AFC West under-the-radar rookies

With training camp and preseason underway, unheralded rookies will make strong impressions and climb depth charts. Here are four under-the-radar rookies to watch in the AFC West.

Denver Broncos

Marvin Mims Jr., wide receiver (second round): The Broncos need a WR3 after Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending Achilles tear and K.J. Hamler was waived due to mild heart irritation. Mims Jr., the 63rd overall pick out of Oklahoma, could offset the injuries at WR and flourish in the offense of head coach Sean Payton.

Fellow wideout Jerry Jeudy touted the rookie's elite speed (4.38 seconds 40-yard dash) and playmaking ability. "He's real smooth," Jeudy said in a Thursday news conference, adding, "He's been consistently making plays." 

Kansas City Chiefs

Deneric Prince, running back (undrafted): In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Chiefs landed a steal in the seventh round (251st overall) in RB Isiah Pacheco, who rushed for 830 yards in 11 starts. They possibly found another gem in Prince, who played at Tulsa. "I like him," head coach Andy Reid said of Prince during rookie minicamp. The coach said the RB's size — six feet and 216 pounds — "jumps out at you." 

Kansas City has a deep backfield with Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, making it more challenging for Prince to secure a roster spot. However, he has already received first-team reps during camp, per PJ Green of WDAF-TV in Kansas City. That signals the coaching staff likes him and wants to increase his workload.

Las Vegas Raiders

Tre Tucker, wide receiver (third round): It's unclear where Tucker, the 100th pick in the draft out of Cincinnati, fits in a loaded WR room that includes Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Jakobi Meyers. Nonetheless, the Raiders must involve him in the offense more since he's shined in training camp. "To my eyes, he's tremendously improved his route-running and catching since first arriving in rookie minicamp," wrote Raiders reporter Levi Edwards. 

Tucker is undersized (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), but his speed (4.4 seconds in 40-yard dash) makes up for it. Small wideouts such as Wes Welker (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) and Julian Edelman (5-foot-10, 198 pounds) excelled under Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels while he served as Patriots offensive coordinator for 13 seasons. He could develop Tucker into a similar player.

Los Angeles Chargers

Tuli Tuipulotu, outside linebacker (second round): The 54th overall pick is an intriguing prospect. During his final season at Southern Cal, he led the FBS in sacks with 13.5 in 14 games. Adding him bolsters the front seven, which needs improvement after the defense finished 22nd in points allowed last season.

Tuipulotu, who doesn't turn 21 until Sept. 3, is switching positions from DE to LB, so he'll need time to adjust. Regardless, four-time Pro Bowl LB Joey Bosa believes Los Angeles made the right choice. "He's everything you want in a rookie," Bosa recently said. "[He] probably knows the playbook better than me already. He's just on top of his stuff."