NFL Draft Previews - NFC West

By Alex Wiederspiel

AFC East - AFC North - AFC South - AFC West - NFC East - NFC North - NFC South - NFC West

Well we conclude our division previews on BDL with the god-awful NFC West. There is plenty of room for improvement and I actually think the Rams and 49ers should be able to duke it out for this division in 2011, but it's still not a good division. 9 wins will probably do the trick.

1. Seattle Seahawks
2010 Record: 7-9

Season Finish: Divisional Round Loss

Draft Picks:

1st Round -- 25th Overall
2nd Round -- 57th Overall
4th Round -- 99th Overall (from Denver through New England)
5th Round -- 156th Overall
5th Round -- 157th Overall (from Baltimore)
6th Round -- 173rd Overall (from Detroit)
7th Round -- 209th Overall (from Cleveland)
7th Round -- 242nd Overall (Compensatory Selection)
Team Needs: QB, OG, OT, DL, CB, SS

Make no mistake, Seattle doesn't have a ton of "needs" but they have a lot of question marks when you get further down the roster. Marshawn Lynch bought himself another year on the roster with his playoff run that involved the Saints failing to wrap him up. Russell Okung will likely be a very good left tackle, but he needs to be able to stay healthy first. On defense, the Seahawks got an amazing year from Chris Clemons, but outside of him they need some help--especially if they let Brandon Mebane walk. In the secondary, Trufant and Jennings (both former first rounders) were burnt toast last year and both need to be replaced. Walter Thurmond III is promising, but the Seahawks need help.

The Seahawks should not bother drafting a quarterback in this class, but they don't really have a choice. Their interest in Kevin Kolb, Christian Ponder, Ryan Mallett, and Andy Dalton shows that they've already given up on Whitehurst as the long-term solution and probably don't anticipate Hasselbeck re-signing. It would be a serious upset if Seattle doesn't come away with Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton, or Christian Ponder at 25th overall--even though it's probably not in the best interest of the franchise.

The offensive line needs help. Max Unger's return to health will help the interior, but the Seahawks still need at least one guard and certainly a right tackle. They were pretty poor all around in run blocking and pass blocking and simply need new faces. There's a great chance Seattle grabs the best offensive linemen available in the second. At that pick they'll be able to likely choose between Danny Watkins (Baylor), James Brewer (Indiana), and DeMarcus Love (Arkansas).

The Seahawks don't have a third, but in the fourth would likely look at either corner, another linemen, a safety, or somewhere along the defensive line. They simply have too many needs and not enough premier picks. The real issue in Seattle is the fact that they have glaring needs as opposed to just partial needs. They can't fill them all in one draft, and expecting Seattle to win the NFC West next year would be downright foolish. If Seattle does choose to pass on a quarterback in round one, don't be shocked if they are big players for Kevin Kolb or even throw a curveball Cincinnati's way (but that's still unlikely).

2. St. Louis Rams
2010 Record: 7-9
Season Finish: 2nd in NFC West
Draft Picks:
1st Round -- 14th Overall
2nd Round -- 47th Overall
3rd Round -- 78th Overall
4th Round -- 112th Overall
5th Round -- 145th Overall
7th Round -- 216th Overall
7th Round -- 228th Overall (from Baltimore)
Team Needs: Back-up RB, WR, OG, DE, DT, OLB

I don't know if any team has done anything smarter then hire Josh McDaniels this off-season. McDaniels system does not run with one amazing receiver--it runs off of good depth, which St. Louis actually has when healthy. Returning Mark Clayton and Donnie Avery to the group will actually wind up being huge. While in a perfect world the Rams would also snag Julio Jones, they can survive without a receiver until the second or third round. Mardy Gilyard will likely thrive in McDaniels offense as well so the Rams all of a sudden diminished their need at receiver with that hiring.

In the first, it's going to be a defensive end or a defensive tackle, but I'd put quite a bit of money on Corey Liuget (Illinois) at defensive tackle. The Rams are looking for 4-3 nose tackles, and Liuget is as strong as they come. They have a lot of age on the inside and their defensive tackles overachieved in 2010. Adding Liuget would be huge because he doesn't have to start right away, but would be a force on rushing downs to start his career.

If the Rams don't or can't pick Liuget, they'll go defensive end where local college product Aldon Smith (Missouri) has been a popular pick for mock drafters. Other options include Robert Quinn (North Carolina), Da'Quon Bowers (Clemson), and Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue). Eventually someone is going to have to replace James Hall, and it's unlikely that George Selvie is that guy for St. Louis. Expect DE to be addressed in the first or the third, with receiver likely in the second or third. It would be an upset if the Rams don't go with DT, WR, DE in the first three. The running back class is fairly deep and many are expected to fall, so St. Louis can likely find their speed compliment to Steven Jackson in the 4th or 5th. Guard is the only possibility of breaking into the third round, because Adam Goldberg has to go.

St. Louis has a clear path ahead of them, and a bright future, especially with Josh McDaniels running the offense.

