We have our 8th and final division to review – home of the Champs.

NFC West Preview

Los Angeles Rams (11.5 Wins, -110 NFC West, +290 NFC, +550 Super Bowl)

Garrett Is Going For The Ring
  • Coaching – Sean McVay returns as HC with a great team. There is word that if they do win the Super Bowl, then he could retire early. Still, OC Nate Scheelhaase is the latest McVay-ite that has the keys to greatness, as Mike LaFleur took the HC job in AZ. Scheelhaase was the Pass Game Coordinator in 2025, so he will run McVay’s system. Chris Shula returns as DC, despite interviewing for HC jobs.
  • Departures – OLB Jared Verse (trade to CLE), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (to WAS), CB Derion Kendrick (to DAL), TE Nick Vannett (to SEA), CB Roger McCreary (to DET), WR Tutu Atwell (to MIA), LB Troy Reeder (to DET), LB Nick Hampton (to CAR), OT DJ Humphries (unsigned), , QB Jimmy Garoppolo (unsigned)
  • Additions –
    • Free Agents/Trade – OLB Myles Garrett (via trade CLE), CB Trent McDuffie (via trade KC), CB Jaylen Watson (from KC), LB Grant Stuard (from DET), DT Aaron Donald (from retirement)
    • Draft – QB Ty Simpson (1st – Alabama), OT Keagen Trost (3rd – Missouri), WR CJ Daniels (6th – Miami)
  • Outlook – The Rams made the biggest splash in the off season with the trade for single season sack leader – Myles Garrett from CLE for draft picks and Jared Verse. It is the type of move that signals the Rams brass is going all in to win the Super Bowl this year. In addition to Garrett, ormer All Pro Aaron Donald will join the Rams out of retirement just this weekend officially. The Rams were the 2nd best team in the NFL in 2025 – adding Garrett along with the KC CBs with Donald back – they are the best team on paper and the odds on favorite to win the title. I agree with them – the one caveat – health – if QB Matthew Stafford stays healthy along with Garrett and Donald, they will win the Super Bowl. However, they have to play the games still.
  • Prediction – 13-4 – NFC West Winner

Seattle Seahawks (10.5 Wins, +215 NFC West, +575 NFC, +1100 SB)

Darnold Needs To Deliver Again
  • Coaching – HC Mike McDonald returns to lead the reigning SB Champs. His brand of coaching Defense is the McVay of the defensive side of the ball. With Klint Kubiak moving on to the Raiders, OC Brian Fleury who joins the Seahawks from the 49ers – another Shanahan/Kubiak system man – so a very similar attack. DC Aden Durde will lead the top unit again and reason they won the Super Bowl.
  • Departures – RB Kenneth Walker (to KC), CB Tariq Woolen (to PHI), CB Coby Bryant (to CHI), DE Boye Mafe (to CIN)
  • Additions –
    • Free Agents/Trade – DE Dante Fowler (from DAL), S Rodney Thomas (from IND), CB Noah Igbinoghene (from WAS)
    • Draft – RB Jadarian Price (1st – Notre Dame), S Bud Clark (2nd – TCU – injured in camp out for year), CB Julian Neal (3rd – Arkansas), OG Beau Stephens (5th – Iowa), WR Emmanuel Henderson (6th – Kansas)
  • Outlook – The loss of Kubiak should be minimized with Fleury, and the personnel losses definitely pushed up depth to starters on Defense. I still think the Seahawks are a potent team. The biggest issue in their title defense is the Rams. For two teams that were even in the NFC Title Game in 2025, the Seahawks do seem like the 2nd best team now. It is a shame they are in the same division and not different conferences. The other main element was losing Walker, so Charbonnet and the rookie, Price, will need to be productive. The early loss of Clark on D will hurt their depth immediately. It is hard to repeat.
  • Prediction – 12-5 – Wild Card – I may downgrade a game in the final analysis next week

San Francisco 49ers (9.5 Wins, +320 NFC West, +900 NFC, +1800 SB)

