AFC West is loaded with talent and surprises in our midseason mock draft

The NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape, but we are still looking at the most exciting day in the NFL... a day when the lives of 224 men change forever, I'm talking about draft day. 

Today, we are looking at the AFC West in our NFL Mocks Midseason mock draft. The AFC West is an interesting division loaded with talent and confounding disappointment dominated by the Chiefs for the past decade. 

The Raiders are dwelling at the bottom of the division with a 5-7 record. They currently hold the 11th pick in the draft, and amongst rumors, they are looking to bring back John Gruden as HC; they should look at LSU strong arm 6'5 QB Jayden Daniels and bring back the old-school Raiders. But then, Jamarcus Russell? Instead, the Raiders decided to address more needs and trade out of the 11th pick twice to end up with the 31st pick from the Dolphins and add two additional second-round picks. 

We previously discussed the Chargers' options with the No. 12 pick; it's time to see which way they go in our mock draft. 

When the Broncos traded two first-round picks to the Seahawks for Russell Wilson, then signed away all their money in an obnoxious contract to keep him in Denver till his mid-40s, eyes rolled. Now, they have new owners with unlimited Walmart money, Sean Payton at HC and in the hunt for a possible long-shot wild card birth; most importantly, they have a first-round pick in 2024 for the first time since Pat Surtain Jr. The Broncos will pick at No. 14. 

Lastly, the Chiefs at 8-4 will pick at No. 25. They have many options, but WR is the only way they can go there, and there are many of them to choose from. All three of their targets, 

So here we go. On the clock now in our midseason mock draft for the AFC West is the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 12.

With the 12th selection in the NFL Mocks Midseason mock draft for the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers select Brock Bowers, tight end Georgia Bulldogs. All three of their targets, Kinchens, Newton and Brock Bowers were available at No. 12. The Chargers go TE with a lot of draft depth at S and DT. 

In 2021 and 2022, the Georgia Bulldogs took home consecutive national championships. Their star tight end, Brock Bowers, led the charge in both campaigns and has remained one of the top players in the country. 

Standing at 6'4" and weighing 240 pounds, the Bulldogs tight end has hauled in 56 catches for 714 yards, six receiving and one rushing touchdown in an injury-shortened season. He won the John Mackey Award in 2022 and is a favorite to be the first repeat winner in the award's history. 

Bowers would have been the first TE taken in the 2023 class with Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid, Michael Mayer and Terry McBride. It's a no-brainer for the Chargers: Bowers will be Herbert's best friend and the new Travis Kelce. 

The Denver Bronco will use the 14th pick in the 2024 NFL Mocks Midseason mock draft to select Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton. The Chargers passed, and the Broncos will make them regret it. 

Last season, Jer'Zhan Newton put up some of the best numbers of his career, totaling 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries. At 6'2″, 295 pounds, he is a versatile player who can use his burst, ankle flexion, and hands to find his way to the ball carrier. 

In 2023, he has 7.5 sacks and an FF for the Fighting Illini while being a consistent run stuffer. He is also strong and stout enough to stop the run. 

Newton is at his best when he has a nose tackle who can occupy blockers, but he is also very talented at getting through jams and making stops. His agility and dexterity make him an unorthodox opponent for even the strongest offensive linemen. 

Newton's unique flexibility makes him an extremely challenging opponent for offensive linemen to handle. We called him the Patrick Mahomes hunter, but now he will haunt Justin Herbert, too. 

The Chiefs are on the clock at No. 25 in our mock draft and take Texas WR Adoni Mitchell. We all knew they were going wide receiver. With Harrison, Nabers, Keon Colman and Odunze off the big board, it came down to Troy Franklin, Mitchell, Brian Thomas, and Emeka Egbuka. 

Adonai "AD" Mitchell, a 6'4", 190-pound wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns, is making an impact after a successful freshman season with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021. He's not fast or explosive but does have a knack for contested catches and double moves. His performance against Alabama in 2023 was awe-inspiring, as he demonstrated his dynamism in the open field. 

Mitchell also puts effort into the position's other aspects, such as blocking and running screens. He is a formidable match-up against defensive backs and linebackers. His physicality and catch radius make him a good candidate for back-shoulder throws on the perimeter.

Giving Mahomes a peak Davante Parker-esk receiver will make a world of difference in KC. If you are wondering how Mitchell could get drafted ahead of Xavier Worthy, just look at their TD totals at Texas. Mitchell (10) doubled Worthy's (5) TDs with 28 fewer catches, and KC needs another red-zone threat. 

After two trades back in the first round, the Oak... Las Vegas Raiders chose LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. In a mock draft shocker, the Raiders pull off a wildly savvy move, trading back to the Dolphins No. 31 and getting the quarterback everyone was looking for them to grab at 11. 

Jayden Daniels can thread the needle with his passes, reading the defense and quickly finding the open man. He has a natural feel for the game and can easily make intermediate throws. His quick feet and elusiveness help him create throwing lanes even under pressure. His release is sharp, and he has a strong vision when running with the ball, making him a constant big-play threat. His lateral agility is explosive, and he can quickly make defenders miss.

Daniels has achieved a remarkable 69 percent completion rate on passes of 20 yards or longer and a 40:4 TD-INT ratio, the highest in college football. He is well known for his GOAT scrambler status in LSU's history due to his knack for evading defenders and keeping the ball in motion. 

His playing style is similar to a combination of Anthony Richardson and Trevor Lawrence. Furthermore, his stats are impressive as he has maintained a 71.4 percent completion rate with 3812 passing yards while adding 1134 rushing yards with ten rushing TDs. However, his 50 total TDs and phenomenal decision-making during crucial times make him stand out and a strong contender for the Heisman trophy. 

The Raiders get a big arm, big presence in the pocket QB who can move the chains with his legs. The Jimmy G experiment is over; it's the Gruden/Daniels' time in Vegas. Josh Jacob's, Davante Adams, Michael Mayer and Renfro, with a cannon-armed, tush-pushing king, Daniels, at the helm, will be fun times in the desert. 

Follow along to see what the Raiders can do with those two additional second-rounders to set Daniels up in our NFL Mocks Midseason mock draft for the AFC West Day 2 picks.