Key Takeaways

• Sports Illustrated’s AFC West report card gives the Raiders an A, the highest grade in a division where the Broncos and Chargers are described as having made minimal moves.
• The Chiefs earned a B+ after a disappointing 6-11 2025 campaign, reloading on defense and adding Kenneth Walker III to fix their rushing attack.
• The Broncos and Chargers both landed a C+, reflecting a lack of aggressive roster improvement despite Denver’s 14-win season.
• SI’s Conor Orr highlighted the new pairing of Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza as the essential ticket for a strong move forward.

The News

The AFC West report cards arrived this week, and the Silver and Black did not just pass, they dominated.

Sports Illustrated’s breakdown of the division gave the Raiders a review that validates the vision of the current front office. After an offseason that secured Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, hired Klint Kubiak as head coach, and aggressively targeted young talent, SI says the Raiders aced it.

The analysis is clear about the trajectory of the franchise: “Then there’s the Raiders, who have a new coach-quarterback combination in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. While the climb from the basement to the penthouse is steep, that combo is the ticket to making a strong move.”

This isn’t just a positive spin; it is an acknowledgment that the foundation is finally being built correctly.

Across the rest of the division, the results are far more mixed.

The Broncos posted a C+.
Denver won 14 games and earned the AFC’s top seed last season, fueled by a defense that ranked third in points allowed. However, GM George Paton largely stood pat on that side of the ball, choosing instead to go all-in on the offense by trading for receiver Jaylen Waddle. While Waddle is a proven elite playmaker, Denver’s lack of draft capital and failure to add further offensive depth suggests a gamble that Bo Nix and RJ Harvey can carry the load to a Super Bowl.

The Chiefs landed a B+.
After nine consecutive division titles, Kansas City cratered to 6-11 last year. GM Brett Veach responded aggressively, signing Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, 3 million deal to address a glaring lack of a 1,000-yard rusher. They also overhauled a defense that struggled with third-down conversions and sacks, trading All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie for four picks to refresh their secondary and edge rush. With Patrick Mahomes recovering from a severe knee injury, the Chiefs are positioning themselves for a loud return.

The Chargers also got a C+.
Under Jim Harbaugh, the offseason has been remarkably quiet. With minimal movement and few key additions, the Chargers have effectively allowed the Raiders to leapfrog them in the offseason rankings.

WALK THE PLANK

John Spytek is delivering exactly what he promised. He said the board would be built objectively. He said he would not reach for need. He said he wanted players whose best football is ahead of them. This is the result: an offseason that earned the word “aced” from a national outlet while the competition stagnated.

The Kubiak-Mendoza pairing is now the identity of this franchise. Everything else, from the youth movement and defensive additions to the veteran mentorship of Kirk Cousins, is designed to give that duo the best possible environment to develop. The win-loss record in 2026 might not be pretty, but for the first time in years, the foundation is being built the right way.

The rest of the AFC West is built to win right now. The Raiders are built to find out who they can become. In a division this competitive, that is the smarter, more sustainable play.

Source: Sports Illustrated – AFC West Report Card: Chiefs Could Be Back in Business