Purdy Needs To Play Like The MVP
  • Coaching – HC Kyle Shanahan returns, but not after a strange start to camp with a car accident that he was liable for. His lack of participation in training camp may have an impact on the master tactician. Not to mention the owner, Jed York, getting arrested in Ohio on essentially prostitution charges. Back to the coaches, the OC is still Klay Kubiak for his 2nd year. The Defense will be in the hands of former ATL HC Raheem Morris with the departure of Robert Saleh to TEN. I think Morris is better as a DC than a HC – I like the hire.
  • Departures – WR Jauan Jennings (to MIN), WR Kendrick Bourne (to AZ), OG Spencer Buford (to LVR), RB Brian Robinson (to ATL), DE Clelin Ferrell (to MIA), DE Tarron Jackson (unsigned)
  • Additions –
    • Free Agents/Trade – WR Mike Evans (from TB), WR Deebo Samuel (from WAS), WR Christian Kirk (from HOU), DT Osa Odighizuwa (via trade DAL), LB Dre Greenlaw (from DEN), C Brett Toth (from PHI), OG Robert Jones (from DAL), CB Jack Jones (from MIA), S Ashtyn DAvis (from MIA), CB Nate Hobbs (from GB)
    • Draft – WR De’Zhaun Stribling (2nd – Ole Miss), DE Romello Height (3rd – Texas Tech), DT Gracen Halton (4th – Oklahoma), CB Ephesians Prysock (4th – Washington), OG Carver Willis (4th – Washington), OT Enrique Cruz (5th – Kansas)
  • Outlook – The 49ers have had injury bad luck for a couple of seasons now. The start of this year is the same with WR Ricky Pearsall already missing the season with an issue with the surgery on his PCL. It is tough to see this team competing with the 2 other big dogs in this division again. Yes, they brought in some vets in Evans, Deebo (back), Kirk, and Greenlaw (back). However, I do not like the early start, and the market does not either. I’m not saying they will outright miss the playoffs, but unless RB Christian McCaffery is healthy all year again and the Defense plays much better – I see the NFC North teams in contention a cut above the 49ers. Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling has been flashing in camp, so that is a positive and TE George Kittle is practicing again. My prediction will adjust in the final analysis. I’m down on the 49ers.
  • Prediction – 11-6 – This will go down in the final analysis

Arizona Cardinals (3.5 Wins, +10000 NFC West, +15000 NFC, +50000 SB)

LaFleur Will Need To Handle A Tough Year
  • Coaching – A new era in Arizona starts yet again with Mike LaFleur taking the reigns – as he was the Rams OC under McVay. He brings OC Nathaniel Hackett – who really has not been great – last stop was in GB as a Defensive Analyst after washing out with the Jets and brief HC stint in DEN. On Defense, Nick Rallis remains as the DC in AZ – which is a little strange. The AZ D was not a top flight unit. So, even though LaFleur should have a good general scheme for the O, this team does not get the top new coaching unit.
  • Departures – QB Kyler Murray (to MIN), LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (to IND), DE Calais Campbell (to BAL), DE Dalvin Tomlinson (to LAC), RB Michael Carter (to TEN), OG Will Hernandez (unsigned)
  • Additions –
    • Free Agents/Trade – WR Kendrick Bourne (from SF), OG Isaac Seumalo (from PIT), DT Roy Lopez (from DET), S Andrew Wingard (from JAC), OT Elijah Wilkins (from ATL), DT Andrew Billings (from CHI), QB Gardner Minshew (from KC), RB Tyler Allgeier (from ATL), WR Devin Duvernay (from CHI), LB Jack Gibbens (from NE)
    • Draft – RB Jeremiyah Love (1st – Notre Dame), OG Chase Bisontis (2nd – Texas A&M), QB Carson Beck (3rd – Miami), WR Reggie Virgil (5th – Texas Tech), OT Jayden Williams (7th – Ole Miss)
  • Outlook – The Cardinals may have re-signed QB Jacoby Brissett to a more respectable salary, but they will struggle to compete this year. LaFleur needs to find a way to compete enough, but they will want to land the 1st pick for a top QB in the upcoming draft. I’m not saying they will outright tank. However, this team is on par with the talent of the Dolphins, but playing in this division will crush them. I would expect Rookie QB Carson Beck to get some run after Week 7 or 8.
  • Prediction – 2-15 – Worst record in the NFL

The season is almost here. Final predictions next week for Week 1.

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.

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