The AFC West’s free agency/offseason started fast, with the Raiders and veteran quarterback Derek Carr deciding to part ways. The Super Bowl champions had a decision to make at tackle and they did, grabbing one of the AFC’s best. The Chargers brass has hired a new defensive coordinator and the Broncos traded for a new head coach. The dominoes are starting to fall in one of the league’s most competitive divisions.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive Free Agents
- OT Orlando Brown, Jr. (Agreed to terms with Bengals)
- OT Andrew Wylie (Agreed to terms with Commanders)
- OG Nick Allegretti (re-signed)
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Agreed to terms with Patriots)
- WR Mecole Hardman (Agreed to terms with Jets)
- WR Justin Watson
- RB Jerick McKinnon
- RB Ronald Jones II
- FB Michael Burton (Agreed to terms with Broncos)
- TE Blake Bell
Defensive Free Agents
- DE Carlos Dunlap
- DT Khalen Saunders (Agreed to terms with Saints)
- DT Derrick Nnadi
- S Deon Bush
- S Juan Thornhill (Agreed to terms with Browns)
2023 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- QB Chad Henne announced his retirement
- Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy left the team to take the same position with the Washington Commanders
- The team promoted former Chicago Bears head coach and current quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy to the offensive coordinator position vacated by Bieniemy
- Placed a RFA tender on P Tommy Townsend, re-signed DT Tershawn Wharton
- QB Patrick Mahomes restructured his contract
- Reportedly agreed to terms with OT Jawaan Taylor (Jaguars) on a four-year deal, DE Charles Omenihu (49ers) on a two-year deal, LB Drue Tranquill (Chargers) on a one-year deal, S Mike Edwards (Buccaneers) on a one-year deal
- Re-signed OG Nick Allegretti
- Lost OT Andrew Wylie (Commanders), OT Orlando Brown (Bengals), DT Khalen Saunders (Saints), FB Michael Burton (Broncos), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots), WR Mecole Hardman (Jets), S Juan Thornhill (Browns)
Los Angeles Chargers
Offensive free agents
- OC Will Clapp
- OT Trey Pipkins (re-signed)
- OT Storm Norton (Agreed to terms with Saints)
- TE Richard Rodgers
- TE Donald Parham (re-signed)
- QB Easton Stick (re-signed)
- QB Chase Daniel
- WR Deandre Carter
Defensive Free Agents
- LB Kyle Van Noy
- CB-nickel Bryce Callahan
- DT Christian Covington
- DT Tyeler Davison
- DE Morgan Fox (re-signed)
- LB Drue Tranquill
- LB Troy Reeder (Agreed to terms with Vikings)
- S Nasir Adderley (retired)
- P JK Scott (re-signed)
2023 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Promoted secondary coach Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator to replace Renaldo Hill, who left to join the Miami Dolphins as their defensive pass game coordinator
- Hired former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to the same position
- DE Khalil Mack and DE Joey Bosa restructured their contracts
- S Nasir Adderley announced his retirement
- Re-signed QB Easton Stick to a one-year deal, OT Trey Pipkins on a three-year deal, DE Morgan Fox, TE Donald Parham on a two-year deal, P JK Scott
- Lost OT Storm Norton (Saints), S Nasir Adderley (retired), LB Troy Reeder (Vikings)
Denver Broncos
Offensive free agents
- RB Mike Boone
- RB Latavius Murray
- RB Marlon Mack
- RB Chase Edmonds (released and agreed to terms with Buccaneers)
- FB Andrew Beck (Agreed to terms with Texans)
- TE Eric Saubert (Agreed to terms with Dolphins)
- TE Eric Tomlinson
- OG Tom Compton
- OG Dalton Risner
- OG Graham Glasgow (released)
- OT Billy Turner
- OT Calvin Anderson (Agreed to terms with Patriots)
- OT Cameron Fleming
Defensive free agents
- DE DeShawn Williams (Agreed to terms with Panthers)
- DE Dre’Mont Jones (Agreed to terms with the Seahawks)
- CB Darius Phillips
- S Kareem Jackson
- LB Alex Singleton (re-signed)
