What does a Las Vegas Raiders AFC West championship look like? With the flurry of activity during the initial days of the NFL’s free agency period, few teams upgraded their roster significantly like the Raiders did. Their opponents in the AFC West saw some key departures as well, opening the door for the Raiders to possibly contend for the division in 2026. Will the established teams in their division continue to stay at the top?
What A Raiders AFC West Championship Looks Like
The Raiders’ path to an AFC West championship is contingent on the top teams in the division backsliding, which is made possible by the results of free agency. The Broncos lost some key pieces on defense, with DL Jonathan Franklin-Meyers signed with the Titans as a free agent, and LB Dre Greenlaw was a cap casualty. The Chargers signed C Tyler Biadasz, but traded away interior OL Zion Johnson to the Browns, while defenders Odafe Owe and Benjamin St. Juste both left during free agency.
The Chiefs suffered the most from departures with DBs Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Bryan Cook ending up getting traded or leaving in free agency. Kansas City did make key additions with Kenneth Walker III and Khyiris Tonga coming on board, but it is hard to be optimistic about the Chiefs with the offensive line and secondary still in shambles.
Despite going 3-14 in 2025, the Raiders positioned themselves to rebound in a big way in 2026 with one of the more impressive free agency hauls in recent memory. Offensively, they added center Tyler Linderbaum to help stabilize a shaky line, and WR Jalen Nailor for some much-needed firepower in the passing game. Defensively, Las Vegas got significantly better with the additions of DE Kwity Paye and LBs Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. Despite the questions surrounding the Ravens backing out of a trade for Maxx Crosby, getting the dynamic edge player was massive for the Raiders, as the defensive front seven looks to be a top unit in the league.
What’s Next For The Raiders?
All signs are pointing to the Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, but questions remain about what Las Vegas is going to do with the rest of their picks. The franchise currently has a second, a third, three fourths, a fifth, two sixths, and a seventh round pick in the draft, so the Raiders are likely not done wheeling and dealing this offseason.
Vegas would want to bolster the rest of the offensive line and the secondary, and they have the draft capital to make some deals happen. The 2026 schedule plays into the Raiders’ hands, as their opponents outside of the division include the Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, Browns, Titans, and Saints. A Las Vegas AFC West title would not be surprising to see in 2026, but that hinges on the Raiders getting the production that they expect out of Mendoza over the course of a 17-game season.