3. San Francisco 49ers
2010 Record: 6-10
Season Finish: 3rd in NFC West
Draft Picks:
1st Round -- 7th Overall
2nd Round -- 45th Overall
3rd Round -- 76th Overall
4th Round -- 108th Overall
4th Round -- 115th Overall (from San Diego)
5th Round -- 141st Overall
6th Round -- 174th Overall
6th Round -- 190th Overall (from Seattle)
7th Round -- 211th Overall
7th Round -- 231st Overall (from New York Jets through Detroit)
7th Round -- 239th Overall (Compensatory Selection)
7th Round -- 250th Overall (Compensatory Selection)
Team Needs: QB, WR, OL, NT, DE/OLB, CB

The Niners are fortunate. They have a fair few needs, but a ton of picks to meet those needs. Jim Harbaugh is definitely going to go after a veteran quarterback and it wouldn't shock me if on Friday with player movement possibly opening up that he makes a bid for his former protege at San Diego University Josh Johnson. I don't expect the 49ers to draft a quarterback until day three and sit him behind a veteran (maybe Alex Smith) to see if he develops.

In the first, San Francisco could probably afford to simply go best player available which would likely give them choices between Patrick Peterson, Robert Quinn, Aldon Smith, and Prince Amukamara. I don't think Harbaugh will bite on Blaine Gabbert, since Gabbert isn't quite the cerebral quarterback that Harbaugh is used to. Most likely it's going to be between Robert Quinn and Prince Amukamara. If Peterson is there at seven, San Francisco won't hesitate.

In the second, the Niners will probably look at a nose tackle where Kenrick Ellis will be a serious possibility. I also wouldn't rule out a wide receiver in the second, but San Francisco has enough needs that it can keep going best player available throughout the draft. On the offensive line, the 49ers could possibly use some help inside. David Baas continues to be one of the more below average starting centers in the league, and the 49ers could choose to finally draft his replacement in the third or fourth.

Expect in the mid and late rounds for the 49ers to start looking quarterback and receiver. Greg McElroy is a real possibility in the fourth or fifth. Tyrod Taylor would not be totally shocking either. Again, the Niners biggest asset is the amount of picks they have. It gives them serious flexibility and mocking for them is very difficult this year--especially not knowing Harbaugh's tendencies as a pro coach. I know one thing is for sure. If San Francisco doesn't draft a quarterback in the first two rounds, the Andrew Luck talk for 2012 will be unstoppable.

4. Arizona Cardinals
2010 Record: 5-11
Season Finish: 4th in NFC West
Draft Picks:
1st Round -- 5th Overall
2nd Round -- 38th Overall
3rd Round -- 69th Overall
4th Round -- 103rd Overall
5th Round -- 136th Overall
6th Round -- 171st overall
6th Round -- 184th Overall (from Tampa Bay through Philadelphia)
7th Round -- 249th Overall (Compensatory Selection)
Team Needs: QB, WR, TE, OL, 3-4 OLB, CB, Back-up S

Talk about a team that needs help everywhere, the Cardinals are picking early but are highly unlikely to draft a quarterback at all in 2011. Ken Whisenhunt is well known for his distaste for young quarterbacks, and I'm sure it didn't get any better after how rough Max Hall and John Skelton looked. The Cardinals are known to be heavily pursuing Marc Bulger, but won't be able to do anything until player movement finally opens.

So the Cardinals could be a trade down option at fifth overall. If Denver selects Von Miller and Buffalo goes with Patrick Peterson, Arizona would lose their top two choices and would want to trade out with a team that wants to snag A.J. Green or Julio Jones. If Arizona stays at five it's only to select Miller or Peterson. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been a disaster since entering the league. Last seaason was rough for DRC allowing a whopping 9+ yards per attempt thrown against him and 62% completion percentage.

If Arizona does trade down and it's into the middle of the first you could see Prince Amukamara, Jimmy Smith, and Aldon Smith as possibilities. If they trade down to the end of the first, you're looking at Brooks Reed, Akeem Ayers, and Ras-I Dowling (maybe). Assuming they stay put and grab Peterson, the Cards are almost a lock to grab a pass rusher in the second round. The offensive line will have to be addressed at some point. Levi Brown is one of the better run blocking tackles in the league, but his pass blocking leaves much to be desired. He could wind up getting moved back to right tackle. Lyle Sendlein was solid at center last year as was Deuce Lutui at guard. Alan Faneca struggled in pass protection and lost a lot in the running game too. Jeremy Bridges was average at best in his limited action last year, and probably could be replaced. The Cardinals could draft up to two linemen in the first four rounds.

It occurs to me now that Tyron Smith could even be an upset pick at number five overall, but it would be a definite upset. Anywho, look for the Cardinals to look at tight ends that high upside (because that's pretty much the best you can get in this class) in the later rounds. Kyle Rudolph in the early 2nd is a possibility, but Arizona has too many needs defensively to bother.