The NFC West is actually an attention-grabbing one to undertaking, with three of the 4 groups throughout the division having completed with 9 or extra wins simply final season. In the meantime, the one group that didn’t meet that mark has undergone some vital enhancements by way of the offseason with the addition of a brand new star huge receiver. Who will come out on prime in 2024?
Kickoff for the 2024 NFL season is correct across the nook. The place do every of the divisions within the NFL stand heading into the season? Right here, we’ll be outlining the offseason subtractions, additions, teaching adjustments, causes for optimism and causes for pessimism for every group within the NFC West.
San Francisco 49ers
2023 Document: 12-5
2023 offense: 398.4 complete yards per sport (2nd)
2023 protection: 303.9 complete yards allowed per sport (eighth)
Subtractions: DE Arik Armstead, DT Javon Kinlaw, DE Clelin Ferrell, LB Randy Gregory, EDGE Chase Younger, QB Sam Darnold, S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Additions: Defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson, DE Leonard Floyd, LB De’Vondre Campbell, CB Rock Ya-Sin, QB Josh Dobbs, DT Maliek Collins (from HOU), WR Ricky Pearsall, CB Renardo Inexperienced, OG Dominick Puni
Causes for pessimism for the 49ers
The 49ers spent a lot of the offseason (but once more) riddled with distractions, between the contract negotiations of WR Brandon Aiyuk and OT Trent Williams, with every of them lacking the offseason program amid their holdouts. Along with the dearth of reps that that they had by way of the offseason, which may result in some rust because the season begins, their absence throughout the contract dispute has additionally triggered some vital distractions. The already aggressive division has solely change into extra aggressive in 2024, too.
Causes for optimism for the 49ers
One of many league’s greatest and most effective offenses is again. Between Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, the 49ers stay loaded on offense coming off a season the place they led the league in yards per play and second in complete offense. The San Francisco 49ers have made it to the NFC Championship in 4 of the final 5 seasons, together with a Tremendous Bowl look in two of the final 5. Coach Kyle Shanahan has the best playoff win proportion of any head coach who hasn’t received a Tremendous Bowl or Championship in his profession at .667. The document of success speaks for itself; it solely appears proper to consider that the Niners are sure for a Lombardi… proper?
Seattle Seahawks
2023 Document: 9-8
2023 offense: 322.9 complete yards per sport (twenty first)
2023 protection: 371.4 complete yards allowed per sport (thirtieth)
Subtractions: S Jamal Adams, S Quandre Diggs, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Devin Bush, C Evan Brown, OG Damien Lewis, DL Mario Edwards, TE Will Dissly, TE Colby Parkinson
Additions: Head coach Mike Macdonald, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, defensive coordinator Aden Durde, S Rayshawn Jenkins, LBs Tyrel Dodson, LB Jerome Baker, OG Laken Tomlinson, TE Pharaoh Brown, WR Laviska Shenault Jr., QB Sam Howell, DT Byron Murphy II, OG Christian Haynes, LB Tyrice Knight
Causes for optimism for the Seahawks
Pete Carroll exited his teaching function this offseason, now serving as an advisor with the group electing to herald former Ravens DC Mike MacDonald because the ninth head coach in group historical past. He went on to rent OC Ryan Grubb coming off a surprising season underneath Kalen DeBoer with the Washington Huskies.
Causes for pessimism for the Seahawks
Although change could be good, trying ahead to brighter days, there are nonetheless vital challenges one has to beat with huge organizational shifts, even with gifted personnel.
After being topped as 2022 Comeback Participant of the 12 months, Geno Smith took a step again when it comes to scoring effectivity final 12 months, which posed a selected problem provided that they ranked twenty eighth in speeding offense.
The Seahawks’ protection struggled in 2023, rating backside three in yards per sport allowed (371.4), rush yards per sport (138.4) first downs per sport allowed (22.4) and opposing third down conversion proportion (46.3). Although they introduced in Macdonald at HC and have loads of expertise on the protection, they’ll must take an enormous step ahead, rapidly, in a division full of high-octane offenses.
