Broncos trade Von Miller to the Rams; Chiefs acquire Melvin Ingram

The defensive landscape of the AFC West was altered significantly in the 24 hours before the expiration of the NFL Trade Deadline. A familiar foe for the Las Vegas Raiders headed to the NFC while another returned to the AFC West. Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller will now be suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams while Melvin Ingram will now be donning the jersey of the Kansas City Chiefs for the rest of the year.

Broncos Trade Von Miller to LA Rams

Even though they sit at .500 with a 4-4 record, the Broncos look to be headed toward a rebuild in the offseason. Denver said goodbye to franchise legend Von Miller as the team traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2nd and 3rd round pick in 2022. With only one year left on Miller’s deal and the team presumably headed toward a youth movement, it only made sense for the Broncos to bid adieu to the MVP of Super Bowl 50.

In order to make the deal even more enticing to the Rams, the Broncos are even picking up $9 million of Miller’s contract, leaving only $700,000 for Los Angeles to pay out.

While Miller will always be respected around the Raiders organization, he most certainly will not be missed. The Raiders are currently gunning for their first AFC West title since 2002 and an elite player leaving a divisional foe will only make that path easier.

The offensive line of Las Vegas has been shuffled time and again and is seen as the team’s weak link on offense. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 34-24 in Week 6. With Miller now out of conference, quarterback Derek Carr can breathe a little easier when the Raiders host the Broncos on Dec. 26.

Chiefs Trade for former Charger, Steeler Melvin Ingram

While Von Miller was being traded away, Melvin Ingram was being brought in. The former Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher spent the first several weeks of the 2021 season with Pittsburgh and was unhappy with his position on the depth chart. Recording very little playing time, the ten-year veteran out of the University of South Carolina requested a trade.

The Kansas City Chiefs were all too happy to oblige, sending a 2022 6th round pick to the Steelers for the services of Ingram.

The Kansas City defense has been routinely gashed each week and the team has been looking for an upgrade at virtually any position in order to help. Ingram is a savvy veteran who is familiar with the AFC West, having formerly played with the Chargers for the first nine years of his career.

Ingram can step in right away and help boost a Chiefs pass rush that has been lacking all season long. If the Chiefs are wanting any hope of making a playoff run, they need improved play from their stop unit and Ingram can help. Getting him for a 6th round pick was nothing short of a great move for the defending AFC Champions.

Both of these moves help the two AFC West rivals of the Las Vegas Raiders in two completely different ways. The Broncos acquired vital future assets to help build the team while Melvin Ingram provides an immediate upgrade for the Kansas City defense.

As mentioned before, the Raiders will host the Broncos on Dec. 26 in Week 16 while they have yet to play Kansas City this season. The Raiders will host the Chiefs in a few weeks in Week 10 on November 14th for a massive tilt and then head to Kansas City in Week 14 on December 12th for what could prove to be a pivotal late season divisional game.