6. AFC West
As great as Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City) is, he can’t carry the division by himself. He can lead his team to an NFL championship but the fourth-year QB won’t overcome his counterparts in the AFC West. Oakland has Derek Carr and he has become a walking speed bag. There’s nothing to suggest newly signed Marcus Mariota won’t find a way to play in 2020. The Philip Rivers era is over for the Chargers. Tyrod Taylor? A draft pick? What’s next? That doesn’t evoke confidence in the short run. Denver likes what it saw in Drew Luck, but that small a sample can’t push the grade.