NFL Preview 2023: NFC West Division
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The NFL preseason officially began this past Thursday in Canton, Ohio with the annual Hall of Fame game. While football of any sort is more than welcome, the preseason is but a shadow of the regular season, a living reminder of things to come.
In the spirit of looking forward, we’ll turn our gaze to the west coast and wrap up the preview of the NFC with the NFC West. From the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, we’ll take a close look at how the NFC West stacks up this season
Los Angeles Rams
Major additions: G Steve Avila (draft)
Major losses: LB Bobby Wagner, EDGE Leonard Floyd, CB Jalen Ramsey (trade)
Where they were
Coming off a magical Super Bowl season in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams were one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. Despite adding star linebacker Bobby Wagner to a defense full of talent on paper, the deadly combination of a roster comprised of aging veterans and severe injuries caused the Rams to slide to the bottom of the NFL ranks, finishing 5-12 for the year.
Where they are
Not much has changed for the Rams this season. In fact, one could make a very convincing argument that the Rams roster has gotten significantly worse, as CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Bobby Wagner were shown the door.
As a result of selling off their draft picks for immediate help, the Rams are an older, injury prone team with an awful salary cap issue. Draftkings has set the Rams win total over/under at 6.5 and that feels generous for this 2023 Los Angeles squad.
Grade: Overrated
Arizona Cardinals
Major Additions: T Paris Johnson Jr. (draft)
Major Losses: WR Deandre Hopkins, DE Zach Allen, CB Byron Murphy, C Rodney Hudson, DE JJ Watt (retirement)
Where they were
The 2022 Arizona Cardinals were a hot mess.The entire season was a struggle for the Cardinals, who suffered from a combination of a top heavy, expensive roster and injuries. To officially end the Cardinals season, QB Kyler Murray tore his ACL in week 14. From that point on, the Cardinals glided to a dismal 4-13 record and a high draft pick.
Where they are
The outlook is bleak once again for Arizona in 2023, as the roster lost a significant amount of talent with the release of star WR Deandre Hopkins and the retirement of future hall of fame defensive end JJ Watt.
Kyler Murray is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2023 season as he recovers from his ACL tear. As a result, the Cardinals are a popular pick to have the worst record in all of football this year. Draftkings has set the Cardinals win total over/under at 4.5, the lowest of any NFL team. And the thing is, that number might not be low enough for this 2023 Arizona squad.
Grade: Properly Rated
Seattle Seahawks
Major Additions: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (draft), LB Bobby Wagner, CB Devon Witherspoon (draft), DE Dre’Mont Jones, S Julian Love
Major losses: RB Rashaad Penny
Where they were
The 2022 Seattle Seahawks were one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last season. After moving off franchise icon Russell Wilson in the offseason, the expectations were exceedingly low in Seattle. But veteran head coach Pete Caroll pulled all the strings together, and the Seahawks enjoyed incredible success, making the playoffs in a year where they were predicted by many to finish last in the division.
Veteran journeyman QB Geno Smith was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, experiencing an incredible career renaissance that led to a sizable contract extension in the offseason. Rookie RB Kenneth Walker broke out in the middle of the season, giving Seattle a running weapon to pair with their star WR stalwarts, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
The Seahawks finished the season with a 9-8 record. While that number may not look overly impressive in a vacuum, it was an incredible feat for a franchise with so much turnover.
Where they are
The Seahawks are flying under the radar once again. Pete Carroll has only improved his young, talented roster with the additions of WR Jaxon Smith-Njiba, CB Devon Witherspoon, and S Julian Love. The offseason also saw Seattle’s prodigal son return as longtime franchise icon Bobby Wagner resigned with the Seahawks after one season in Los Angeles.
In a recent article, I ranked the Seahawks as the second most underrated NFL sleeper this season. With the roster Seattle has built, there’s no reason they can’t contend in the NFC if the young talents take the next step. Draftkings has listed the Seahawks win total over/under at 8.5 wins, and that feels like the starting point for this 2023 Seattle squad.
Grade: Underrated
San Francisco 49ers
Major additions: DT Javon Hargrave
Major losses: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, T Mike McGlinchey, DE Samson Ebukam, DE Charles Omenihu, S Jimmy Ward
Where they were
With one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, the 2022 San Francisco 49ers came extremely close to reaching the promised land of Super Bowl LVII despite alternately playing a practice squad callup, a running back, and a player without a functioning throwing arm at the quarterback position in the NFC Championship game. Injuries defeated the 49ers, but GM John Lynch’s roster was simply too good to go down without a fight as it took every single quarterback on the 49ers roster getting injured to keep them from their second Super Bowl appearance this decade.
Where they are
The 49ers are considered by most to be the favorite to win the NFC this season. With one of the most talented rosters in the league and healthy quarterbacks, it will be a tough task to stop San Francisco this year. The addition of Javon Hargrave only strengthens an already stellar defensive line, and QB Brock Purdy enters his second year surrounded by weapons such as RB Christian McCaffery, TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel, among others.
Draftkings has set the 49ers win total over/under at 10.5, and in a division with two weak teams and a feisty but inexperienced Seattle squad, San Francisco could easily reach that number in 2023.
Grade: Properly Rated
Who will seize the NFC throne?
As we wrap up our preview of the NFC, it’s become clear that the overall talent in the conference cannot compare to the deep divisions full of contenders that the AFC boasts this season. That said, the top talents in the NFC can compete with anyone in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles are the cream of the NFC crop this season and possess some of the most talented rosters in the league. But the fun thing about the NFC this season is that it feels wide open. Anyone can win it this year. It’s just a matter of who rises to the occasion.
