Let’s take a look at the NFC West where team strengths appear to be changing a bit. The recent perennial favorite in San Fran seems to be in a serious roster reload mode. The 49’ers were devastated by injuries last season, and now face financial/Cap challenges. The RAMS would appear to be the division favorite heading into the Draft with MATTHEW STAFFORD now in the fold on a revised 2 year contract. The SEA HAWKS have traded away their starting QB and top WR. The Cardinals seemed to be progressing albeit agonizingly slow to their fans. The Division has a total of 35 Picks in the upcoming Draft, with 15 of them coming in the first 3 Rounds, which consists of 102 Picks this year. Let’s take a peak at each team, including of course each team’s projected Draft Picks thru Round 3.
ARIZONA CARDINALS: The Cards have had several fruitful Drafts under the relatively new GM MONTI OSSENFORT regime, going from 4-13 in 2023 to 8-9 last season, and escaping the division cellar. They have had a measured and productive VFA period keeping several key players, and adding players especially along their DL in Josh Sweat & Dalvin Tomlinson. They are also expecting serious progression from last year’s top Rookie WR Marvin Harrison. They have only 6 Picks overall right now so care must be taken to draft players who can add talent soon to the overall roster. Let’s get their Top 3 Picks…
Pick 16 MYKEL WILLIAMS DE/ER Georgia A high end athlete with some serious pass rush to his game. He could make a solid bookend add-on to SWEAT on 3rd and long defensive sets. Explosive player with decent size (6’5/265) to set the edge and disrupt the pocket. The Georgia pedigree also adds positive vibes to his potential at the pro level.
Pick 47 SHAVON REVEL CB East Carolina A savvy vet, with good athleticism, who missed the 2024 season to a serious knee injury. I am assuming his Combine medical was positive as I write this. The team is again trying to reshape its secondary with more high end physical traits. If he’s healthy he could be a starter soon.
Pick 78 SHEMAR TURNER DT TEXAS A&M 6’3/290 This years DL group gets a bit confusing when you get tangled up with double Shemar first names, and TURNERS & STEWARTS, and Texas A&M being a common thread as well. This is the DT Shemar, is just a touch under 300 lbs. and ran his Combine 40 at 4.7. their roster boats a solid and numerous number of members but this new member could add significant speed without sacrificing size. Remember they lost a DT starter in Roy Lopez to the LIONS.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: The Niners had an almost shocking 6-11 season, but it must be pointed out that they were ravaged by the injury bug to many players, some of them key performers. In anticipation of QB BROCK PURDY getting a top end Franchise QB contract soon, the team has parted ways with many high priced vets to get well below the Cap, including DEEBO SAMUEL/WR, DRE GREENLAW/LB, JAVON HARGRAVE/DT, TALANOA HUFANGA/S, CHARVARIUS WARD/CB. MALEIK OLLINS/DT, JORDAN MASON/RB, and even more. They replaced these big names with some decent lower priced vets, but most of them will likely be in back-up roles. They need to hit on every Pick they have, which is a division leading number of 11 Picks.
Pick 11 ARMAND MEMBOU OT Missouri Likely the eventual replacement for future HoF LT Trent Williams, MEMBOU might see action starting somewhere else along their OL this season. He’s a huge, but athletic player who really blossomed the past 2 seasons at MIZZOU. I see him as their LT for a decade, starting as early as 2026.
Pick 43 TREY AMOS CB Ole Miss Yes, Lane Kiffin does have good defensive players on his Ole Miss roster to supplement his offensive hoards of talent. AMOS is one of those and looks to be a future starter on the Corner for the 49’ers. At the very least expect him to see the field in Nickel & Dime packages. Like his 6’0/195 frame and runs a solid 4.4/40.
Pick 75 JAYLEN NOEL WR/RS Iowa State He is both a speedy (4.39/40 @ Combine) and quick receiver. He also has reliable hands and is dangerous in the open field after the catch. He may also provide them with some work on Special Teams as a Return Specialist. A nice young WR3/4 to add to their solid receiver room.
Pick 100 BRADYN SWINSON DE/ER LSU We all know how explosive NICK BOSA is as an Edge Rusher/DE. But the team let vet LEONARD FLOYD depart in yet another Salary Cap move. Based on what he displayed, especially in the post-season, look for SWINSON to earn a good deal of playing time opposite BOSA.
