2023-08-31 10:41:11
The NFC West has had representatives in the last two NFC Championship Games and the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals will all hope to keep the streak going in the 2023 NFL season.
However, they will have to compete fiercely once morest NFC East teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys who aspire to participate in the next Super Bowl.
Here’s the NFC West preview for the 2023 NFL season.
Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan look to elevate the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers fell one healthy quarterback away from advancing to the Super Bowl. Now, following a Tommy John-like operation, management is confident that Brock Purdy is the franchise quarterback; That is why they traded Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys and have Sam Darnold as a substitute QB.
However, not everything is hunky-dory in the San Francisco Bay Area. Defensive end Nick Bosa has yet to report to the team because he is looking to improve his salary condition. The Ohio State graduate was named Defensive Player of the Year last year and is seeking a long-term contract extension because his contract expires at the end of the season. Despite everything, the team does not consider transferring it.
In essence, the team that made it all the way to last year’s NFC Championship Game came back complete. The departure of tackle Mike McGlinchey was offset at home by Colton McKivitz and the departure of Samson Ebukam to the Indianapolis Colts was offset by the arrival of Javon Hargrave from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Football Reference’s win projection gives the Niners 11 wins, despite facing teams from the AFC North (Bengals, Ravens, Steelers and Browns) and NFC East (Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Commanders).
Pete Carroll and his 14th season in Seattle
The Seattle Seahawks have spent the last 13 years under the management of Pete Carroll and in the fourteenth season with the head coach they want to aspire to win the NFC West for the sixth time. In addition, it will be the second season in which the coach will use Geno Smith as QB1; Management gave him a three-year, $75 million extension following the veteran won Comeback Player of The Year in 2022.
The team that plays at home at Lumen Field had two selections in the first round of the last Draft and served to alleviate the needs of a slot receiver to accompany Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf in the figure of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and in the defensive secondary with safety Devon Witherspoon.
In addition, free agency served to fill the gaps on defense with defensive ends Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed along with safety Julian Love. In addition to this, the successful linebacker Bobby Wagner returned to Seattle following a year with the Los Angeles Rams.
The health of the Rams will change their course
The Rams struggled through the 2022 NFL season due to injuries to quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Now, with his big stars enjoying health, head coach Sean McVay hopes that the path of the Los Angeles team is full of victories.
Free agency was a danger for the Rams as they lost many of their defensive starters last year in linebackers Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and safety Nick Scott. However, players like defensive back Russ Yeast and pass rusher Nick Hampton will need to step up.
Despite not having a first-round pick in the last draft, the Rams have projected two rookie starters: guard Steve Avila and linebacker Byron Young. In addition to this, the special teams will be led by the kick return specialist Puka Nacua.
The calendar will not be easy for the Rams since in the first five weeks they will face the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cardinals, in the footsteps of Caleb Williams
Everything indicates that the Cardinals will be the worst team in the entire NFL and they are looking to the next Draft, starring quarterback Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans. Kyler Murray’s injury forced head coach Jonathan Gannon to start his time with Arizona with Joshua Dobbs, a player who has gone through six teams in as many years, as QB1.
However, all is not lost in the Arizona desert. The front office began the rebuild in the trenches with offensive tackle Paris Johnson, a graduate of Ohio State. The offensive line will consist of him, Will Hernandez, Hjalte Froholdt, Elijah Wilkinson and DJ Humphries.
Plus, the Cardinals’ big free agents left Arizona quickly. DE Zach Allen moved to Denver for three years and $47 million, WR DeAndre Hopkins moved to Tennessee for $26 million for two seasons and CB Byron Murphy will play for Minnesota for the next two years for $17.5 million.
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