Chargers: Power ranking the AFC West after the Tyreek Hill trade
By Jason Reed
1. LA Chargers
If all goes right in 2022 then the LA Chargers could be the best team in the AFC. Of course, the team still has to go out and prove it on the field but on paper, the Chargers have everything that a successful football team needs to win a lot of games.
They have the elite quarterback who put up MVP numbers in year two and should be a front-runner for the MVP in 2022. They have the weapons as he has a top-10 receiver in Keenan Allen, one of the best WR2s in Mike Williams, an elite RB1 in Austin Ekeler and an above-average passing target in Gerald Everett. If they draft a receiver at 17, they are even more dangerous.
The offensive line is in the process of being rebuilt and showed great improvements in 2021. While the right side is still up in the air, the absolute worst will be what happened last season, which was not hugely detrimental to the team.
Defensively, the Chargers have the stars to succeed and have added depth to boot. The foursome of Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, J.C. Jackson and Derwin James might be the best defensive line/secondary foursome in the entire league. With run defenders now anchoring the middle, the Chargers have the tools to efficiently run Brandon Staley's defense, which remember, was no. 1 on the Rams just two years ago.
There is absolutely a reality in which the Chargers are a top-3 offensive team in the league with an MVP quarterback while also having a top-10 defense in the league. If that happens then it is extremely hard to see how the Bolts don't win at least 12-13 games next season.
MUST-READ: Ranking Justin Herbert and all 16 AFC quarterbacks
As we said, the team still has to go out there and prove it and anything can happen on any given Sunday. But on paper, the Chargers are absolutely the best team in the AFC West.