| 13 April 2009
In the weeks leading up to the draft, LWN will take a look at team needs for each division prior to the draft. Then he will come out with the draft preview the week prior. We will look at each division in order of record from last season.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS- 2008 Record- 8-8
Key Losses: Igor Olshansky, Mike Goff
Key Additions: None
Needs: G, DE, LB, S
The Chargers will be holding their breathe to see if Shawne Merriman can come back from a terrible knee injury. If he can't, then great googly moogly, the defense will be in some trouble. Also, I'd be concerned that the offensive line is not as good as it has been in years past. I don't anticipate that there will be a running back controversy, but it could be possible. Also, San Diego needs a new strong safety.
DENVER BRONCOS- 2008 Record- 8-8
Key Losses: Jay Cutler, Dre Bly, Dewayne Robertson, Jamie Winborn
Key Additions: Kyle Orton, Lamont Jordan, Andra Davis, Andre Goodman
Needs: QB, S, RB, OL
The Broncos defense was quite poor last season, and they couldn't effectively run the ball. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels seems to be interested in churning through running backs again in 2009, since they have added a couple also-rans. They will need to run the ball because Kyle Orton is not Jay Cutler. The passing game will need to be toned down and simplified for Denver until Orton finds a groove.
OAKLAND RAIDERS- 2008 Record- 5-11
Key Losses: Gibril Wilson, Jake Grove, Ronald Curry
Key Additions: Samson Satele, Khalif Barnes, Jeff Garcia
Needs: OL, CB, S
The Raiders did little in the off season thus far to bolster their offense. And their offense looks like shit. They cut Ronald Curry, and Javon Walker is on the outs with the franchise, leaving them....you guessed it Johnny Lee Higgins as one of their top threats. Jamarcus Russell has begun to improve, but might find himself behind Jeff Garcia before the season begins. The Raiders have something like a billion dollars tied up in Tommy Kelly, Shane Lechler, Walker, Russell, Darren McFadden and Nnamdi Asomugha. I'd expect them to go after a WR and made a splash early in the draft.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- 2008 Record-2-14
Key Losses: Rocky Boiman?, Donnie Edwards?, Patrick Surtain?
Key Additions: Monty Beisel, Bobby Engram, Matt Cassel, Mike Vrabel, Mike Goff, Zach Thomas
Needs: RB, LB, WR, CB
On paper, the Chiefs got a lot older in the off season. They good news is it looks like they got their QB. The bad news is, they need to do something with Larry Johnson. Also, outside of Dwayne Bowe they have no depth at WR. On defense, they have picked up a few aging linebackers. The defensive is young with Tamba Hali and Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Flowers, but the Chiefs once again are lacking depth on that side of the ball. A good draft may put them in a position to make the playoffs again.
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