- LB Dakota Allen
2023 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Fired former head coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games remaining in the 2022 campaign
- In late January 2023, the team traded a 2024 second-round pick and 2023 first-round pick (30th overall) to the New Orleans to receive Saints former head coach Sean Payton and a 2024 third-round pick
- Hired Payton to a five-year contact to be its next head coach
- Released OG Graham Glasgow, RB Chase Edmonds (signed with Buccaneers)
- Reportedly agreed to terms with OT Mike McGlinchey (49ers) on a five-year deal, OG Ben Powers on a four-year deal, QB Jarrett Stidham (Raiders) on a two-year deal, DE Zach Allen (Cardinals) on a three-year deal, TE Chris Manhertz (Jaguars) on a two-year deal, RB Samaje Perine (Bengals) on a two-year deal, FB Michael Burton (Chiefs) on a one-year deal, CB Tremon Smith (Texans) on a two-year deal
- Re-signed LB Alex Singleton to a three-year deal
- Lost DT Dre’Mont Jones (Seahawks), DT Dashawn Williams (Panthers), TE Andrew Beck (Texans), OT Calvin Anderson (Patriots), TE Eric Saubert (Dolphins)
Las Vegas Raiders
Offensive free agents
- QB Derek Carr (released and signed with Saints)
- QB Jarrett Stidham (agreed to terms with Broncos)
- RB Josh Jacobs
- RB Ameer Abdullah
- FB Jakob Johnson
- WR Mack Hollins
- WR Keelan Cole
- RT Jermaine Eluemunor (re-signed)
- OT Brandon Parker (re-signed)
- TE Foster Moreau
Defensive free agents
- DE Clelin Ferrell (Agreed to terms with 49ers)
- DE Isaac Rochell
- DE Tashawn Bower
- DT Jerry Tillery (re-signed)
- DT Andrew Billings (Agreed to terms with Bears)
- OLB Jordan Jenkins
- LB Micah Kiser
- LB Denzel Perryman (Agreed to terms with Texans)
- LB Jayon Brown
- CB Anthony Averett
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
- CB Sidney Jones
- SS Matthias Farley
- SS Duron Harmon
2023 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Released QB Derek Carr in mid-February of 2023 and he signed with the New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed OT Brandon Parker, TE Jesper Horstad, DE Jerry Tillery, RT Jermaine Eluemunor
- DE Maxx Crosby restructured his contract
- Reportedly agreed to terms with QB Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers) on a three-year deal, S Marcus Epps (Eagles) on a two-year deal, CB Brandon Facyson (Colts), WR Jakobi Myers (Patriots) on a three-year deal, LB Robert Spillane (Steelers), CB David Long (Rams) on a one-year deal, TE Austin Hooper (Browns) on a one-year deal
- Traded TE Darren Waller to the New York Giants for a 2023 third-round pick (103rd overall)
- Lost QB Jarrett Stidham (Broncos), DE Clelin Ferrell (49ers), DT Andrew Billings (Bears), LB Denzel Perryman (Texans)
Photography: ©DraftNasty
Cohen can make plays in the passing game, the running game and through his return ability. Cohen (5’6 179) is one of the smaller players in the league but he is built well and has very strong legs. The back isn’t afraid to lower his shoulders and run behind his pads and between tackles. Coupled with his acceleration, Cohen is a hard cover. His running back mate, Jordan Howard, runs most of the power running plays between the tackles but Cohen can run the same concepts but at a lower rate. The former North Carolina A&T running back makes his money on the outside and in space. The Bears running back finished with 111 all-purpose yards, and the team as a whole put up 336.
The Rams best player offensively, Todd Gurley, carried the ball just 11 times and he finished with just three receptions despite being targeted seven times in the passing game. The passing numbers aside, Gurley should’ve seen more touches in the running game. On 2nd and 15 to start the third quarter, McVay opted for a shotgun set when his team was on its own five-yard line. Bears defensive lineman Eddie Goldman capitalized and sacked Goff for a safety.