NFC West Offseason Changes

A tough NFC West got even tougher this offseason. This was a cutthroat division in 2020, and it could actually be several notches more contentious in 2021. Let’s look at the changes in the division and how these teams have improved in the offseason.

Los Angeles Rams

The 49ers will be very good this year, and so will the Rams. They lost defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who became head coach of the Chargers. They found a great replacement in former Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, so there’s no real drop-off there.

The really big news in L.A. this offseason was that the Rams upgraded at quarterback in a big way. Out is Jared Goff to Detroit, in is Matthew Stafford after his long career with the Lions. The Rams have the elite defense with Aaron Donald. They have the high-quality offensive line. They have the wide receivers. Quarterback was the elusive piece, and Stafford provides it. The Rams are better at quarterback than the 49ers and, for that reason, should be viewed as the favorite in the division.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners finished last in the division in 2020, but that was for a clear and obvious reason: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt. With a healthy Jimmy G, the Niners should win at least 11 games… but the biggest story of the team’s offseason is that they drafted their quarterback of the future. Trey Lance will likely sit behind Jimmy G in 2021, but in 2022, the team could hand the keys to Lance, the quarterback out of North Dakota State who has dual-threat athleticism and a lot of upside. The 49ers took him at No. 3 in the NFL draft after a trade up with the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers refused to pick Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, who was the subject of intense pre-draft speculation in San Francisco.

The 49ers get a healthy Nick Bosa back after his injury last season. San Francisco also got receiver Mohamed Sanu from the Lions and safety Tavon Wilson from the Colts. The 49ers lost edge rusher Kerry Hyder to the Seahawks and running back Jerick McKinnon to the Chiefs, but this is a noticeably improved roster from 2020. The Niners should be ready to win a lot of games this year.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals made another huge splash in free agency, getting J.J. Watt from the Houston Texans. The Cardinals added receiver A.J. Green from the Bengals. They got former Super Bowl hero, cornerback Malcolm Butler, from the Titans. They got prime center Rodney Hudson from the Raiders. One by one, this team made big moves to enhance its roster. The Cardinals then got an outstanding linebacker, Zaven Collins of Tulsa, in the first round of the NFL draft. The Redbirds took receiver Rondale Moore, an oft-injured but electric talent from Purdue, later in the draft. This team got a lot better on both sides of the ball, giving Kyler Murray a much better chance of reaching the playoffs this season.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks got receiver D’Wayne Eskridge in the NFL draft, giving Russell Wilson a new wide receiver, but Wilson needed more offensive linemen, and other than Gabe Jackson from the Raiders, Seattle didn’t really change its offensive line very much. The Seahawks got edge rusher Kerry Hyder from the 49ers and tight end Gerald Everett from the Rams. Seattle changed offensive coordinators, with Brian Schottenheimer being fired and former Rams passing game assistant Shane Waldron taking over, so the Everett acquisition will create some continuity in the offense. Yet, the offensive line was the main area of need, and the Seahawks did not do much to address it. This team could win nine games in 2021 and yet finish last in this rugged and ruthless division.