The San Diego Chargers are talented with difference makers on both sides of the ball.  The only question is how they respond to the coaching transition with Norv Turner and several new assistants.  This is the most talent Turner has worked with since his days in Dallas, but hasn’t proven himself as a head coach under two tough owners.  Philip Rivers could become a dangerous quarterback working with Turner.  Rivers possesses natural instincts in the passing game, but needs more support from the wide receivers.  Vincent Jackson flashes talent with good size, but must take a step forward in terms of consistency.  The defense is very strong again.  Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo are unsung warriors upfront.  They generate a lot of pressure off the perimeter with Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips.  Quentin Jammer has finally taken his game to the next level.  Antonio Cromartie is a strong prospect in the secondary.  This secondary does need to create more turnovers – especially from inside.  They are hoping Eric Weddle quickly emerges as a playmaker during his rookie year.  They’ll also miss the veteran presence of Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey at linebacker, although Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm are capable. 

Not many people are talking about the Denver Broncos, but they are a team to watch in the AFC.  Jay Cutler showed good mental toughness as a rookie.  He’ll have some rough stretches, but he’s in a good position to make things happen.  Cutler has a lot of targets in the passing game – especially if Rod Smith bounces back and Brandon Stokley stays healthy working out of the slot.  Tony Sheffler will make a lot of plays from the tight end position if healthy.  They always seem to have an efficient unit upfront and that should be the case again if Matt Lepsis bounces back at left tackle.  Travis Henry brings good stability to the ground game.  Jim Bates was a strong hire to run the defense.  He gets the most out of his players.  They are deep in numbers across the front four.  A healthy Gerard Warren and Sam Adams will lead a solid rotation inside.  They’ll be a lot of pressure on rookie Jarvis Moss to quickly emerge as the pass rusher they’ve been missing off the perimeter.  Moss doesn’t have much bulk, but is a perfect fit in Bates scheme.  They’ll be a lot of pressure on Dre’ Bly playing opposite of Champ Bailey.  Bly can make big plays, but must show consistency since he’ll be challenged often. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are officially in a transition phase following the trade of Trent Green.  Damon Huard did a fine job last season, but the Chiefs are looking for Brodie Croyle to seize the quarterback spot.  Croyle has good attributes, but must prove he can handle the physical aspect of being a starting quarterback in this league.  The Chiefs must get that question answered this season.  The once strong offensive line now has a lot of questions.  It’s tough to lose Willie Roaf and Will Shields to retirement in consecutive seasons without definitive replacements.  Now the Chiefs are starting a few journeyman along the offensive line.  Damion McIntosh is an adequate stopgap at left tackle, but far from a long-term solution.  The defense could struggle.  Tamba Hali displayed a good motor as a pass rusher last season, but Jared Allen faces a very uncertain future.  They have a couple young prospects inside, but they are raw at this point.  That means the interior rotation looks to be filled with stopgap type talent again.  They hope to squeeze quality seasons from Ty Law and Patrick Surtain at cornerback, but they are aging with little depth behind them.  The only hope towards keeping the Chiefs competitive is the presence of Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez. 

Lane Kiffin faces a rough first season with the Oakland Raiders.  They will be breaking in a rookie quarterback at some point.  Jerry Porter looks to bounce back following an embarrassing feud with Art Shell.  Ronald Curry is a quality target in the passing game.  I believe rookie Zach Miller will finally stabilize the tight end position.  Lamont Jordan is healthy, but hasn’t shown any consistency on the ground.  Nobody knows what to expect from the offensive line.  Robert Gallery won’t meet expectations of being a franchise left tackle, but could still become a solid starter somewhere along the line.  The only positive right now is the defensive side of the ball.  They have a solid core who play hard for Rob Ryan.  They have a solid group of young guys in the secondary to build around.  Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington have become a nice tandem at cornerback.  Michael Huff showed be can cover tight ends and could make a bigger impact if allowed to settle into one role.  Kirk Morrison is good leader at linebacker.  They need rookie Quentin Moses to quickly emerge as a pass rusher to complement Derrick Burgess. 

Mike Shanahan has always liked to stock up on defensive lineman and he picked up a nice late spring addition with veteran Sam Adams. 

Adams should be a nice complement along a front four that expects more production in 2007 under new defensive coordinator Jim Bates.  Adams had a sluggish knee in 2006 with Cincinnati, but had surgery to clean up things and feels healthy as the summer approaches.

Adams is enormous with tremendous strength to control blockers at the point of attack.  He clogs up the run and has the ability to collapse the pocket when motivated.  This is a natural fit within Bates’ scheme upfront.  Since Bates likes to line up undersized defensive ends wide, his scheme requires space eaters inside.  That is what Adams brings to this defense in 2007. 

The presence of Adams should also become a boost for Gerard Warren.  Warren was slowed by two dislocated toes last season.  Adams’ presence takes pressure off Warren as a gap clogger.  Warren plays his best when he can penetrate gaps rather than play two-gap responsibilities. 

The Broncos also have solid depth inside.  Alvin McKinley is coming off a subpar year in Cleveland last season, but grades as a steady rotation player who plays with good effort and technique.  Demetrin Veal has some penetration ability.  Rookie Marcus Thomas has an intriguing blend of penetration ability and strength. 

