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NFL: Each team’s biggest concern heading into 2018

By Peter Panacy

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Colin Jones #42 of the Carolina Panthers sacks Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the 1st half during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Colin Jones #42 of the Carolina Panthers sacks Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the 1st half during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by defensive end Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by defensive end Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

AFC West

Denver Broncos — Offensive Guard

The Broncos finally hoped to have solved their woeful quarterbacking, bringing aboard 2017 Minnesota Vikings hero Case Keenum to the fold.

But protecting Keenum will be a priority, and Denver has some big-time question marks at right guard. The on-roster options aren’t exactly promising, which could lead to general manager John Elway looking to make a move prior to Week 1.

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Even Russell Wilson's golf cart commits turnovers
Even Russell Wilson's golf cart commits turnovers /

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    • Kansas City Chiefs — Secondary

    While veteran Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry is a phenomenal component to the Chiefs secondary this season, a combination of cornerbacks David Amerson and Steven Nelson doesn’t exactly impress.

    Kansas City will be facing good quarterbacks in the likes of Keenum, the Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Philip Rivers twice this season — all of whom are capable of picking apart bad defensive backfields.

    Perhaps the Chiefs shouldn’t have offloaded cornerback Marcus Peters after all.

    Los Angeles Chargers — Philip Rivers’ Age

    Speaking of Rivers, this might be the year in which L.A. has its best shot to win the AFC West. Sure, the veteran quarterback will turn 37 years old later this season. But his 2017 campaign showed his woeful interception numbers from the previous year (21) weren’t an indication of him slowing down.

    The Chargers offensive line should be better this year, particularly with second-year guard Forrest Lamp returning from an injury. So as long as Rivers can replicate his efforts from last year and hold off on Father Time catching up to him, L.A. should be in excellent shape for a playoff push.

    Oakland Raiders — Everything on Defense

    The good news is Oakland has filled the two most important positions on the field — a quarterback and elite pass-rusher with Carr and Khalil Mack, respectively.

    But the bad news? There’s not a lot else on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary.

    Mack should be able to make things work well enough, but he’ll need some support. Perhaps rookie defensive tackle Maurice Hurst helps a bit here, but we’ll see. But that defensive backfield, unless young contributors Karl Joseph and Gareon Conley finally step up, could be a massive liability in 2018.