AFC South report card | NFC South report card | Conor Orr’s post-draft power rankings

Was last season a blip or an inflection point? That’s the lingering question for the AFC West.

After winning the division for nine consecutive years, the Chiefs posted a 6–11 record, finishing third in the West. As a response, Kansas City was aggressive, shoring up both sides of the ball, led by the free-agent signing of Kenneth Walker III and a pair of first-round, defensive draft picks.

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.

But we begin with the Broncos, who are hoping to hold onto their newfound perch atop the division. Denver won 14 games and earned the AFC’s top seed behind a suffocating defense, which ranked third in points allowed while pacing the league with 68 sacks.…