Based on where they were picking, and what players were ranked near their Pick numbers these four guys could be a great start to their many roster needs.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks are right behind the 49’ers with 10 Draft Picks. And they need them after clearing a lot of Cap space and landing the top ranked VFA QB in SAM DARNOLD. They also traded WR1 D.K. METCALF and cut WR2 Tyler Lockett. They did sign local guy COOPER KUPP, who needs to stay healthier than he has the past couple of seasons with the Rams however. This looks to be a reload on the fly for GM John Schneider. They have accumulated 5 Picks in the Top 92, which should bring in some starting talent.
Pick 18 MATTHEW GOLDEN WR Texas A speedy guy who posted a 4.29/40, which was second fastest at the Combine. Really emerged last season for the Longhorns and moved past ISAIAH BOND in the receivers room. Looks to be a solid replacement for Tyler Lockett. I have seen some comments that he lacks the speed to get open deep. What I saw watching games was under-thrown balls that he had to either wait for or come back upfield to catch.
Pick 50 MASON TAYLOR TE LSU The son of HOF DE JASON TAYLOR, and his uncle is ZACH THOMAS another Dolphins All-Timer. Stands 6’5 and weighs 250, and has a strong lean frame. Ran a solid 4.6/40 and is a smooth mover before and after the catch. Can & will block as an inline TE. But could flex into the slot at times.
Pick 52 JONAH SAVAIINEA OL Arizona A big guy (6’5/330) who has a huge base from which to operate. He starred at OG for two years, then was moved outside to OT in ’24 and showed well out there. He may be tried at OT first with a painless shift inside if NFL level Edge Rushers are too much for him. Expect him to win a starting job somewhere.
Pick 92 DANNY STUTSMAN LB Oklahoma Defensive star for the Sooners Defense the past 2 seasons. I was quite impressed with his numbers from the Combine. He stood 6’3 and weighed 233 lbs. He then went out and ran a 4.52/40. The Sea Hawks seem satisfied with their current LB group, but there is always room for someone new who is even better. Has desirable traits for work on Special Teams units as well.
LA RAMS: By the last month of the 2024 regular season the RAMS were pretty much the best of this division, and they gave the EAGLES their toughest test of the post-season. They have 8 Picks and the team of SNEAD/McVAY has a pretty solid reputation making personnel decisions.And I might add, that even includes Day 4 of the Draft. They trimmed down their receiving corps, including COOPER KUPP, now with the Sea Hawks. Their big addition at WR was DAVANTE’ ADAMS, who may just be exiting his prime, but is still good, if not elite. McVay might even be able to boost ADAMS play back a couple of seasons. On D the big edition may end up being fire-plug NT POONE FORD straight from the Chargers locker room down the hall.
Pick 26 NICK EMMANWORI S South Carolina One of the biggest winners at the Combine. His 4.38/40 at 6’3/220 was just what scouts were hoping to see. He will be used up in the box, as well as playing deep in the secondary. He has a tantalizing combination of s and LB traits. Might be a bit of wishful thinking that he lasts this long. He has clearly moved past Malaki Starks as the top S prospect in this Draft.
Pick 90 JALEN ROYALS WR Utah State ROYALS was plagued by some nagging injuries for part of the 2024 season. But he’s a talented and productive wide receiver. He might have gone a Round earlier if healthy all season in ’24. He’s 6/0/205 and runs in the 4.4 range. Good hands and nice route running. This is a Round 2 talent taken at in Round 3. That’s how you win the Draft. Add him to NACUA, ADAMS and ATWELL, plus a deep TE room and Mr. Stafford should be glad he stayed with the Rams.
Pick 101 PRINCELY UMANMIEIEN EDGE/OB 6’4/245 Ole Miss The team lost several of their hybrid LB/ER players, but are prepared to go younger and cheaper there. Princely, who started at Florida is a rangy guy who likes to display his speed and length on game day. He should eat up some of the playing time of departed VFA ROZEBOOM & HOECHT with similar results early on.
This should be a fascinating division to watch in 2025, as almost every team has some major roster adjustments to make in their starting line-ups. We may not see who’s who and who’s not until we get into October and new guys have adjusted to their new teams.
Cheers Pigskin
