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AFC Notes: Jaylen Waddle, Jim Harbaugh, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Broncos

Broncos GM George Paton commented publicly on the trade with the Dolphins for WR Jaylen Waddle during an appearance at the league meetings this week.

“(Waddle) is one of the more explosive players in the league,’’ Paton said in an interview with Mike Klis. “We have a great (wide receiver) room and (Waddle) just upgrades — or he just helps the room. He opens up the run game, and he will open it up for the other receivers, so we think he will fit in well with the group.”

“We got through our offseason process with our roster and then free agent meetings,” Paton added. “At the combine, we hadn’t talked yet. Then, when we got back from the combine, we reached out to [Dolphins GM] Jon-Eric [Sullivan] and it kind of started from there. Obviously, we did a lot of work on him. All of the coaches did [and] the scouts. We had done a lot of work at the (2025) trade deadline, and we felt like we knew the player well and we knew the person even better. We feel really good about the trade.”

  • Wyoming TE Evan Svoboda took a local visit with the Broncos. (Mike Klis)

Chargers

  • Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh announced the expectation is that OL Cole Strange will start at RG, but they are open to adding another starting caliber guard through draft or free agency. (Kris Rhim)
  • Harbaugh also revealed LT Rashawn Slater is ahead of schedule and was seen running full speed recently. (Rhim)
  • Regarding new OC Mike McDaniel, Harbaugh said working with him is “awesome with a capital A,” and believes his scheme will reduce the hits QB Justin Herbert takes. (Rhim)

Chiefs

  • Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt doesn’t expect the team to open the season in Seattle: “I don’t think that’s on the table anymore. I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether [Patrick Mahomes] would be ready to go.” (Nate Taylor)
  • Kansas City HC Andy Reid was asked if new QB Justin Fields will have a package of plays or just be a backup: “We’ll see … He’s more than a gadget guy. He’s there to play quarterback if we need him to play quarterback.” (Grant Gordon)

This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.

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