2025 NFL Draft Wish List: AFC West

The AFC West feels absolutely loaded. You will not find a better group of four head coaches in the same division than Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll. Each team has an answer at quarterback, as well, with Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, Justin Herbert and Geno Smith. In arguably the most competitive division, all four teams need a little bit of everything to come out on top. Most of the needs on their 2025 NFL Draft wish lists will significantly impact fantasy football.

(Stay tuned for the full NFL Draft Wish List series: AFC East | NFC East | AFC North | NFC North | AFC South | NFC South | NFC West)

2025 NFL Draft Wish List: AFC West

Las Vegas Raiders

• First pick: 1st round, 6^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 9

The 2025 season feels like a major turning point for the Raiders. Tom Brady is a minority owner of the team. Jason Spytek, who spent the previous nine seasons in ascending roles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the new general manager. Pete Carroll is the new head coach. These three football figures have a combined history of playoff success and direct involvement in winning Super Bowls.

Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders have needs just about everywhere. Rebuilding the trenches should be a top priority. Investing in an offensive or defensive lineman with the sixth overall pick would be the most logical decision Thursday night. It’s fun to imagine the consensus top running back, Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), heading to Vegas with their top pick. However, it’s a deep running back class and the Raiders have more pressing needs to address.

Instead, the Raiders should be all over TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins at 37^th overall in the second round. Either of the Ohio State running backs would be a major upgrade to the current roster. It also makes sense to target one of these guys after hiring former Ohio State offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, for the same role with the Raiders this season.

Geno Smith is the starting quarterback in Vegas, but perhaps for only two seasons. The Raiders traded a 2025 third-round pick to the Seahawks for Smith. Then they signed him to a two-year extension through 2027. Smith, who turns 35 in October, has $66.5 million in total guarantees with the Raiders.

If Smith is released after the 2026 season, Las Vegas saves $39.5 million with no dead cap penalty heading into the 2027 offseason. A quarterback may not be at the top of their 2025 NFL Draft wish list, but they should draft a player at the position this weekend. Who and when will be very significant.

Jalen Milroe (Alabama) should be a top target. He is the best dual threat quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Milroe has room to improve in the pocket, though. Spending time behind a veteran like Smith would be beneficial to Milroe’s development. He is a dynamic playmaker so he could find ways on the field in 2025 even if it isn’t under center, too.

Denver Broncos

• First pick: 1st round, 20^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 7

Denver is one of the most surprising stories of last season. Despite a $53 million dead cap hit from releasing quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos persevered and made the playoffs. Denver ranked 10^th in points per game (25.0) last season, as well. Wilson’s release still carries a $32 million dead cap hit this season, but the Broncos at least have their guy in Bo Nix at quarterback.

Denver’s 2025 NFL Draft wish list should primarily consist of playmakers to surround Nix with. That starts in the backfield. The Broncos had four players top 300 rushing yards in 2024, including Nix, but none over 600 yards. Their leading rusher, Javonte Williams, signed with the Cowboys in free agency.

The Broncos will likely add a rookie running back from this deep 2025 class with either of pick 20, 51 or 85 across the first three rounds. Which player and when will be one of the bigger stories for fantasy football.

Denver hosted DJ Giddens (Kansas State), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) and Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) for top 30 pre-draft visits. All these players, except maybe Blue, profile as workhorse backs that would be busy if they land in Denver.

The Broncos signed tight end Evan Engram in free agency. He boasts three separate seasons of over 100 targets with three different quarterbacks throughout his career. Engram will be an upgrade to Nix’s arsenal. According to the FTN StatsHub, only one wide receiver, Courtland Sutton (135), drew more than 55 targets from Nix in 2024. Sutton turns 30 in October and, as of now, is set to hit free agency next offseason.

Behind Sutton on the depth chart are Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin. The latter two are Day 3 picks from the 2024 NFL Draft. Luther Burden is a rookie wide receiver that could thrive in this offense. He shows off impressive speed for his size, tracks the ball well, and can make players after the catch in short yardage situations. Burden would be a weapon all over the field in Sean Payton’s offense.

Los Angeles Chargers

• First pick: 1st round, 22^nd overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 10

Jim Harbaugh got the Chargers back on track in 2024. Los Angeles finished second in a tough AFC West with 11 wins including a 4-2 record against divisional opponents. Justin Herbert then flopped on the road in Houston against the Texans in the Wild Card Round, tossing four interceptions in a 32-12 loss.

Herbert needs to show up in big moments and should have a better chance of doing so based on the players that should be on the Chargers’ 2025 NFL Draft wish list. For starters, the Chargers’ 27.2 rush attempts per game in 2024 ranked 11^th in the league despite just over four attempts per game from Herbert. Los Angeles is revamping their backfield in 2025 but should have the same run-heavy approach.

Najee Harris is the notable name from free agency, set to inherit 79.3% of a vacated running back rush share left behind by J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards alone in Los Angeles. Harris’ deal has just $5.25 million in guaranteed money for one year, though. There are plenty of rookie running backs that could easily steal the starting job as soon as 2025 from him.

The Chargers have 10 picks, including 22^nd, 55^th and 86^th overall. They could invest in a player like Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) as early as the first round or try and snag Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) with their second pick.

Selecting a potential bell cow player with either of their first three picks would be big news regardless of the Najee Harris signing. Don’t overlook a day three running back selection from LA, however, considering this is a deep class and they need players at the position for 2025 and beyond.

As far as pass catchers go, Ladd McConkey’s 2025 value has survived free agency as far as added target competition is concerned. The Chargers missed out on tight end Evan Engram and should add a tight end this weekend. They could draft solid pass catcher like Mason Taylor (LSU) or trade for either Mark Andrews or Dallas Goedert, whose names continue to circulate in the rumor mill.

Kansas City Chiefs

• First pick: 1st round, 31st overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 8

In case you forgot, the Chiefs’ hopes for a three-peat were shattered by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. The final score was 40-22, but the Chiefs were down 40-6 with 2:54 to play in the fourth quarter. There are still obvious, top-tier core players in place, but more question marks than maybe once thought across the entire roster.

For the Chiefs and fantasy football, the backfield must improve. Kansas City ranked 22^nd in rushing yards per game during the 2024-25 regular season. Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine combined for just 44 total rush attempts, 178 yards and two rushing touchdowns in three playoff games. Neither of these three backs reached 10 rushing yards in Super Bowl LIX, either.

Hunt (30) is returning in 2025 on a one-year, $1.5 million deal while Pacheco is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Chiefs signed Elijah Mitchell for one year and $1.4 million during free agency, as well. He is 27 years old and missed the entire 2024 season with a hamstring injury.

Running back should be the most fantasy-relevant position on the Chiefs 2025 NFL Draft wish list. It’s worth noting Kansas City tried to sign Josh Jacobs during 2024 free agency. They have four picks in the top-100, and one should be invested into the backfield. That includes the Nos. 63 and 66. They hosted Damien Martinez (Miami) for a top 30 pre-draft visit. He is a big back (6-foot-0, 217 pounds) with plenty of starter experience that can handle a heavy workload.

Rashee Rice is returning from a season-ending knee injury. It’s yet to be seen if he will face a suspension for an April 2024 arrest and, if so, how long the suspension will be. Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce should remain the top three targets for Patrick Mahomes. This is probably Kelce’s final season. Drafting a rookie tight end would be a highly discussed decision by the Chiefs.