AFC West draft watch: Do Broncos have best rookie class?

Denver Broncos

In his annual projection guide, ESPN's Mike Clay predicted the Broncos would win five games

In an interview with NFL Media's Cynthia Frelund, Payton said he told owner Greg Penner the draft class could help them reach their goals over the next three to four years.

Most importantly, quarterback Bo Nix has flourished through his first two preseason games, completing 23-of-30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Unsurprisingly, Payton named him the starter on Wednesday.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, No. 12 overall pick Nix will become the first Broncos rookie QB to start Week 1 since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.

Edge-rusher Jonah Elliss — a third-round pick out of Utah — has also stood out. Pro Football Focus gave him an above-average 87.3 grade in his first two preseason games. | Complete class from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs

Following a 24-23 loss to the Lions on Saturday, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shared rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy wasn't the primary route runner on a 22-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter.

"[Worthy] was a clear-out route for the other guys, but if you get that type of coverage look, you have to trust that he's going to win," Mahomes said. "That's good for me to see. Then maybe as the game goes on, as the year goes on, [we] may get a similar situation and know he can win vs. that one-on-one man coverage."  

Worthy (pick No. 28) should continue to emerge as one of Mahomes' top targets. Against Detroit, he finished with three receptions for 62 yards and one TD catch.

Meanwhile, left tackle Kingsley Suamataia (pick No. 63) should win the starting job. PFF gave him a solid 82.8 pass-blocking grade through his first two preseason games, and he has only allowed one pressure on 22 pass-blocking snaps. | Complete class from ESPN

Las Vegas Raiders

Injuries have hampered the rookie class.

Against the Dallas Cowboys in Las Vegas' second preseason game, tight end Brock Bowers was sidelined with foot soreness. Per The Athletic's Vic Tafur, he also missed Tuesday's practice. In his first preseason game against the Vikings, Bowers (pick No. 13) only tallied two receptions for 25 yards.

The Athletic's Tashan Reed reported left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson missed most of OTAs with a shoulder issue. At the start of training camp, he was placed on the PUP list due to a concussion. Reed added Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce doesn't expect Powers-Johnson (pick No. 44) to be ready to start in Week 1.

Bowers and Powers-Johnson missing out on reps doesn't bode well for the offense. Last season, Vegas finished 23rd in the league in points (19.5 PPG), and it's still unclear if starting QB Gardner Minshew II is the answer. | Complete class from ESPN

Los Angeles Chargers 

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey — a second-round pick out of Georgia — made his preseason debut against the Rams on Saturday, logging one reception for five yards in a 13-9 loss. Despite the unimpressive stat line, the Chargers seem optimistic about his trajectory.

"Quite a few things [have stood out]," Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said of McConkey, via Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's been good. Super smart. He has elite route-running ability. We love him around here."

Right tackle Joe Alt continues to show why the Bolts took him with the fifth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Per PFF, he allowed zero pressures on 15 pass-blocking snaps against the Rams.

"Alt has made the switch [from left tackle to right tackle] seamlessly," NFL Media analyst and former O-lineman Brian Baldinger wrote on his X account. "[Chargers starting quarterback Justin Herbert] should be well protected on the edges." | Complete class from ESPN