has won one playoff game and one AFC West title in
past decade seems capable of much more this fall.
—
OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Napa, California
LAST YEAR: Raiders plummeted from 12 wins in 2016 to six last year as QB Derek Carr and offense regressed, defense struggled, and coach Jack Del Rio was
fired. Oakland’s offensive output dropped by more than seven points per game,
takeaways fell from 30 to 14, and Raiders got almost no production from past
three draft classes in becoming one of league’s biggest disappointments. That
led to move to bring coach Jon Gruden back for second stint with Raiders after
spending past nine seasons in broadcast booth.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Gruden, WR Jordy Nelson, WR Martavis Bryant, RB Doug Martin, LB Derrick Johnson, CB Rashaan Melvin, S Marcus Gilchrist, LB Emmanuel
Lamur, LB Tahir Whitehead, WR Ryan
Switzer
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IMPORTANT LOSSES: Del Rio, WR Michael Crabtree, RT Marshall Newhouse, LB NaVorro Bowman, CB TJ Carrie, CB Sean Smith, CB David Amerson, P Marquette
King.
CAMP NEEDS: Biggest priority is getting 2016 Defensive Player of Year Khalil Mack into camp after he held out entire offseason while seeking long-term
contract. Mack is entering final year of rookie deal and Gruden and new DC Paul
Guenther are eager to get most important defensive piece on practice field.
Other main issues are learning Gruden’s Case Keenum couldn't wait to get out of
Minnesota.
No, he's not bitter over the Vikings' decision to move on to Kirk Cousins.
And he isn't gloating over being "the man " for the first time in his NFL career after signing a two-year, $36 million deal last month in Denver.
He's just glad to see some sunshine, that's all.
Before coming to Colorado for the Broncos' offseason program, Keenum made a stop in Minneapolis to accept the "Uncommon Award" from Tony Dungy at Hazeltine
National Golf Club in Chaska on Friday.
The only downer was the blizzard that struck the nation's midsection.
"It dumped like 25 inches on us," Keenum said. "So, I was ready to get out of there and get to Denver and the sunshine."
Keenum is entering the season as the starter for the first time in his six-year career after coach Vance Joseph declared him the Broncos' No. 1 QB at
the free agent's introductory news conference a month ago.
Yet, Keenum's role beyond 2018 remains up in the mile-high air because general manager John Elway could still use the fifth overall pick in next week's
NFL draft to select a quarterback.
Elway and his lieutenants have taken long, hard looks at this year's college crop of QBs, including the "Big Four " prospects. They hosted Baker Mayfield on
Monday but Keenum said he hadn't run into him.
Keenum also insists he isn't concerned that he'll soon be tutoring his successor should Elway choose a quarterback.
"I'm excited for whoever's going to come in and make us better," Keenum said. "That's what competition breeds within your own team. I think it makes you
better. So, whoever comes in I'll be looking for them to help us be a better
football team. No matter what position it is. I know they're going to draft a
lot of positions. It doesn't change my mindset at all."
Yet, non-QB blue chippers such as Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb or Notre Dame guard Quenton
Nelson would provide immediate help for Keenum this season and maybe even
stability for his future.
Von Miller has said he'd love to have Chubb lining up next to him.
"He's Khalil Mack and Von Miller put together," Miller said with a laugh. "He is a great player and I would love to have him on my team. You don't come across
guys like that often. We don't (normally) have the No. 5 pick in the draft. I
hope we don't have a high pick like that for a while. So if we can steal a
player like
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When Keenum reported to work Monday, it marked the first time he'd been the unquestioned starting quarterback since his final days at the University of
Houston, where he set NCAA passing records but still went undrafted before
compiling a 20-18 record with the Vikings, Rams and Texans.
"It feels good, it does," Keenum said. "It's not something where I feel like I've made it. That's not ever my mentality. I'm going to stay hungry.
"Nothing's ever been handed to me. I've earned that right, and I'm going to continue to earn that right being in this building, in the weight room, meeting
room, practice field and then on game day."
The Broncos' anemic offense was a big reason for their slide to 5-11 last season, just two years after they won the Super Bowl, and Elway's makeover
includes the arrival of right tackle Jared Veldheer and the departure of running
back C.J. Anderson on Monday.
Anderson could have provided a valuable sounding board to Keenum much like he did with Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian.
"It doesn't change me and my mindset and what I'm prepared to do here and what I want to do here, what I feel like I need to do," Keenum said. "I know
that NFL teams change constantly. So, I'm here right now, just trying to get
into the building and just become familiar with everything."
For now, the Broncos' quarterback room also includes holdovers Paxton Lynch, a first-rounder in 2016 who so far has flopped, and Chad Kelly, last year's Mr.
Irrelevant who spent his rookie season on IR.
Keenum said his interactions with Lynch and Kelly have been good so far.
"We've got a great quarterback room, and I appreciate that because I've been in some other quarterback rooms that haven't been," Keenum
said.
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