We go out West now for the 2 divisions. Both should be competitive with not crystal clear winners.

NFC West Preview

Los Angeles Rams

Verse Is A Stud
  • Coaching: HC Sean McVay was re-invigorated in 2024, and it showed with a playoff berth. McVay at his best is a Top 4 coach in the NFL (Reid, LaFleur, Vrabel, O’Connell). I think he has a good staff with OC Mike LaFleur (Matt’s brother – a note that he played at Elmhurst University my hometown) helping him gameplan (McVay calls most of the plays) again. On D, which was much improved in 2024, DC Chris Shula returns and should have a very good unit.
  • Departures: WR Cooper Kupp (to SEA), WR Demarcus Robinson (to SF), DE Mike Hoecht (to BUF), OT Joe Noteboom (to BAL)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agency:
      • Defense: DT Poona Ford (from LAC), LB Nate Landman (from ATL)
      • Offense: WR Davante Adams (from NYJ), C Coleman Shelton (from CHI), OG DJ Humphries (from KC), OT David Quessenberry (from MIN)
    • Draft:
      • TE Terrance Ferguson (2nd – Oregon)
      • DE/OLB Josaiah Stewart (3rd – Michigan) – 3rd on the depth chart
      • RB Jarquez Hunter (4th – Auburn)
      • DT Ty Hamilton (5th – Ohio State)
      • LB Chris Paul (5th – Ole Miss)
      • WR Konata Mumpfield (7th – Pitt)
  • Overview – The Rams were a team on the come up last year, and I think the selling point was the D. DE/OLB Jared Verse is a legit star. He is not getting much consideration for DPOY yet, but he easily could be right there this year. QB Matthew Stafford’s health is really the only thing holding me back here. I originally had the Rams dominating this division, but I’ve tempered expectations for now. I still think they are on the rise with some young talent mixed with the old vets like Stafford and now Davante Adams to go along with the likes of WR Nakua, RB Williams and the D, as mentioned. I like this team a lot.
  • Prediction – 12-5 and the NFC West winner (pending Stafford’s health in my final predictions)

San Francisco 49ers

Can Purdy Carry This Team?
  • Coaching: HC Kyle Shanahan is back, and after taking a tough season of injuries in mind, he still coached well. OC Klay Kubiak is elevated from Passing Game Specialist to the OC, but it is Shanahan’s Offense. DC Robert Saleh returns to the Bay after failing in NY coaching the Jets. Saleh should bring back some toughness to the team that was lacking in 2024.
  • Departures: WR Deebo Samuel (via trade WAS), DT Maliek Collins (to CLE), DE Leonard Floyd (to ATL), S Talanoa Hufanga (to DEN), DT Javon Hargrave (to MIN), LB Dre Greenlaw (to DEN), CB Charvarius Ward (to IND), CB Rock Ya-Sin (to DET)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agency:
      • Defense: DE Bryce Huff (via trade PHI), LB Luke Gifford (from TEN), S Jason Pinnock (from NYG), CB Tre Brown (from SEA)
      • Offense: WR Demarcus Robinson (from LAR), QB Mac Jones (from JAC), TE Luke Farrell (from JAC)
    • Draft:
      • DE Mykel Williams (1st – Georgia)
      • DT Alfred Collins (2nd – Texas)
      • LB Nick Martin (3rd – OK State)
      • CB Upton Stout (3rd – Western Kentucky)
      • DT CJ West (4th – Indiana)
      • S Marques Sigle (5th – Kansas State)
      • OG Connor Colby (7th – Iowa)
      • CB Dallis Flowers (FA – Pittsburg State)
  • Overview – Clearly, the 49ers are trying to revamp the D with a lot of Draft picks and some younger Free Agents. In paying QB Brock Purdy, they need that young talent to perform. On O, they need the next level WRs to play at a high level in Pearsall and Jennings with Aiyuk returning but he may not be 100% and could miss the start of the season. RB Christian McCaffery is coming off an injury plagued 2024 campaign, so the working theory is the O will be better and the D will be younger. I think they will be in the mix for the division again, but I still think the Rams are a better team now.
  • Prediction – 11-6 – should make the playoffs, incidentally, when SF makes the playoffs they get to at least the NFC Title game (2011-2013, 2019, 2021-2023).

