Looking at each NFC West team’s best newcomer and key loss
It has been a division that has made its presence felt in the postseason for just over a decade. In fact, dating back to 2012, an NFC West team has represented the conference a combined seven times in the last 12 Super Bowls.
The San Francisco 49ers have played on Super Sunday three times over that span, and both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams have made two appearances apiece. Interesting enough, the Niners have lost all three of those games, while the ‘Hawks and Rams each split their two meetings.
Of course, the Arizona Cardinals made their lone Super Bowl appearance in 2008, reached the NFC title game in 2015, and last made the playoffs in 2021. These past two seasons have been rough for the club via back-to-back 4-13 showings.
In 2023, the 49ers won the NFC West for the second straight year, and the Rams returned to the playoffs after a forgettable 5-12 campaign in 2022. Kyle Shanahan’s club fell to the Chiefs on Super Sunday for the second time in five years, this time 25-22 in overtime at Las Vegas.
As for this offseason, all four teams have made their share of big decisions. Here is a look at each franchise’s top newcomer, as well as its biggest loss. It starts with the team that selected the most players in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Top addition, biggest departure for the 4 NFC West teams
Arizona Cardinals
Best addition: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
He was the first non-quarterback selected in April, and many could make the case that he was the best overall player available in the 2024 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. was the fourth overall pick last month, the first of a league-high 12 choices by Arizona Cardinals’ general manager Monti Ossenfort.
The former Buckeye put up huge numbers during his final two seasons in Columbus. Harrison played in a combined 25 contests since 2022. He totaled 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdown receptions. With Kyler Murray, as well as the recent addition of Zay Jones. Harrison is primed for a monster year.
Biggest loss: CB Antonio Hamilton
Only the equally-woeful Washington Commanders (518) gave up more points than Arizona (455) this past season. Jonathan Gannon’s team surrendered a whopping 51 offensive touchdowns, 32 of those through the air. The Cardinals’ pass rush came up with only 33 sacks, and the team forced just 17 turnovers.
The club’s 13th-ranked pass defense ranking is a bit deceiving considering the Cards gave up the most rushing yards in the league. Still, eight-year pro Antonio Hamilton was solid in pass coverage. In 14 games, he totaled one interception but led the Cardinals with 11 passes defensed. He signed with the Falcons.
Los Angeles Rams
Best addition: DE Jared Verse
The team’s newest defensive coordinator is Chris Shula, who joined the organization the same year as Sean McVay in 2017. He has some work to do in his new role. The 2023 Rams’ defense was mediocre at best, ranking 20th in fewest total yards allowed. The team managed only 15 takeaways in 18 total games.
The addition of first-round pick Jared Verse should help ease the loss of Aaron Donald in terms of the pass rush. It’s interesting to note that 2023 third-round draft choice Kobie Turner actually led the club in sacks (9.0) this past season. Verse totaled exactly nine sacks in each of the last two seasons with the Seminoles.
Biggest loss: DT Aaron Donald
It is almost hard to believe that he was the Rams’ second first-round pick in 2014. The team made Auburn University tackle Greg Robinson the second overall selection, and Aaron Donald was chosen at No. 13. He steps away at the top of his game, and leaves a huge hole in the middle of the Rams’ defensive front.
How do you replace a performer who was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons? Donald was an eight-time All-Pro and was named the NFL Defensive Player three times. The Super Bowl LVI champion racked up 111.0 sacks in 154 regular-season contests, and six quarterback traps in 11 postseason games.
San Francisco 49ers
Best addition: OLB Leonard Floyd
When the 2023 NFL regular season was said and done, Kyle Shanahan’s team owned the league’s eighth-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed. Only the Bears and Lions were better against the run, and only the Ravens and Chiefs surrendered fewer points. Led By Nick Bosa (10.5), San Francisco totaled 48 sacks.
However, many of those other pass-rusher are now elsewhere, either by choice or a decision by the team. Hence the signing of Leonard Floyd. Like Bosa, he also totaled 10.5 sacks this past season, leading the Bills. He makes his return to the NFC West, racking up 29.0 sacks in three seasons with the Rams from 2020-22.
Biggest loss: DE Arik Armstead
After a somewhat slow start to his NFL career, talented Arik Armstead settled in to become a solid force for the club. The 17th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft played in all 16 games as a rookie in 2015, but struggled with injuries the next two seasons. He would rebound to become a steady player for the team.
Unfortunately, Armstead did miss a total of 13 regular-season contests the past two years. The Niners opted to release him this offseason, and he wound up latching on with theJacksonville Jaguars. The nine-year pro could be missed, especially when you consider the club’s late-season issues vs. the run in 2023.
Seattle Seahawks
Best addition: DT Byron Murphy
There’s a new regime in the Pacific Northwest. Pete Carroll was the team’s head coach for 14 seasons (2010-23) and led the club to back-to-back Super Bowls. He won a title in 2013 (XLVIII) and lost a heartbreaker a year later (XLIX). Former Ravens’ defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald takes over.
Seahawks’ general manager John Schneider opted for some help on the Macdonald’s side of the ball. Only the Cardinals gave up more rushing yards a year ago, so using the 16th overall pick on University of Texas interior presence Byron Murphy was a no-brainer. Stopping the run has been an issue for too many years.
Biggest loss: LB Bobby Wagner
He spent his first 10 seasons in the National Football League being a huge factor on Seattle’s defense. Star linebacker Bobby Wagner was released by the organization in 2022 and he latched on with the rival Rams. He inked a five-year, $50 million deal with Los Angeles, but was surprisingly cut loose after one season.
Wagner returned to the Seahawks in 2023, and once again was highly productive. For the 12th time in as many years, he racked up 100-plus tackles. He was named to his ninth Pro Bowl after finishing with 183 stops. He signed with the Commanders this offseason, reuniting with one-time Seahawks’ DC Dan Quinn.