Denver Broncos:  Mike Shanahan has been looking for high-level talent along the defensive line for the past several years and always likes to build depth along the front four.  They’ve been limited by building around average talent upfront.  Jarvis Moss was the best opportunity for Shanahan to find a top edge rusher in awhile.  Moss has the athleticism to thrive in Jim Bates’ system, which allows ends to line up wide and get after quarterbacks.  They feel Moss could be their Jason Taylor.  Tim Crowder won’t be a flashy guy off the perimeter, but should develop into a solid starter at left end at some point. 

The wildcard is Marcus Thomas.  There were a lot of teams scared off by his past off-field issues.  Thomas has intriguing potential as a penetrator inside, but must prove he has the bulk and stamina to handle the disciplined role of occupying blockers to draw attention away from the edge rushers in Bates’ scheme.

A lot of people were up and down on Ryan Harris, but he should be a good fit in Denver’s zone blocking scheme.  Harris could develop into a starter early. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Dwayne Bowe has the opportunity to be a solid pick for the Chiefs.  They needed a young receiver with size and toughness.  If Bowe finds a comfort zone learning how to maximize his ability in the pro game, he should be a productive pass catcher for many years. 

The storyline to watch will be their two picks along the defensive line.  The Chiefs have been starving for better play from their interior for many years.  Tank Tyler will be a hit or miss who could tease the Chiefs.  He has the physical tools to become the strong interior presence they’ve lacked against the run, but must answer questions about his heart and desire.  Turk McBride has intriguing quickness inside.  Gunther Cunningham likes to have one interior guy who can penetrate.  McBride will likely see more time outside until Jared Allen returns from suspension. 

The biggest concern though for the Chiefs in terms of building through the draft is the offensive line.  After losing Will Shields and William Roaf in the past year, the Chiefs haven’t drafted any top talent to groom as building blocks to replace them. 

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders finally have a young quarterback they can build an identity around in JaMarcus Russell.  Russell has the same physical tools like Daunte Culpepper to push the ball downfield into the hands of the playmakers in Lane Kiffin’s scheme.  Unfortunately, Russell has the same leadership questions that others around the league have about Culpepper. 

Oakland may finally have a steady presence at tight end after years of trying to convert athletes into NFL tight ends.  Zach Miller should become a solid run blocker while providing a steady complement in the passing game.  Quentin Moses could add pass rush depth at defensive end. 

A lot of people will be watching Michael Bush as the general consensus is they got a steal.  Not so fast.  Bush has always been dogged with injury problems and isn’t a true power runner despite his size.  Bush could frustrate coaches like T.J. Duckett has during his NFL career.  I just question whether Bush has the temperament to become a true pro back. 

San Diego Chargers: Like many league scouts, I am not very excited about the Chargers’ draft.  Craig Davis has the speed to stretch the field, but lacks toughness.  Eric Weddle shows good football instincts and plays hard, but has some limitations.  He could become a starter if Ted Cottrell protects him from man coverage against most speed receivers. 

Anthony Waters was a nice pickup and should add depth at linebacker.  He could become a starter in a couple seasons inside because he’s very active. 

This isn’t major headline news, but the Eagles made a solid move to bolster their depth along the defensive line with the addition of former Colt Monte Reagor. 

Reagor is coming off a season-ending head and facial injuries following a car accident last season, but the Eagles believe he’ll bounce back and strengthen the Eagles’ rotation inside at defensive tackle.  Reagor is small, but has deceptive strength and very good first step quickness.  He has a knack for shooting gaps very well against the run, but will take himself out of a lot of plays with his overaggressive play.  He won’t play much of a factor in the pass rush.  But Reagor is valued by the Eagles because he’s very smart on the field and works well with teammates on the field.  And he’s a great presence in the locker room.  This is a nice fit for the Eagles. 

More NFL Notes:

Bears acquire Adam Archuleta: Lovie Smith loves Archuleta from their days together in St. Louis and should play to Archuleta’s strengths after being miscast in Washington last season.  Archuleta is a very aggressive run support guy who attacks the line of scrimmage and has a knack for getting to the quarterback on the blitz.  Outside the box, he’s a liability when asked to do too much in open space, which was a problem with the Redskins.  With questions about Mike Brown’s Lisfranc injury looming, the Bears needed veteran insurance.  I believe Archuleta should fit very well in the culture of the Bears’ defense, but there’s a lot of questions whether he has a lot left in the tank due to the physical nature of his play.  Archuleta has a history of back problems.

Broncos secure more depth: Brandon Stokley was a nice gamble in the passing game – especially with medical questions surrounding Rod Smith.  Stokley is a spark plug out of the slot with his ability to make plays.  Stokley lacks ideal size and speed, but has the quickness and savvy to perform in the clutch.  Unfortunately, you never know what you’ll get from Stokley from year to year due to his medical track record.  Stokley suffered his latest injury last season when he ruptured his Achilles.  He’s expected to be ready for the season, but these injuries over the years will eventually cut his career short.  A healthy Stokley will bolster a Broncos’ passing game that is expected to feature a number of different targets in 2007.  And Mike Shanahan continues his yearly addition of depth along with defensive line with former Brown Alvin McKinley.  McKinley is an adequate two-down rotation player.  He’s strictly a guy who can occupy blockers within his limited range as the Broncos hope to become more effective at stopping the run next season from the interior line.