Biggest remaining needs for each AFC West team

Los Angeles Chargers – Tight-end

To be honest, I originally put kicker next to the Chargers’ name and I was ready to say that when the kicker position is your highest priority at this point, you have done something right with your roster. The Chargers are easily one of the most loaded teams in the NFL and while they had serious concerns with their kicking game, in terms of losing several games recently due to last-second misses on field goals as well as being put in unfavorable situations by not being able to convert on easy attempts throughout games, I can’t ignore the devastating injury to their young tight-end Hunter Henry.

To me, there was no doubt that the Bolts were the favorites to win the division and I looked at them as a potential Super Bowl darkhorse, but once there is something that keeps me from crowning them. I love the collection of wide receivers to go with a slashing Melvin Gordon and a premier veteran QB in Philip Rivers. I even like the offensive line with Mike Pouncey now in the middle and guard Forrest Lamp coming back from injury, after I had him as a top-15 draft prospect a year ago.

Defensively, they have a very good argument for having the top duos at edge rusher and cornerback, plus they stole Florida State’s Derwin James to their Kam Chancellor-esque enforcer in Gus Bradley’s one-high safety scheme. They were ready to go and now they are left with Virgil Green and some unknown dudes at tight-ends. Don’t get me wrong – I think Green can stretch the seems and give them some production, but Henry was on his way to becoming one of the bright young stars at the position. There is some chatter going on about the Chargers bringing back Antonio Gates out of retirement and that is obviously a perfect match with Rivers, but the 37-year old does the majority of his work from the 20-yard line in at this point of his career.