No one in their right mind would be a Seattle Seagulls fan but we do have a Cardinals fan (@hardmoney) and a Rams fan (@realBitcoinDog). Stacker News is definitely over indexing as those fanbases combined have about 35 total fans, so it is incredible we can have these rare creatures in our midst.
I don't think the West is a great division but I do think it should be competitive. All the teams are in various stages of building/retooling with an emphasis on a youth on the defensive side of the ball.
Let's start on Offense.
QB
- Rams (Rams are here until Stafford is proven to be old and broken and then they drop to 4)
- 49ers (Purdy and Jones are the best duo but I am not giving 2s much value in this ranking)
- Cards (Should and Could be #1 but Kyler needs to prove it for a whole season)
- Hawks (I have no faith in Darnold without KOC, a top 3 OLine and top 5 weapons but we will see)
RB
- 49ers (CMC and Brian Robinson is a top 3 duo in the league- add in an all pro FB just for fun)
- Rams (I like Williams upside in the pass game but this was close 2-4)
- Hawks (more depth at RB than Cards)
- Cards (I like Conner more than Walker but I like the Seahawks depth a bit better)
WR
- Rams (Puka and Adams are the best duo in the division but WR depth is a ?)
- Cards (Marvin Harrison Jr needs to have a big year to keep this spot)
- Hawks (JSN and possibly washed Kupp- maybe but I am not sold)
- 49ers (4th to start the season but maybe 1 by mid season)
TE
- 49ers (George Kittle, enough said)
- Cards (McBride is awesome but he ain't Kittle)
- Rams (I like what Ferguson might bring as TE2)
- Hawks (Arroyo should be TE1 but I think they ease him in)
OLine
- Rams (a solid group)
- 49ers (could be 1 but Williams and Bartch likely both to miss time)
- Cards (underrated group?)
- Hawks (Zabel was a nice pick but they have a lot to prove after last year)
Defense
DLine
- Hawks (solid across the board and good depth)
- Rams (a bit shaky against the run but awesome pass rushers)
- Cards (really liked their additions could be higher but how much does Campbell have left?)
- 49ers (solid at DE but the interior is wildly unproven. Can't rank them higher until I see it in action)
Linebackers
- 49ers (All pro Fred and a very deep group- they will miss Dre but everyone is sleeping on Winters)
- Cards (solid group)
- Hawks (improving but this is not the Ravens LB unit)
- Rams (Rams hate LBs so much they traded their best one away)
Cornerbacks
- Hawks (very good unit)
- 49ers (very good outside corners- rookie at nickel so let's see it)
- Cards (good young group with tons of upside potential. Could be 1 by end of year.)
- Rams (don't like it. Witherspoon was better last year but not starter quality)
Safeties
- Cards (Budda Baker enough said)
- Hawks (very solid group and the rookie Emmanwori could make them even better)
- Rams (serviceable)
- 49ers (not great until Mustapha comes back. Sigle has tons of upside but depth of this unit is a ?)
Special Teams
- Cards (good unit)
- Hawks (good unit)
- 49ers (could be good but Jake Moody is the kicker so who knows)
- Rams (not so good last year and a new kicker- we shall see)
Bold Predictions:
- Stafford's back doesn't hold up and the Rams finish 4th with an 8-9 record.
- Darnold flashes at times but is inconsistent and looks like Sam Darnold. Hawks finish 3rd with a 9-8 record.
- Kyler has a good but not elite year. Young players improve. Cards finish 2nd with a 10-7 record. Challenge for a wildcard.
- 49ers somehow hold their elite core together with duct tape and black magic long enough to give hurt/suspended players time to return and the rookies time to develop so they can take advantage of a very weak 2nd half schedule and go on a late season run. They win the division with an 11-6 record and get the third seed in NFC playoffs.
Sats for all,
GR