Arizona Cardinals
2023 Document: 4-13
2023 offense: 324.1 complete yards per sport (nineteenth)
2023 protection: 355.7 complete yards allowed per sport (twenty fifth)
Subtractions: OT D.J. Humphries, WR Rondale Moore, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, CB Antonio Hamilton, DL Leki Fotu, Kevin Sturdy, Jonathan Ledbetter
Additions: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, DTs Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones, OT Jonah Williams, WR Zay Jones (five-game suspension to start out the season), LB Mack Wilson Sr., WR Marvin Harrison Jr., DL Darius Robinson, CB Max Melton, RB Trey Benson
Causes for optimism for the Cardinals
The addition of star rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. into an offense the place Kyler Murray is one other 12 months faraway from a torn ACL feels as promising as ever. Sadly, the group misplaced some depth with the departures of Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore this offseason, however MJH provides this group a ceiling at receiver that they haven’t seen since DeAndre Hopkins’ 2020 marketing campaign, the place he posted a 115-catch, 1,407-yard, 6-touchdown season in his first 12 months with the group.
Causes for pessimism for the Cardinals
The Cardinals discover themselves smack-dab in the course of a division with some of the aggressive offenses and protection in soccer, all however relegating them to a Wild Card spot within the playoffs if all issues go effectively all through the season. It will take a stunning flip of occasions for them to be within the combine for a division title, that means any playoff run wouldn’t be more likely to run by way of Arizona.
The protection was a very dreadful one final season, rating bottom-five in scoring allowed, speeding, third-down conversion charge allowed, sacks, turnovers pressured and large performs allowed. They gave up the second-highest opposing completion proportion (68.6%) and the third-most passing touchdowns (32) in 2023. Have they got the personnel to show it round with the additions of rookie CB Max Melton and FA signing Sean Murphy-Bunting?
Los Angeles Rams
2023 Document: 10-7
2023 offense: 359.3 complete yards per sport (seventh)
2023 protection: 337.9 complete yards allowed per sport (twentieth)
Subtractions: DT Aaron Donald, S Jordan Fuller, QB Carson Wentz, C Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton
Additions: OG Jonah Jackson, CB Darious Williams, S Kamren Curl, CB Tre’Davious White, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, TE Colby Parkinson, DE Jared Verse, DT Braden Fiske, RB Blake Corum,
Causes for optimism for the Rams
The Rams have had a top-eight scoring offense in 4 of seven seasons underneath HC Sean McVay, which units them up effectively to compete with the high-octane offense of Kyle Shanahan. Not solely do the Rams have probably the greatest play-callers within the league with Sean McVay. In addition they have a wealth of expertise on the offense underneath QB Matthew Stafford between star huge receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and power and depth within the run sport between Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum.
The Rams made some investments within the secondary this offseason, together with the signing of cornerbacks Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White — each of whom could possibly be nice belongings to cease some uber-talented offenses elsewhere within the division.
Causes for pessimism for the Rams
Regardless of immense expertise within the receiving corps, there are some query marks. Breakout WR Puka Nacua enters the 12 months having suffered a knee harm in coaching camp. In the meantime, Cooper Kupp enters his eighth season within the league getting back from a number of accidents that hampered his 2023 marketing campaign… however he’s additionally coming into his age-31 season. Beginning TE Tyler Higbee (ACL) has began out coaching camp on the PUP record, too. Can they keep wholesome sufficient by way of the season?
Future Corridor of Fame DT Aaron Donald retired this offense, having led the league in sacks (111), QB hits (260), tackles for a loss (175) and Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards (3) since drafted in 2014. DT Kobie Turner led all rookies with 9.0 sacks final season, however there’s little question that he’ll must proceed his growth in an accelerated trend with the intention to make up for Donald’s new absence on the defensive position.
