NFL 2022 free agency, trade grades for AFC West: Blockbuster moves bring Russell Wilson and more major stars

If you had to pick a winner in NFL free agency, it’s not a player or a team, it’s a division. The AFC West has dominated free agency with big signings and massive trades, even though a few stars left the division. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West six straight seasons, but is that about to change?

The Denver Broncos have a new star quarterback, the Los Angeles Chargers made several big additions on defense and then the Las Vegas Raiders hit the jackpot in reuniting Derek Carr with his No. 1 wide receiver from Fresno State. In doing so, they also broke up Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs! 

With most of the big moves in free agency now behind us, let’s grade how each of the four teams in the AFC West have fared up to this point.

Denver Broncos: A

Key additions: QB Russell Wilson (trade, Seahawks), DT D.J. Jones (49ers), EDGE Randy Gregory (Cowboys), CB K’Waun Williams (49ers), LB Alex Singleton (Eagles)
Re-signings: OT Calvin Anderson, DL DeShawn Williams, LB Josey Jewell
Departures: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Dolphins), OL Austin Schlottmann (Vikings), QB Drew Lock (trade, Seahawks), TE Noah Fant (trade, Seahawks), DL Shelby Harris (trade, Seahawks)

The big addition for the Broncos this offseason was clearly Wilson. They now have their first legitimate starting quarterback since the Peyton Manning days, and it automatically makes them a contender. When you examine this roster from the weapons on offense to the offensive line to the defense as a whole, Denver is poised to take a major step forward. It is worth mentioning that Wilson is now 33 and coming off of a season in which he did not look his best. His hand injury was surely a reason for this, but the change of scenery could also rejuvenate him.

In the trade with Seattle, Denver lost Lock, Fant and Harris. While Fant is a young talent, the Broncos are high on Albert Okwuegbunam’s future. Harris was a defensive leader, but Denver…