LA Chargers: Ranking the defenses in the AFC West by position
Cornerback
- Chargers: Casey Hayward, Michael Davis, Chris Harris
- Chiefs: Bashaud Breeland, Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton
- Broncos: Isaac Yiadom, A.J. Bouye, Michael Ojemudia
- Raiders: Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette, Lamarcus Joyner
LA Chargers fans complain about Davis, and he could certainly be better as a tackler. Other than that though, the Chargers have the best cornerback group in the AFC West by far. Poaching Harris from the Broncos to play the slot was an excellent move. The Chargers struggled in the slot last year due to the regression of Desmond King.
Hayward is still an elite defender. It’s getting to the point where quarterbacks don’t even throw to his side of the field anymore with how dangerous he is. Other than Stephon Gilmore, there’s not a more complete cornerback in the league.
After the Chargers, its slim pickings in terms of finding other quality cornerback groups in the AFC West. Breeland and Ward might be my second favorite duo in the AFC West? It feels weird to say that because they aren’t that great, but they might be the best in coverage among what’s left.
The Broncos are in a pretty obvious period of transition. After the departures of Bradley Roby and Harris in consecutive years, they’re scrambling to put a secondary together. Trading for Bouye was decent, but they may have overpaid with a fourth-round pick.
Asking him to be the number one cornerback on a team might be too much. How third-round pick Ojemudia ends up fitting into Vic Fangio’s scheme will determine a lot in terms of the quality of Denver’s secondary this year.
The Raiders had better hope that they didn’t reach for Arnette in the first round. They desperately need a jolt in the secondary, as Joyner has been a complete liability and Mullen is still developing.