Arizona Cardinals

Murray Has Been Solid
  • Coaching: HC Jonathan Gannon has defied some of the odds so far, but he has yet to have a true breakthrough season. This one could be it. OC Drew Petzing returns, and QB Kyler Murray has been productive under his leadership. DC Nick Rallis needs more out of his unit for this team to get in the playoffs.
  • Departures: WR Zach Pascal (to NYG), DT Naquan Jones (to LAC), LB Kyzir White (unsigned)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agency:
      • Defense: DE Calais Campbell (from MIA), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (from CLE), LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (from CIN), OLB Josh Sweat (from PHI), CB Jaylon Jones (from CHI)
      • Offense: QB Jacoby Brissett (from NE), OG Royce Newman (from TB), WR Simi Fehoko (from LAC)
    • Draft:
      • DE Walter Nolen (1st – Ole Miss) – currently on PUP
      • CB Will Johnson (2nd – Michigan)
      • OLB Jordan Burch (3rd – Oregon) – 3rd on the depth chart
      • LB Cody Simon (4th – Ohio State)
      • CB Denzel Burke (5th – Ohio State)
      • OG Hayden Conner (6th – Texas)
  • Overview – The Cardinals worked to upgrade on D this year with big signings of veterans like Campbell, Tomlinson and Sweat. The 1st Round pick will not be hitting the ground running or I’d have a better outlook for their D. The O has been good. WR Marvin Harrison, Jr. should be even better. TE Trey McBride has been a standout, so QB Murray has the weapons. They need to jump out early with their super weak schedule at NO, CAR, at SF, SEA, TEN and at IND, as their last 6 games are rough with the likes of at TB, LAR, at HOU, ATL, at CIN and at LAR.
  • Prediction – 9-8 – I have them just out of the playoffs right now, but contending. They will have a chance this year for sure. They need to be 7-4 or 8-3 entering that last section of their schedule to make it.

Seattle Seahawks

Darnold Needs To Prove It Again in SEA
  • Coaching: HC Mike Macdonald had a decent rookie campaign (10-7), but far from stellar, as they struggled at home of all places. The Division is tough, so they will need to improve. OC Klint Kubiak (2nd Kubiak in the division) comes over from the Saints where he was OC last year. Perhaps this change will help, but the weapons are different than a year ago. DC Aden Durde is back, and the bright spot of the 2024 season was D.
  • Departures: WR DK Metcalf (via trade PIT), WR Tyler Lockett (to TEN), QB Geno Smith (to LVR), S Rayshawn Jenkins (to CLE), S K’Von Wallace (to NYG), CB Artie Burns (to MIA), OG Laken Tomlinson (to HOU)
  • Additions:
    • Free Agency:
      • Defense: DE Demarcus Lawrence (from DAL), S D’Anthony Bell (from CLE), CB Shaquill Griffin (from MIN)
      • Offense: QB Sam Darnold (from MIN), QB Drew Lock (from NYG), WR Cooper Kupp (from LAR), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (from NO), OT Josh Jones (from BAL)
    • Draft:
      • OG Grey Zabel (1st – North Dakota State)
      • S Nick Emmanwori (2nd – South Carolina)
      • TE Elijah Arroyo (2nd – Miami)
      • OG Bryce Cabeldue (6th – Kansas)
      • QB Jalen Milroe (3rd – Alabama)
      • RB Robbie Ouzts (5th – Alabama)
      • DT Rylie Mills (5th – Notre Dame)
  • Overview – The Seahawks caught people by surprise in 2024, but over the course of the season, they regressed to the mean. I think the outlook for SEA in 2025 is a lot worse given two factors: 1) SF will be better than in 2024 and 2) Sam Darnold is not going to have the year he had in 2024, especially with the loss of WRs DK Metcalf and Lockett (Jaxson Smith-Njigba is good, but not for 2). I think they will hover around .500.
  • Prediction – 7-10 – I’ll need to look at the final numbers, but miss the playoffs for sure.

On to our last division the AFC West.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.