AFC WEST
DEFENDING CHAMPION
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Where: Chargers Park, San Diego
When: Veterans on July 29
New arrival: S Bhawoh Jue.
Gone: WR Tim Dwight, DT Jason Fisk, QB Doug Flutie.
Top rookies: LB Shawne Merriman, DT Luis Castillo, WR Vincent Jackson.
What’s up: QB Drew Brees shocked everybody last season and plans to keep last year’s top rookie, Philip Rivers, on bench again. Coach Marty Schottenheimer could use rookie help on defense and needs Merriman to sign quickly.
FAVORITE
DENVER BRONCOS
Where: Bowlen Memorial
Center, Englewood, Colo.
When: July 28
New arrivals: DT Gerard Warren, DE Courtney Brown, DE Ebenezer Ekuban, DT Michael Myers, OT Anthony Clement, P Todd Sauerbrun, WR Jerry Rice, LB Ian Gold, TE Stephen Alexander, RB Ron Dayne, LB Keith Burns, CB Willie Middlebrooks.
Gone: G Dan Neil, DE Reggie Hayward, S Kenoy Kennedy, LB Donnie Spragan, CB Kelly Herndon, DE Brandon Kennedy, P Jason Baker, DE John Engelberger.
Top rookies: CB Darrent Williams, RB Maurice Clarett.
What’s up: Coach Mike Shanahan raided state of Ohio, including entire Browns defensive line and controversial former Ohio State phenom Clarett, in all-out effort to win balanced division.
BIG PLANS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Where: University of Wisconsin-River Falls
When: July 28
New arrivals: LB Kendrell Bell, WR Freddie Mitchell, S Sammy Knight, DE Carlos Hall, FB Robert Holcombe, WR Darrell Hill, CB Patrick Surtain, RB Dee Brown.
Gone: DE Vonnie Holliday, RB Derrick Blaylock, LB Monty Beisel, WR Johnnie Morton.
Top rookies: LB Derrick Johnson, P Dustin Colquitt.
What’s up: Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is on spot again as league’s No. 1 offensive team tries to ramp up No. 31 defense.
MOSS FACTOR
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Where: Napa Valley Marriott, Napa, Calif.
When: July 28
New arrivals: WR Randy Moss, RB Lamont Jordan, DE Derrick Burgess, RB Rob Konrad, CB Renaldo Hill, LB Jay Foreman.
Gone: LB Napoleon Harris, TE Roland Williams, S Ray Buchanan, LB DeLawrence Grant, G Frank Middleton, DT John Parella, RB Tyrone Wheatley, CB Phillip Buchanon, TE Doug Jolley.
Top rookies: CB Fabian Washington, CB Stanford Routt.
What’s up: They didn’t trade for Moss for coach Norv Turner to finish last. Biggest offseason acquisition debuts on Thursday opener in New England.
NFC WEST
DEFENDING CHAMPION AND FAVORITE
SEAHAWKS
Where: Eastern Washington University, Cheyney, Wash.
When: Veterans on July 28
New arrivals: LB Kevin Bentley, LB Jamie Sharper, DT Chartric Darby, DE Bryce Fisher, CB Kelly Herndon, DB Omar Lowe, DE Joe Tafoya, WR Jerome Pathon, CB Andre Dyson, WR Joe Jurevicius.
Gone: WR Jerry Rice, CB Ken Lucas, QB Trent Dilfer, LB Anthony Simmons, S Damien Anderson, DE Chike Okeafor, LB Orlando Huff, FB Heath Evans, LB Chad Brown, OT Chris Terry, WR Koren Robinson.
Top rookies: C Chris Spencer, LB Lofa Tatupu.
What’s up: Another defensive influx for coordinator Ray Rhodes. Will RB Shaun Alexander and coach Mike Holmgren get along?
ON THE RISE
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Where: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
When: July 31
New arrivals: Offensive coordinator Keith Rowen, QB Kurt Warner, OT Oliver Ross, DE Chike Okeafor, S Robert Griffith, LB Orlando Huff, OT Ian Allen, OL Adam Haayer, DB Rhett Nelson, CB Raymond Walls.
Gone: Offensive coordinator Alex Wood, CB Duane Starks, QB Shaun King, KR Karl Williams, LB Levar Fisher, DB Michael Stone, LB Raynoch Thompson, CB Renaldo Hill, TE Freddie Jones, OT Anthony Clement, OT L.J. Shelton.
Top rookies: CB Antrel Rolle, RB J.J. Arrington.
What’s up: Coach Dennis Green expects to compete for division title if Warner has anything left and coordinator Rowen can rejuvenate No. 27 offense.
DECLINING?
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Where: Rams Park, St. Louis.
When: July 28
New arrivals: LB Dexter Coakley, LB Chris Claiborne, TE Roland Williams, DB Michael Stone, DE Jay Williams, CB Michael Hawthorne, G Rex Tucker.
Gone: S Rich Coady, S Antuan Edwards, G Matt Lehr, DE Bryce Fisher, LB Tommy Polley.
Top rookies: OT Alex Barron, DB Ronald Bartell.
What’s up: Despite becoming first 8-8 team to win a playoff game, coach Mike Martz’s team appears more on way down than way up. Many changes and experiments on defense.
STARTING OVER
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Where: 49ers Complex, Santa Clara, Calif.
When: July 28
New arrivals: Coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy, defensive coordinator Billy Davis, OT Jonas Jennings, K Joe Nedney, DE Marquis Douglas, WR Johnnie Morton, DE John Engelberger.
Gone: GM Terry Donahue, coach Dennis Erickson, K Todd Peterson, WR Cedrick Wilson, S Ronnie Heard, DE Brandon Whiting, OL Kyle Kosier, DT Daleroy Stewart, WR Curtis Conway, CB Willie Middlebrooks
Top rookies: QB Alex Smith, C Davis Baas, RB Frank Gore.
What’s up: Top rookie Smith and new coach Nolan will get unhappy baptisms for team unaccustomed to life on bottom of heap. Defense switching to 3-4 without 3-4 linemen.
———-
COMING FRIDAY: AFC, NFC SOUTH CAMP PREVIEWS
dpierson@tribune.com
