AFC West power rankings after the first week of training camp

LA Chargers training camp has officially been in session for over a week and while there is still a long way to go until meaningful games are played, this one-week benchmark allows us to take a look around the rest of the league.

Specifically, this first week of training camp has revealed a lot about the teams the Chargers are competing against in 2024. There have been a lot of takeaways from the AFC West thus far in camp, so much so that the pecking order of the division has shifted in many people's minds.

So how exactly does the AFC West shake out, and where do the Chargers find themselves after going 5-12 and finishing last in the division in 2023? Let's dive into it, shall we?

4. Las Vegas Raiders

Things do not seem to be going very well for the Las Vegas Raiders thus far. The quarterback situation has been extremely worrisome for Vegas as head coach Antonio Pierce is outwardly admitting that neither quarterback is playing well in camp.

That is not going to sit well with star receiver Davante Adams, who definitely does not shy away from letting his voice be heard. If the quarterback play is as bad as it seems then we could see Adams make a push to be traded before the deadline.

There are promising areas of the Raiders' roster, which is the case for every team in the league. But the Raiders are struggling where it matters most, which was absolutely predictable when they rollled out a QB room headlined by Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew.

3. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos may have more overall roster holes than the Raiders but they have a more proven head coach and a quarterback situation that looks more promising. And that is saying something considering the two quarterbacks in Denver are Bo Nix and Zach Wilson.

Nix seems to be leaving a positive impression on the right people in Denver but he will ultimately have to prove he has it once he is hit with true NFL game speed. But even with his retractors, Nix's stock is certainly higher than either Vegas QB.

The Broncos probably are not in a true position to contend for a playoff spot yet in 2024 but the organization is at least taking a long-term step forward without Russell Wilson under center. Now, the team has to hope Nix can do it on the real field, not just the practice field.

2. LA Chargers

Like every team on this list, there have been some good and some bad for the LA Chargers thus far in training camp. The good is that Justin Herbert looks like an absolute monster and rookie Ladd McConkey is really shining in camp.

The bad is Quentin Johnston's continued drops and the few injuries the Chargers have already sustained during camp. Thankfully, none of the injuries appear to be all that serious and should not impact the 2024 season.

The Chargers are firmly situated as the second-best team in the AFC West thanks in large part to Herbert and Harbaugh. It is going to take a glaring injury for the Bolts to move down, or a glaring injury to someone on the No. 1 team for the Bolts to move up.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Is there really much analysis needed here? The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl Champions, winning their second title in a row and their third in five seasons. The Chiefs are the standard that every other team in the league is striving towards.

Thankfully, the Chiefs did not end up with a Pro Bowl wideout who considered joining the team this offseason or else they would have been even scarier. With Harbaugh now in town, the Chargers have a better chance of knocking the Chiefs off in one of the two matchups.

But as far as the overall season goes, it is hard to imagine the Chargers giving the Chiefs a run for their money in barring any significant injuries to key players.

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