2014 NFL Draft Grades: AFC West

The Denver Broncos rolled through the AFC on their way to the conference championship before falling hard against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning put up record numbers and the Broncos wanted to make sure he still has the weapons on offense to continue at his incredible pace. But the AFC West placed two other teams in the playoffs, as the Kansas City Chiefs completed a remarkable turnaround from 2-14 to 11-5, and the San Diego Chargers won their final four games to make the playoffs as the 6th seed. The Oakland Raiders finished in the cellar again but are looking to improve with the draft and having the 5th Overall selection. Denver Broncos: B Best Pick: Cody Latimer Late Round Sleeper: Corey Nelson Denver lost Eric Decker to the Jets in the offseason, but were able to find his replacement in Round 2 with the selection of Cody Latimer, the big receiver from Indiana who catches everything thrown his way. I'm sure Peyton Manning will find Latimer early and often in the upcoming season. First round pick Bradley Roby will move into a starting cornerback position, but he needs to rediscover his 2012 form if he is going to stay there. A late round sleeper pick could be Corey Nelson, who could get time on the field depending on the rehab of Von Miller and his ACL injury. Kansas City Chiefs: C+ Best Pick: De'Anthony Thomas Late Round Sleeper: Aaron Murray The Chiefs are looking to build on their success going into the second season under Andy Reid, but a need to find another playmaking wide receiver to compliment Dwayne Bowe wasn't to be found. First round pick Dee Ford will add to a dangerous pass rush, and third rounder Phillip Gaines adds depth to the secondary. De'Anthony Thomas will pick up the slack left by the departure of Dexter McCluster, and Aaron Murray could be a late round sleeper as the eventual replacement for Alex Smith. Oakland Raiders: A- Best Pick: Derek Carr Late Round Sleeper: Keith McGill It's not often when one of the best picks in the draft going #5 Overall isn't even the best pick for the team, but that happened to the Raiders. Khalil Mack looks like a sure fire hit as an outside linebacker, and second rounder Derek Carr looks to be the face of the franchise for years to come as the quarterback the Raiders have sought for a long time. Gabe Jackson was a steal in Round 3, and might start from the get-go for Oakland at guard. Keith McGill looks to be a late round sleeper at cornerback for a team that needs lots of help in the secondary. San Diego Chargers: A- Best Pick: Jason Verrett Late Round Sleeper: Ryan Carrethers San Diego got a late first round steal with Verrett, who would have been the first corner off the board if he were a little taller. But his speed and coverage skills are excellent, and he should be able to adapt to the pro game. Second Rounder Jeremiah Attachou is a raw talent, but he can be an outstanding pass rusher for the Chargers. Chris Watt is a tough, hard worker in the trenches and could move into the lineup at guard. A late round sleeper looks to be Ryan Carrethers, who could make his mark in the middle of the defensive line as a run stopper.

Defense Wins Championships

The Seattle Seahawks proved the old adage true tonight in putting a WWE-style smackdown on the Denver Broncos 43-8 to capture the Super Bowl. My prediction of a 3 point Denver win was off just a little (to say the least!), but I'm not sure too many people saw this coming. But I think it is safe to say that the rout was spotted about 12 seconds into the game when a botched snap led to a safety, and it was all downhill from there for Denver. I can't help but think what this win for Seattle will do for the draft stock of defensive players going into the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. Yes, having a franchise quarterback is important, don't get me wrong, but if you have a defense that can go facemask to facemask with the best in the game and completely shut them down like the Seahawks did then there are going to be a lot of teams rethink their draft plan and who they might take in May. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It was pointed out during the broadcast that the Seahawks defense was built from the back forward, and that is very much against the norm. A front four can get pressure on the quarterback if he doesn't have any one to throw to, and with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and friends in the secondary, it was nearly impossible all season for opponents of Seattle. Looking at the top draft prospects, I can easily see Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, Justin Gilbert, Darqueze Dennard, Jason Varrett and all of the top secondary prospects moving up the draft boards for the next three months. And if I were scouting for an NFL team, I'd take a look at corners that can physically match up with receivers even though they may not have the speed one has usually coveted. If a corner can win the battle off the line of scrimmage, it is easier to keep coverage throughout the play. Who needs catch up speed if you are already blanketing the target. With the season over, I'll start gathering my DSA Player Ranking data and putting out my own mock drafts. This is a time that I always look forward to, the time when hope springs eternal. Until that first bad draft pick for your team makes you yell out 'WHAT THE BLEEP WERE THEY THINKING!!!'